Crackling on iOS 26

[Betherss]

As if a couple days ago, anything I play via Spotify is crackling. at first I thought it was my phone, but then I realized that I could listen to YouTube and other things just fine. I have cleared the caches and downloads within the app settings and restarted my phone. I have the latest update. What else can I do?

[OscarDC]

Hey @Betherss,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community and welcome.

In this type of case we'd first recommend checking if your iPhone has the equalizer turned on (in Bass Booster, Dance, etc) and if so, turn it off to see if it makes any difference. 

Also, if you haven't tried already, we'd recommend performing a clean reinstall of the app by following the steps mentioned in this article. 

If the issue persists, include in your next response the make, model, and OS version of your device, along with the Spotify version you're currently running to continue investigating the case.

We'll be on the lookout.

[aajhraba]

I’ve been having this issue all year. It happens in my car and I’ve reinstalled everything in car and phone. When I contacted support they said they’d look into it and then message me and told me it was nothing on their end.. Thanks support 

[Aricha29]

Same issue. Ever since you rolled Lossless my audio has gone completely south in terms of quality. Yes I have adjusted all settings and know what to listen for. Please advise 

[Joan]

Hi there folks,

Thanks for the replies.

We definitely want to look into this one and get to the bottom of the issue. To that end, could you please provide us the following:

• Is this on all devices or only on your iPhones? If you haven't tried on other devices, please do so.
• Does it happen on any kind of output device, including the phone's own speaker?
• Does it happen on any kind of content - music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc.?
• The exact models and iOS versions of all your affected devices
• The exact Spotify Versions you use.
• If you could make a video where we can hear the behaviour, that would help us a lot. If the files are too large to attach here in the Community, you can send them to us via Google Drive or as unlisted YouTube videos.

With this information, we’d be happy to investigate.

Keep us posted.

[Fouadbaha]

Hello,

Same trouble of crackling/popping since i've update my iPhone 11 Pro Max to iOS 26 while using Spotify via AppleCar Play.

The trouble appears while listening podcast (human conversation).

Phone : iPhone 11 Pro Max - iOS 26

App : Apple CarPlay (cable version)

Spotify version : 9.0.84.1339

Thank you

[Maria]

Hey @Fouadbaha,

Thanks for posting in the thread!

Just to make sure we cover all bases, as an issue similar to what you're describing has been reported previously in this thread, it would be great if you could try changing the Bluetooth settings. To do this, head over to the device's Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth > switch off Spotify. I understand that you're using the cable version here, but give it a shot when you get the chance and let us know if you notice any difference in the behavior! 

Another thing which comes to mind is trying with another cable too (if possible).

Let us know how it goes!

[iamap]

Dear spotiy community,

I recently updated my device to iOS26. Shortly after I have identified an issue when using spotiy via CarPlay. The sound when listening to Podcasts (only Podcasts, Music is as per normal!) is poor (crackling). Both when using a cable or BT connection. When beeing at home it is ok (both, Podcast and music). Equalizer settings did not change this behabviour. As a coincidence I found out, when I open the camera app, the sound level drops but gets clear?! Therefore I cannot save any sound files to present this.

Plan

Premium

Country

Germany

Device

iPhone SE2

Operating System

iOS26.0.1

Can anyone reproduce this somehow? It appears to be related to the Car in conjunction with the iOS Update but I don´t get why there is a different behaviour between Music and Podcasts...

Thanks

Best regards

Andy

[TheNotor1ousBMG]

I have been dealing with the same issue. I found that listening on Bluetooth without CarPlay, through the car directly, solved the sound quality issue, but lowered the volume. Hopefully Apple will send an update for this bug soon.

Best of luck

Moshe

[TheParksta]

I have the same issue.  Upgraded to ios26 and the sound quality of podcasts has become muffled.  Music seems ok.  

[Maria]

Hey folks,

Thanks for reaching out!

@TheParksta - to confirm, have you tried any of the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this thread? Such as a clean reinstall or changing the Bluetooth settings? It would be great if you could give them a try, if you haven't already. This will also help us avoid repeating steps.

Should the issue continue, please let us know the make & model of your device, as well as the current Spotify version. Also, does this only happen when listening in the car, or when listening directly from the phone's speakers too?

Keep us posted!

[DaDuk]

I also have the same issue listening to podcasts via CarPlay since the iOS 26 update. 
podcast volume is somehow to loud and sounds distorted in CarPlay.

I use apple CarPlay via a cable so no Bluetooth involved.

i really hope the sound quality of podcast listening via CarPlay will be fixed soon!!!

[Maria]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your reports on this!

We've passed this onto our tech teams so they can have a closer look as well. If we have any news to share, we'll let you know in this thread.

Should you come across this thread in the near future and have similar issues, it would be great if you could let us know:

• The make, model and OS version of your device.
• How do you use CarPlay - via Bluetooth or cable?
• Current Spotify version.

Cheers 🙂

[DaDuk]

Specifications:

- iPhone 11

- iOS version 26.0.1

- Spotify version 9.0.86.1354

- use apple CarPlay via USB cable

[DaDuk]

Maybe some additional information:

- the problem with the sound quality in CarPlay only occurs when listening to podcasts via Spotify - other apps do not have sound quality issues

- I don’t experience any problems when listening to music via Spotify either. It only occurs when listening to podcasts via carplay

- when I am listening to music via Spotify and I switch to a podcast the volume is much too loud and I have to dial the volume down drastically

[andyquella]

I started experiencing extensive distortion and clipping when attempting to stream a Spotify podcast via Apple CarPlay (Bluetooth, USB) after installing iOS Version 26.0.0—the problem is not directly related to user volume, media quality, or Bluetooth settings. At the surface, it appears to be a technical bug within the existing playback engine or content delivery network (CDN), and potential interaction issues involving the Bluetooth audio protocol—specific to functions that handle limiting/compression, sample-rate changes (44.1 kHz ↔ 48 kHz), and/or volume normalization.

Technical Specifications:
- Spotify Version 9.0.88.1402
- Premium, Individual
- Cellular Streaming Quality, Automatic
- iPhone SE, 2nd Generation
- iOS Version 26.0.0/1
- Apple CarPlay (USB, Bluetooth)
- Honda CRV, 2025

[wklin]

I’m also having the same issues when connected via Bluetooth and cable  
iPhone 11 Pro Max 

IOS 26

it was working perfectly fine before I updated to 26 but now I can’t go back  

[Bgill1000]

Hello I can report the same issues noted above. Poor quality, crackling, isolated to 1. spotify and 2. Human conversation on podcasts. 
Spotify version: 9.0.88.1402

Apple IOS: 26.0.1 

apple car play via 2023 VW ID.4 

[Zetsumei]

I've the same issue, Sounds over gained on podcasts. 
If i open the camera app on the phone it fixes it, which is very odd, but as soon as it closes it goes back to broken again.

IPhone 11 pro max

IOS 26