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Apple Music skips about 2 seconds into track on macOS and tvOS

Apple Music on both macOS and tvOS skips about 2 seconds into a track. Is there a fix?

  1. The issue only occurs with streamed tracks. If I download the track, the problem goes away.
  2. I don't notice this on all tracks. When it happens on a track, however, it consistently happens.
  3. It started occurring about a week ago or so.
  4. Soundcheck is not turned on.
  5. The issue does not occur on iOS.


I compared the waves between streaming and downloaded:


MBP M1 16" 2021

macOS 12.3.1

Apple Music 1.2.3.56


Apple TV 4k 2nd Gen

tvOS 15.4

Apple Music (latest version as of 4/10/2022)

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Apr 10, 2022 8:03 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 3, 2023 9:37 PM

This is a real problem. Happens on every track when streaming on lossless. You can’t call it lossless if you lose a whole beat! The beginning of the song is the most important part. The skipping just takes you out of it and ruins the magic. Please fix this, and thank you for the in depth analysis done by @philfnyc1

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83 replies

Jun 5, 2022 2:52 PM in response to doolittle27

This has been an issue on music on all platforms for years and so disappointing that there is still no fix.

Not a solution but seems to change where the skipping occurs when you repeat the same song multiple times. And if it is the song you recently listened, after a couple of repeats, the issue disappears temporarily. I'm convinced that it is related to how the song is processed/cached.

Apr 11, 2022 2:15 PM in response to philfnyc1

Hello philfnyc1,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities. 


We’d like you to try some isolation troubleshooting steps to isolate the cause. Please try the steps here: How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support We also recommend trying the steps in the section titled “Add a user” here: Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support


Let us know if you have further questions.


Take care.

Apr 12, 2022 6:17 AM in response to philfnyc1

Thanks for testing that and getting back to us, philfnyc1. We appreciate you clarifying that it does also occur with your Apple TV from your first message. The goal is the narrow down the underlying cause to determine why this is occurring.


Are both your Mac and Apple TV devices using the same Wi-Fi network? Have you restarted your router to see if that helps?


We also noticed you mention your OS versions. Your macOS is fully updated, but there is a tvOS 15.4.1 update out now. We'd recommend making sure your Apple TV is fully updated, let it restart, then see how those streamed tracks do again. We look forward to hearing back from you.


About Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD software updates


Best regards.


Jun 10, 2022 6:30 AM in response to Gazzabooboo

I think this is only a forum to help each other, I don't think Apple reads this...

They clearly state at the bottom of this page:

"Welcome to Apple Support Community

  • A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products."


"Their products".... instead of 'Our products' or 'Apple products', almost meaning "their problems, not ours" hehe..

Feb 17, 2024 12:49 AM in response to philfnyc1

Hey philfnyc1,


It sounds like you're having a specific issue with Apple Music on both macOS and tvOS where tracks skip about 2 seconds into playback, but only with streamed tracks, not with downloaded ones. This problem started occurring approximately a week ago and doesn't happen on iOS devices. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially fix this issue:


  1. Check Network Connection: Since the issue only occurs with streamed tracks, it's worth ensuring that your network connection is stable and not experiencing any interruptions. Try restarting your router or switching to a different network to see if the problem persists.
  2. Restart Devices: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Try restarting your Mac and Apple TV to see if that helps.
  3. Update Software: Make sure that both your macOS and tvOS are updated to the latest versions available. Apple often releases software updates that include bug fixes and performance improvements.
  4. Reset Apple Music: On your macOS device, try signing out of Apple Music and then signing back in. This can sometimes resolve issues related to your Apple Music account.
  5. Check for Known Issues: Visit Apple's support website or community forums to see if other users are experiencing similar issues with Apple Music on macOS and tvOS. There may be ongoing issues or solutions provided by Apple or other users.
  6. Contact Apple Support: If the problem persists after trying the above steps, consider reaching out to Apple Support for further assistance. They may be able to provide additional troubleshooting steps or escalate the issue if it's a known bug.


By following these steps, you should hopefully be able to resolve the issue with Apple Music skipping tracks on macOS and tvOS. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to ask!


Best regards, Anas Amr Galal

Apple Music skips about 2 seconds into track on macOS and tvOS

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