How do I fix choppy audio on Android?

Choppy or stuttering audio is an annoying issue that can disrupt music, videos, phone calls, and other media playback on Android devices. It’s characterized by intermittent breaks, skips, or distortions in the audio stream. This problem often arises from connectivity issues like a poor Wi-Fi signal or Bluetooth interference. Software bugs, problematic apps, and outdated drivers can also trigger choppy audio.

Fortunately, with some targeted troubleshooting, you can pinpoint and resolve the root cause of choppy audio on your Android phone or tablet. In this guide, we’ll walk through the major factors that commonly contribute to this problem. I’ll share helpful solutions you can try yourself to smooth out playback and restore robust, glitch-free audio on your device. Expect tips to optimize your wireless connectivity, update key drivers and settings, identify and remove problematic apps, and more. With the right fixes, you can get back to enjoying music, movies, and calls without disruptive hiccups. As an Android enthusiast and avid troubleshooter, I’ve helped many users resolve choppy audio problems. Let’s dive in!

Identify the Cause

There are several common reasons why you may experience choppy or stuttering audio on your Android device:

Wi-Fi Interference – Connecting to a crowded Wi-Fi network or having too many devices connected can cause interference and connectivity issues. This leads to problems streaming or buffering audio smoothly.

Bluetooth Connectivity – A weak Bluetooth signal between your device and connected speakers/headphones can result in choppy audio. Bluetooth range is limited to about 30 feet depending on obstructions.

Problematic Apps – Certain apps may not be optimized for your device and can have issues playing audio smoothly. Music apps in particular can sometimes glitch and cause stuttering.

Outdated Drivers – Having outdated drivers, especially for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and audio components can negatively impact performance and cause choppy playback.

To diagnose the cause, first take note of when the audio stuttering happens. Does it only occur with music/video apps or phone calls too? Is it only when connected to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi as well? This will help narrow down the issue.

Next, check if the problem persists across different apps. If one app plays smoothly while another stutters, an app optimization issue may be the cause. Testing with a variety of audio should indicate where the problem lies.

You can also toggle Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other connections on and off to isolate the problem. Turning Bluetooth off for example will show if that is contributing to choppy audio.

Overall, methodically testing under different conditions will help identify what exactly is causing the audio to stutter or skip.

Optimize Wi-Fi Connection

Choppy audio over Wi-Fi can often be caused by interference or a weak signal. Here are some tips to optimize your Wi-Fi connection and minimize interference:

Change the Wi-Fi channel on your router to a less crowded channel. Channels 1, 6, and 11 are commonly the least congested. You can use a Wi-Fi analyzer app to identify the best channels in your area [1].

Use the 5GHz Wi-Fi band instead of 2.4GHz if available, as it tends to have less interference from other devices. Make sure your phone and router support 5GHz [2].

Move your phone and router closer together and minimize obstructions between them. Even a few feet or walls can make a difference.

Consider using a Wi-Fi extender or mesh network to boost your signal if needed. Look for one compatible with your router.

Check for interference from other devices like baby monitors, microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, etc. Turn those off when possible or move them farther away.

Restart your phone and router to clear any software issues contributing to a weak signal.

Use Wi-Fi optimization apps like NetSpot or WiFi SweetSpots to analyze signal strength and suggest solutions.

Adjust Wi-Fi settings like enabling airplane mode for 5-10 seconds to force reconnection on the strongest band.

Update Bluetooth Drivers

Outdated Bluetooth drivers on your Android device can sometimes be the cause of choppy or distorted audio when streaming over Bluetooth. As the Bluetooth protocol evolves, older drivers may not fully support new features or fixes that improve audio quality.

To update your Bluetooth drivers on Android, first identify your device model and Android version. On most devices running Android 5.0 or higher, Bluetooth drivers can be updated through the Google Play Store app. Open the Play Store app, go to Menu > My Apps & Games, and look for any available updates to “Bluetooth” or related system apps.

You can also check your device manufacturer’s website for Bluetooth driver updates specific to your model. For example, Samsung, LG and other brands often provide firmware updates that include driver updates through their own software update tools.

Finally, when installing major Android OS updates like Oreo, Pie, and so on, low-level system components like Bluetooth drivers are also updated. So keeping your device’s Android version updated may also improve Bluetooth performance.

Reliable sources for the latest Bluetooth driver updates include:

Reddit thread discussing Bluetooth audio issues after Android 13 update on OnePlus phones.
Android device manufacturer websites like Samsung, LG, Motorola providing firmware updates.

Major Android OS version updates through your phone’s settings.

