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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

Apr 12, 2022 8:03 AM in response to Soosie_J215

Both MBP and Apple TV are on the same WiFi network. My iPhone is on the same network but does not have the problem.


I will double check my tvOS version: 15.4 or 15.4.1. When I looked up the version, it said tvOS was up to date. So it’s likely 15.4.1.


tvOS 15.4.1 and macOS 12.3.1 were released around the same time. My issue started around that time as well.


Is the issue due to those upgrades?



Jul 26, 2022 6:27 PM in response to philfnyc1

I have the same issue, brand new mbp 16 M1 with latest OS and every single time you have an issue the first response is: Have you updated to the latest OS? and if the answer is NO you get a GTFO and don't bother until you update.

Well I have the latest out the box and this annoying issue on a simple app, simple task. That's why I never update right away, as soon as it starts to "work" (more like as soon as I learned to live with the bugs) another update, some get fix, some get worst and why not some new bugs that weren't there before.


APPLE: I PAY SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRODUCTS ONLY TO BE TRATED AS YOUR BETA TESTER!


But anyways lets hope the apple gods hear our prayers this time from their multibillion bubble. is like the upper guys don't even try the new OS releases. Really nobody tried the music app before releasing it? Billion dollar company and still can't find some budget for debugging? Why do I have to pay to try your Betas?

Oct 12, 2022 12:15 PM in response to philfnyc1

I am having this also.

I am using a LG 2.1 soundbar connected via optical.

I have discovered the issue goes away away when either using the TVs speakers, or going into my Sony X90s settings and disabling PCM audio. (Which is recommended for my soundbar)


Is anyone experiencing this issue NOT using optical cables for their audio? If no, then I believe this is the issue.

Dec 17, 2022 11:47 AM in response to philfnyc1

So a couple of weeks ago, I bought a Mac Mini to solely use as a jukebox. I thought it'd be better than buying a PC for the same purpose.


And lo and behold, I am having this issue. I'm simply just going to return it. This is completely inexcusable. I have never seen a media player behave so poorly. Utterly unacceptable.


Like, I will literally spend hundreds of hours going through my playlists and porting them over to Qobuz because of this. As a musician, music means everything to me, and I simply can't believe this. I would be better off with a Gateway or Micron from 1995.


How is this real?

Apr 29, 2023 3:58 AM in response to philfnyc1

Happening to me also. I was trying classical music app on iPad and it’s jumping a few seconds in as it did with the music app. Dreadful experience. I play through iPad, iPad to HomePods and Apple TV to HomePods, all are affected. It’s not only annoying it’s frankly embarrassing. It doesn’t happen all the time, just then a lossless track played fine but it could happen three or four times in a row some investigation needed from apple on this pronto, perhaps increase the cache or delay playing by a couple of seconds to allow a cache to build up. I’m using a very fast fibre connection btw.

And there again on another track.

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

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