Bluetooth Problem Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

Question

Whenever I connect a Bluetooth speaker or headset, the device remains connected as long as it is in use. However, if it is not in use even for a few minutes, the Bluetooth automatically turns off. And when I try to switch it on again, it won't. I need to restart my laptop and then only Bluetooth works again.

Is there any way by which I can stop Bluetooth from turning off by itself? Also, why won't it start again without needing to restart the laptop?

score 24 · Answer 1 · edited Jul 10 '19 at 08:13

24

See below for what worked for me. Bluetooth could not be toggled on or off from applet, nor from settings effectively. It just turned itself off for no reason. Reboot of OS would not work either. Here is someone else's fix and explanation that worked for me. PS Bluetooth applet image is still invisible.

update bluez to >=5.28.2

18.04 ships with a buggy bluez package for now; newer version is available from this PPA :
```
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bluetooth/bluez
sudo apt update
sudo apt install bluez
```

edited Jul 10 '19 at 08:13

Mario Olivio Flores

458

answered Aug 27 '18 at 12:07

Newbuntie

241

Thanks for posting that. Funny that they give you a message that it's an unstable version when you enable the PPA... obviously the released version is unstable already! – Dav Clark Jan 09 '19 at 21:27
I had rather intermittent, crackling bluetooth speaker connection which was solved by this fix – brewmanz Jan 11 '19 at 22:25
2

thanks, works for me in Ubuntu 18.04.2 (upgrade from 5.48 to 5.50 by ppa). – David Mortals Jun 05 '19 at 22:54
1

Did not work! Even updating, bluetooth does not turn on. I think the bluetooth card is disabled, it's gone! ;( – Taciano Morais Silva Apr 21 '20 at 16:05
1

Err:13 http://ppa.launchpad.net/bluetooth/bluez/ubuntu focal Release
404 Not Found [IP: 91.189.95.85 80] Reading package lists... Done
E: The repository 'http://ppa.launchpad.net/bluetooth/bluez/ubuntu focal Release' does not have a Release file. N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default. N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details. – Pereira Apr 19 '21 at 03:07

score 17 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 20 '18 at 13:38

17

I restart it in the terminal, and it works:

Code:

$ sudo -i
# bluetoothctl
[bluetooth]# power off
[bluetooth]# power on
[bluetooth]# scan on
[bluetooth]# connect XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX (your bluetooth address)
[Arc Touch Mouse SE]# trust
[Arc Touch Mouse SE]# pair
[Arc Touch Mouse SE]# unblock
[Arc Touch Mouse SE]# power off
[bluetooth]# power on

edited Jun 20 '18 at 13:38

karel

114,770

answered Jun 20 '18 at 13:33

devin he

171

bluetoothctl does not open! the bluetooth card burned? – Taciano Morais Silva Apr 21 '20 at 16:06
what if it shows "No default controller available" after power off! – Hozayfa El Rifai Jul 10 '20 at 09:58

Cico · Answer 3 · 2018-08-14T17:19:39.950

9

My problem is similar, but it happens only after the computer wakes up from the suspend. It only happens to Bluetooth speaker; there is no such issue with Bluetooth mouse. The current solution I find is to reboot the Bluetooth service bysudo service bluetooth restart.

edited Aug 14 '18 at 17:19

answered Jun 03 '18 at 15:19

Cico

91

I keep having to restart all the time. @newbuntie's suggestion to upgrade the packages seemed to resolve the issue. – Mario Olivio Flores Jul 10 '19 at 07:35
Did not work! Even updating, bluetooth does not turn on. I think the bluetooth card is disabled, it's gone! ;( – Taciano Morais Silva Apr 21 '20 at 16:08

Bluetooth Problem Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

3 Answers3

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