iOS 18 Bug Silences iPhone 16 Videos in Spatial Audio, But a Quick Fix Exists
A new bug in iOS 18 is causing audio issues for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max users, specifically when recording videos with Spatial Audio enabled. Videos play back silently, even with all other settings configured correctly. Fortunately, a simple workaround has been discovered.
Disabling Vocal Shortcuts Solves the Problem:
Surprisingly, turning off the Vocal Shortcuts accessibility feature in settings resolves the audio glitch. The same fix has also helped users experiencing other iOS 18 audio problems, such as Apple Music freezing, CarPlay audio cutting out, and more. This suggests that Vocal Shortcuts might be the underlying culprit.
Possible Cause and Workarounds:
While Apple hasn't officially addressed the issue, it appears to be a bug in how iOS 18 handles audio when certain features are used simultaneously. Disabling Vocal Shortcuts is a temporary solution, but it's effective until Apple releases a permanent fix.
For those still facing audio issues, switching from Spatial Audio to Mono Audio in settings is another workaround. While it sacrifices the immersive audio experience, it ensures that recorded audio is captured.
This unexpected bug highlights the potential for unforeseen issues with new software releases, even with features designed to enhance accessibility. Hopefully, Apple will address this problem promptly in an upcoming iOS update.
