Fix Guide: Bluetooth Audio Stuttering on macOS Tahoe

Symptom: Your AirPods or Bluetooth headphones experience crackling, stuttering, or audio lag when watching videos or on calls after updating to macOS Tahoe.

Why this happens

The new Tahoe kernel introduced a "Power Efficient Bluetooth" mode that sometimes aggressively throttles the bitrate for audio devices if the Mac is under moderate CPU load.

Recommended Troubleshooting Tool

Before proceeding with manual fixes, we recommend using OnyX. The preferred tool for deep system maintenance and resetting the macOS Bluetooth stack.

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Fix 1: Reset the Bluetooth Module

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type sudo pkill bluetoothd and press Enter.
3. Enter your password.
4. Your Bluetooth will disconnect and restart automatically.

Fix 2: Disable Handoff Temporarily

Bluetooth interference often comes from the Mac constantly scanning for other iCloud devices.

1. Go to System Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff.
2. Toggle Allow Handoff to OFF.
3. Test your audio. If the stuttering stops, you have a signal congestion issue.

Recommended Tool: ToothFairy

Switching between Bluetooth devices can be clunky on Tahoe.

- Get ToothFairy to connect/disconnect your AirPods or any Bluetooth headset with a single click or global hotkey, featuring a much more stable connection engine.