Bluetoothctl always prompting for pairing even on trusted devices after Bullseye Upgrade

2 min read 23-10-2024

the ifix

Bluetoothctl always prompting for pairing even on trusted devices after Bullseye Upgrade

After upgrading to Debian Bullseye, many users have reported an issue where the bluetoothctl command-line tool continuously prompts for pairing even on devices that have previously been marked as trusted. This situation can be frustrating as it undermines the convenience that Bluetooth is meant to provide.

The Problem

The original problem can be summarized in the following statement:

"After upgrading to Debian Bullseye, bluetoothctl keeps prompting for pairing requests on devices that are already trusted."

Analyzing the Issue

This issue typically arises from changes made during the upgrade process that affect how trust is managed between devices in the Bluetooth stack. It could be related to configuration files, policies, or even the Bluetooth service itself not functioning as expected.

Understanding Bluetooth Trust

In Bluetooth terms, "trust" is the relationship established between devices that allows them to communicate without having to go through a pairing process each time. When a device is marked as trusted, it should ideally connect seamlessly without additional prompts. However, if the trust relationship is disrupted due to an upgrade, you might find yourself repeatedly needing to re-pair devices.

Possible Causes

Configuration Changes: The upgrade may have reset or modified your Bluetooth configuration files, leading to a loss of trust status for devices.
Policy Changes: There may be changes in the policy settings for Bluetooth that affect device discovery and pairing.
Bug in the Upgrade: It’s also possible that there is a bug in the Bluetooth stack itself post-upgrade that needs to be addressed.

Solutions to Try

Re-Trust the Devices:
- Open a terminal and type the following commands:
```
bluetoothctl
```
- Then, inside bluetoothctl, run:
```
power on
agent on
scan on
```
- Once you find your device, you can pair and then trust it again:
```
pair <device_mac_address>
trust <device_mac_address>
```
Check Bluetooth Service Status:
- Ensure the Bluetooth service is running properly with:
```
systemctl status bluetooth
```
- If it's not running, start it with:
```
sudo systemctl start bluetooth
```
Reset Bluetooth Configuration:
- Sometimes, configuration files can become corrupted. Try resetting them by:
```
sudo rm /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
```
- Restart the Bluetooth service after this:
```
sudo systemctl restart bluetooth
```
Check for Updates:
- Check for any updates that might fix bugs related to Bluetooth by running:
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
```

Practical Example

Consider a scenario where you have a Bluetooth speaker that has been successfully paired and marked as trusted in the past. After upgrading to Bullseye, you suddenly find that every time you power on the speaker, bluetoothctl prompts you to pair again.

By following the steps above—especially re-establishing the trust relationship—you should be able to resolve this issue and restore the seamless connection between your devices.

Conclusion

Upgrading to a new version of an operating system can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges, such as the Bluetooth pairing issue encountered with bluetoothctl in Debian Bullseye. Understanding the problem and exploring potential solutions is key to regaining the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity.

For further troubleshooting and resources, consider the following:

By staying informed and proactive, you can ensure a smoother experience with Bluetooth devices in your environment.

Note: Always back up your configuration files before making changes to avoid unwanted data loss.