Can't activate Bluetooth on Ubuntu 14.04

Question

I'm using Ubuntu 14.04 LTS on my Acer Aspire 4830TG. I can't activate Bluetooth. I have no Icon in the top bar (the check box in the settings does nothing) and when I click activate in the settings nothing happens. Any idea how I get it to work?

Answer 1

You might want to try a newer kernel, as suggested in this answer to a similar question: ASUS Z87 Pro Bluetooth not finding other devices with 13.10

Here are instructions to upgrade your kernel: How can I install 3.16 kernel on Ubuntu 14.04

General Instructions To Install A New Kernel

The latest kernel available for Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty is 3.14.1. The files can be downloaded at: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/

The latest kernel available for Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic is 3.17.1. The files can be downloaded at: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/

Other kernel versions can be downloaded from: http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

You would need to download three files:

1. linux-headers-*-generic_[i386|amd64].deb
2. linux-headers-*_all.deb
3. linux-image-*-generic_[i386|amd64].deb

Note: Replace "[i386|amd64]" with "amd64" if you need the 64 bit kernel, or with "i386" if you need the 32 bit kernel.

After downloading, you can double click on the *.deb files to install them. However, you can also use the simple command line steps below.

Specific Instructions To Install A New Kernel (3.14.1 or 3.17.1)

Note: I've included instructions for kernel 3.14.1, but for me, bluetooth did not work with this kernel. Bluetooth did work with kernel 3.17.1, available for Utopic. Which kernel works really depends on whether or not the kernel you install has support for your bluetooth hardware adapter. There is an issue with the bcmwl wireless drivers in kernel 3.17.1, and I've included a fix for that as well.

cd ~/Downloads
mkdir kernel
cd kernel

Only execute the next three lines to download the 64 bit kernel version 3.17.1.

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/linux-headers-3.17.1-031701-generic_3.17.1-031701.201410150735_amd64.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/linux-headers-3.17.1-031701_3.17.1-031701.201410150735_all.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/linux-image-3.17.1-031701-generic_3.17.1-031701.201410150735_amd64.deb

Only execute the next three lines to download the 32 bit kernel version 3.17.1.

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/linux-headers-3.17.1-031701-generic_3.17.1-031701.201410150735_i386.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/linux-headers-3.17.1-031701_3.17.1-031701.201410150735_all.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17.1-utopic/linux-image-3.17.1-031701-generic_3.17.1-031701.201410150735_i386.deb

Only execute the next three lines to download the 64 bit kernel version 3.14.1.

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/linux-headers-3.14.1-031401-generic_3.14.1-031401.201404141220_amd64.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/linux-headers-3.14.1-031401_3.14.1-031401.201404141220_all.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/linux-image-3.14.1-031401-generic_3.14.1-031401.201404141220_amd64.deb

Only execute the next three lines to download the 32 bit kernel version 3.14.1.

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/linux-headers-3.14.1-031401-generic_3.14.1-031401.201404141220_i386.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/linux-headers-3.14.1-031401_3.14.1-031401.201404141220_all.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.14.1-trusty/linux-image-3.14.1-031401-generic_3.14.1-031401.201404141220_i386.deb

List downloaded files *.deb files.

ls -la

List installed kernels, before installation of new kernel.

dpkg --list | grep linux-image

Install new downloaded kernel.

sudo dpkg --install *.deb

List installed kernels, including new kernels.

dpkg --list | grep linux-image

Reboot your computer so it loads the new kernel.

Verify that you are now using the newly installed kernel.

uname -r

Optional Fix For "bcmwl kernel module failed to build" Error in Kernel 3.17.1

If you install kernel 3.17.1 and are using using the bcmwl wireless driver, you may get a "bcmwl kernel module failed to build" error. See Launchpad Bug # 1358966 for more information.

Only execute the next line to fix bug 1358966 for kernel version 3.17.1, 64 bit.

wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu2/+build/6555554/+files/bcmwl-kernel-source_6.30.223.248%2Bbdcom-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb

Only execute the next line to fix bug 1358966 for kernel version 3.17.1, 32 bit.

wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu2/+build/6555555/+files/bcmwl-kernel-source_6.30.223.248%2Bbdcom-0ubuntu2_i386.deb

Remove the old bcmwl driver.

sudo apt-get remove bcmwl-kernel-source

Install the new bcmwl driver.

sudo dpkg --install bcmwl-kernel-source_*.deb

Reboot.

Note, you might have to delete your existing wireless connections and recreate them.

Uninstall New Kernel

Here are instructions to remove the new kernel, if you need to.

List installed kernels, before removal of new kernel.

dpkg --list | grep linux-image

Only execute the next line to remove kernel version 3.14.1.

sudo apt-get remove linux-image-3.14.1* linux-headers-3.14.1*

Only execute the next line to remove kernel version 3.17.1.

sudo apt-get remove linux-image-3.14.1* linux-headers-3.17.1*

Update initramfs ("Initial Ram File System").

sudo update-initramfs -u

List installed kernels, after removal of the new kernel.

dpkg --list | grep linux-image

Get A New Kernel As An Official Upgrade

If you are willing to wait, note that a newer kernel will be released in February 2015 for Trusty 14.04.2, as per this answer:

When will kernel 3.14 be available in the repositories?