AirTunes audio stream drops or cuts out

In certain circumstances, the AirTunes music stream you're sending to an AirPort Express may stop or cut out for periods of time.
There are several things you can do to troubleshoot this.

First, if you're using a Mac, install the AirPort 4.1 or later update.

If that doesn't fix it for you, check for radio interference and physical barriers. Try setting AirPort Express to a different channel that may be less susceptible to interference, such as channel 1, 6, or 11. Then you should evaluate your site for physical barriers that can block radio transmissions. In the case of AirPort Express, stereo wiring can also be a physical barrier. Try to leave clear space between AirPort Express and your other stereo equipment.

Next, if you have any third-party access points, check the manufacturer's website to be sure their firmware is up to date.

Some people have more success with interference robustness enabled, and others with it disabled, so you might try both.

These three settings may be made using the AirPort Admin Utility (/Applications/Utilities/). Note that you'll need the version included with AirPort Express, or a later version.

  1. Connect to the base station using AirPort Admin Utility.
  2. Click the AirPort tab.
  3. Change either the Channel, Mode, or Wireless option for testing.
  4. Update the base station.
  5. Repeat for each base station or each option, as applies to your situation.


For more information, see the Designing AirPort Networks manual.

Using WDS

If you use AirPort Express in a WDS environment, make sure all access points are configured to use the same channel.

If WDS is desired to allow for wired Ethernet clients at the AirPort Express, then it may help to disable the "Allow wireless clients to connect" option.

Lastly, try configuring the AirPort Express to be a client of the existing network, as opposed to a WDS node.

Using wireless security

Wireless security makes your computer work harder, so it together with an AirTunes stream might be a bit taxing for a slower system. Try using a lower grade of security or turning it off completely to see if there's improvement. If you're using WPA personal, for example, try using WEP instead. If you're using 128-bit WEP, try 40-bit WEP.

Using third-party security software

If you have installed security software that inspects outgoing network traffic on your computer, it may slow down your stream as it inspects it, causing the interruption. Try turning off any security software temporarily to isolate the issue.

This document will be updated as more information becomes available.

Published Date: Oct 10, 2016