Comprehensive Bluetoothctl Command Usage Guide

Explore a comprehensive guide on using bluetoothctl for managing Bluetooth devices and connections. Learn how to block, unblock, remove, connect, disconnect, list devices, set controller power, enable discoverable mode, pair devices, and more with Bluetoothctl.

Screenshot

List available devices, with an optional property as the filter

bluetoothctl devices
Device 1E:85:0F:CC:DF:90 WH-1000XM5
Device 8E:AD:EB:6C:D5:AB Samsung S24 Ultra
Device 3E:D2:7B:35:B9:8A [Samsung] Soundbar
Device A6:9F:93:85:B4:91 Jabra Evolve 65
Device EA:B3:31:94:22:A8 Moto G50
Device F2:E8:B3:36:F2:13 WH-1000XM4
Device 26:68:03:98:1D:F5 Galaxy Watch5 Pro (RMCF)

Install bluetoothctl

emerge --ask net-wireless/bluez

Block device

bluetoothctl block

Unblock device

bluetoothctl unblock

Remove device

bluetoothctl remove

Connect device

bluetoothctl connect

Disconnect device

bluetoothctl disconnect

List available controllers

bluetoothctl list

Controller information

bluetoothctl show

Select default controller

bluetoothctl select

List available devices

bluetoothctl devices

List paired devices

bluetoothctl paired-devices

Controller alias

bluetoothctl system-alias

Reset controller alias

bluetoothctl reset-alias

Set controller power on

bluetoothctl power on

Set controller power off

bluetoothctl power off

Set controller pairable mode

bluetoothctl pairable

Set controller discoverable mode

bluetoothctl discoverable

Set discoverable timeout

bluetoothctl discoverable-timeout

Enable/disable agent with given capability

bluetoothctl agent

Set agent as the default one

bluetoothctl default-agent

Enable/disable advertising with given type

bluetoothctl advertise

Set device alias

bluetoothctl set-alias

Scan for devices

bluetoothctl scan on

Device information

bluetoothctl info <mac_addr>

Pair with device

bluetoothctl pair <mac> OR <device_name>

Cancel pairing with device

bluetoothctl cancel-pairing

Trust device

bluetoothctl trust

hciconfig Untrust device

bluetoothctl untrust

Dump everything BlueZ knows (raw)

$ cat /var/lib/bluetooth/*/1E:85:0F:CC:DF:90/info
  [General]
  Name=WH-1000XM5
  Class=0x240404
  SupportedTechnologies=BR/EDR;
  Trusted=true
  Blocked=false
  CablePairing=false
  Services=00000000-deca-fade-deca-deafdecacaff;00001108-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;0000110b-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;0000110c-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;0000110d-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;0000110e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;0000110f-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;0000111e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;00001124-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;00001131-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb;2573f2dd-a2f8-486c-8476-a63734909acb;45c93e07-d90d-4b93-a9db-91e5dd734e35;764cbf0d-bbcb-438f-a8bb-6b92759d6053;81c2e72a-0591-443e-a1ff-05f988593351;8901dfa8-5c7e-4d8f-9f0c-c2b70683f5f0;931c7e8a-540f-4686-b798-e8df0a2ad9f7;956c7b26-d49a-4ba8-b03f-b17d393cb6e2;9b26d8c0-a8ed-440b-95b0-c4714a518bcc;df21fe2c-2515-4fdb-8886-f12c4d67927c;f76acb00-7cab-495f-bb1a-e664598fd77f;f7a96061-a1b3-40de-aff0-e78ec45a151e;f8d1fbe4-7966-4334-8024-ff96c9330e15;
  WakeAllowed=true
  
  [DeviceID]
  Source=2
  Vendor=1356
  Product=3568
  Version=593
  
  [LinkKey]
  Key=103491FAPOJEFJ879087CFAFAFAF
  Type=4
  PINLength=0