Bluetooth technology is a ubiquitous part of our lives, and a crucial tool in the fight against cord clutter. It’s also notoriously finicky. And when your laptop, phone, or other device is hooked up via Bluetooth to a wireless speaker or pair of headphones and the audio playback starts to stutter, it can be nothing short of infuriating.

Anyone who’s ever spent time angrily fiddling with their audio settings can tell you that while Bluetooth should allow audio to seamlessly transmit from one point to another, there can be a wide array of problems that cause Bluetooth stuttering.

Often, this is due to a partial disconnection or interruption of the signal between the two wireless points. For instance, problems can occur if there are changes in your computer or mobile device’s operating systems, updates to computer software or mobile apps, firmware changes on mobile or other devices, as well as problems or bugs in your car stereo system. In some cases, stuttering can be the result of an object physically blocking the connection.

Much of our tech relies on Bluetooth, and the steps to fix the problem on one kind of device may not solve the issue on another. A good place to start is by turning Bluetooth off and back on. You can also try unpairing and repairing devices and limiting the number of apps or devices that may be connected via Bluetooth at the same time.

If that doesn’t work, we’ve listed some of the most notable culprits on several different devices—and how to fix them:

Whether you have a PC or a Mac, there are a number of issues that can create audio stuttering. One is signal interference. Various electronics, including cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens, can cause that interference since many household devices operate in the same frequency range .

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One method to fix this problem is to try changing the channel on your wireless network. (Resetting your router may prompt it to use the 2.4 and 5 GHz channels with the least interference.)

To change the channel on your router, log into your router’s web interface in your web browser. Then, go to the Wi-Fi settings page, find the drop-down for “Wi-Fi Channel” or a similar setting, and select a new channel. Also, consider minimizing the number of active Bluetooth devices you have connected to your computer.

Some Mac users have also found increased audio stuttering when Handoff is turned on. This feature allows continuity across your Mac, iOS device, and Apple Watch—you can start an email on your iPhone and finish typing it on your Mac. To turn off Handoff on your Mac, go to System Preferences > General. Then deselect “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.” On your iOS device, go to Settings > General > Handoff and tap to disable the feature.

Other issues can be solved by carefully checking all the audio settings  in your computer’s device manager. For instance, stuttering may take place if your computer recognizes a Bluetooth speaker as both a speaker and a wireless headset. Deselect the headset, and choose it as a wireless speaker.

Mobile devices may experience stuttering when paired with a car’s audio system. You’ll have to do some research to check out the problem with your particular phone and car, but a possible fix is to find the “clear cache” (on Android) or “forget this device” option in your phone’s settings. Cached files can become corrupt over time due to things like subtle changes to your mobile device’s OS, which can prevent a successful Bluetooth connection. So when you remove these problem files by clearing the cache, the proper files are recreated, which allows you to connect your phone and car via Bluetooth.

If you’re looking for a resolution for a specific phone pairing with a specific car, a great place to look is in the online forums for your phone’s brand or your carrier. Reddit is also a good resource for troubleshooting with other users who have experienced similar issues.

Since most wireless headphones connect to various devices via Bluetooth, there are instances when a mobile app associated with a particular pair of headphones is the issue. If you’re using your wireless headphones with a mobile device, always check that its operating system is up to date and that you have the latest version of a particular headphone’s app.

Earbud-style headphones may, by their nature, present more stuttering problems than other wireless models, such as dropped connections between the two earbuds, difficulty syncing correctly, or dropped calls . If you are experiencing stuttering, it may be difficult to fix since  your head itself may be interfering   with the signal.

Some headphone makers have found that updating the firmware improves syncing and other problems a bit, but this isn’t always a panacea. Still, it’s worthwhile to look on the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting guides as well as firmware updates—and be sure you’ve loaded the latest version.

This story was originally published on 9/19/17 and was updated on 9/25/19 to provide more thorough and current information. Updated 3/3/22 with new details.