iPhone users who installed iOS 26 have been dealing with a head-scratching bug that makes podcast and audiobook playback through CarPlay sound like it’s being blasted through a blown speaker.
The distortion bug surfaced right after the iOS 26 rollout in mid-September and hasn’t been addressed in the recent iOS 26.0.1 update, leaving affected users stuck with crackling, overamplified audio during their commutes.
The issue seems concentrated among iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2020) owners (at least based on what I could deduce from all the reports) who connect to CarPlay via USB or wirelessly. User complaints have piled up across Apple’s discussion forums, with the main thread collecting over 782 “me too” responses from frustrated listeners.
What’s particularly strange is that the problem only hits voice-based content through apps like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Audible, Libby, and even Spotify when playing podcasts. Music playback works perfectly fine, and connecting through Bluetooth instead of CarPlay doesn’t trigger the distortion at all.
Users describe the audio as having extreme clipping, with one noting it sounds like the gain has been “cranked up +10db”. The professionally produced podcasts that normally sound crystal clear end up sounding like amateur recordings pushed well past their limits. Multiple people confirmed the issue affects both wired and wireless CarPlay connections, though switching to standard Bluetooth restores normal audio quality.
Here’s where things get weird. Several users stumbled upon a bizarre workaround that actually works but makes zero sense: opening the Camera app while listening immediately fixes the distorted audio.
The catch? You need to keep the camera app open for the fix to hold, which means your phone screen stays on and the device can overheat during longer drives. Another user discovered that any app using the microphone produces the same effect, leading some to use background microphone apps like “Microphone Live” as a less battery-intensive alternative.
Discussion about the bug has spread to Reddit’s r/OvercastApp and r/pocketcasts communities, where affected users have been comparing notes and confirming the issue isn’t limited to specific podcast apps. Even MacRumors forums picked up on the problem, with users expressing disbelief that the bug persisted through nine beta releases without being caught.
Apple hasn’t publicly acknowledged the issue yet, and with iOS 26.0.1 failing to deliver a fix, affected users are hoping the bug gets squashed with the upcoming iOS 26.0.2 build.
It’s worth noting that iOS 26’s audio headaches aren’t the only complaints piling up for Apple lately. Just yesterday, I covered how iPadOS 26.0.1 failed to fix the widespread lag and performance issues plaguing recent iPad models. If you missed it, you can catch up on everything in that report right here.
TechIssuesToday primarily focuses on publishing 'breaking' or 'exclusive' tech news. This means, we are usually the first news website on the whole Internet to highlight the topics we cover daily. So far, our stories have been picked up by many mainstream technology publications like The Verge, Macrumors, Forbes, etc. To know more, head here.
Dwayne Cubbins
1348 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
Follow Us