Troubleshoot Problematic Apps

Certain apps are known to cause choppy or glitchy audio issues on Android devices. Streaming apps like Spotify, YouTube, Netflix, and others can sometimes cause audio stuttering after a period of normal playback [1]. Voice over IP (VoIP) apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Discord have also been reported to contribute to choppy audio [2].

Try uninstalling problematic apps and reinstalling the latest version from the Google Play Store. Before reinstalling, check for any available updates to download the most recent optimized version. You can also try granting proper audio permissions for apps in your device’s settings. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone and ensure the apps you use are allowed access.

If choppy audio persists in certain apps after granting permissions and reinstalling, you may need to delete the app’s cache and data. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps, select the problematic app, then choose Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear storage. This will wipe the app data and force it to redownload necessary files which may fix audio glitches.

Change Audio Settings

One source of choppy or distorted audio on Android can be using incompatible audio settings that are unable to properly process the audio data. The default audio format, sample rate, and bit rate can be adjusted in your device’s Sound settings menu:

Try changing the default audio format from AAC to MP3 or PCM, which are more widely compatible formats. You may also want to reduce the default sample rate from 48 kHz down to 44.1 kHz or lower, using a sample rate that matches your audio files. Reducing the bit rate/quality from high resolutions like 24-bit down to 16-bit may help as well if the device is struggling to process the high resolution audio.[1]

Additionally, disable any audio enhancement features like Dolby Atmos that could be causing distortion or lag while processing the audio. Turn off equalizers or other sound effects that could be worsening the choppy playback.[2]

Finding the optimal balance of format, sample rate, bit depth, and disabling unnecessary audio processing can significantly improve choppy or distorted playback on Android devices.

Clear App Cache and Data

Choppy and distorted audio can sometimes be caused by cached data that has become corrupted. Apps store cached data and files on your device to help speed up loading times and improve performance. However, over time this cache can accumulate and cause problems.

Clearing the cache and app data will delete any problematic files that may be interfering with smooth audio playback. This forces the app to re-download a fresh, clean set of data. According to Android Police, clearing app cache can “fix random crashes, audio glitches, freezes and other weird issues” (source).

To clear cache and data for apps on Android:

Go to Settings > Apps.

Select the problematic app.
Tap Storage.
Tap Clear Cache to clear just the cache, or Clear Data to also delete preferences and other data.

Clearing the cache is a temporary fix – it removes the stored data but does not delete the actual app. Clearing data performs a more complete reset, but the app can simply re-download any necessary data again. So this may resolve choppy audio issues temporarily or require periodically clearing cache/data again in the future.

Restart and Reset Device

Restarting your Android device is one of the simplest ways to clear any temporary glitches that may be causing choppy audio. A restart will clear the device’s memory and reset all components, which can fix software issues and refresh processes. To restart your device, hold down the power button for 30-60 seconds until the power off slider appears. Then slide it to turn off the device. Wait for 30 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This will restart the device and may resolve any choppy audio problems.

If choppy audio persists even after trying various troubleshooting steps, consider resetting your Android device back to factory default settings. This will wipe your device and restore it to its out-of-the-box state, removing any problematic apps or settings that could be interfering with audio performance. Be sure to backup any important data before resetting. To factory reset, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). Tap Reset phone and confirm. Once finished, you can restore your apps and data from the backup.

A full factory reset should eliminate any software issues causing choppy or stuttering audio playback. If problems continue even after a reset, there may be a deeper hardware problem that requires professional repair.

Test with Different Apps

Try streaming audio on different apps like Spotify, YouTube Music to identify if the issue is isolated to one problematic app. The AIMP music player is known for high-quality audio playback, so test your audio files there. Stellio Music Player is also highly-rated for smooth playback and aesthetics. If the choppiness persists across multiple apps, it likely indicates a deeper system-wide issue. But if the audio plays smoothly in certain apps, you can continue using those as a workaround.

When to Seek Repair

If the audio issues persist after trying all the troubleshooting steps, it’s likely due to a hardware problem that requires professional repair. Some signs your phone may need repair include:

No audio at all from speaker or headphone jack
Muffled, distorted, or crackling sounds
Issues after dropping phone in water

Speakers sound blown out even at low volumes

Hardware issues like blown speakers, faulty audio chips, and water damage cannot be fixed through software tweaks. Repair costs will vary depending on the phone model and specific issue. According to CellPhoneRepair.com, speaker repairs can range from $60-$130 while full audio jack replacements are $99-$199.

To find a qualified repair shop, check for high reviews on Google Maps and sites like Yelp. Look for repair centers that specialize in your phone brand and offer warranties on their work. Avoid unauthorized or DIY repairs which could further damage the device.