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I am using Ubuntu 20.04 and i own a pair of Airpod pro's.

Ubuntu detects the device but fails to pair/setup/connect. I know this because when i click it, it has a spinning logo like its attempting to connect and then it just returns back to the default "Not Set Up".

enter image description here

I have followed advice from here setting the ControllerMode, i have tried both "dual" and "le" without any success. 

kay@khan:~$ sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth status

● bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2020-05-17 18:13:04 BST; 2s ago
       Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)
   Main PID: 2808 (bluetoothd)
     Status: "Running"
      Tasks: 1 (limit: 18696)
     Memory: 956.0K
     CGroup: /system.slice/bluetooth.service
             └─2808 /usr/lib/bluetooth/bluetoothd

May 17 18:13:04 khan systemd[1]: Starting Bluetooth service...
May 17 18:13:04 khan bluetoothd[2808]: Bluetooth daemon 5.53
May 17 18:13:04 khan systemd[1]: Started Bluetooth service.
May 17 18:13:04 khan bluetoothd[2808]: Bluetooth management interface 1.14 initialized
May 17 18:13:04 khan bluetoothd[2808]: Endpoint registered: sender=:1.140 path=/MediaEndpoint/A2DPSink/sbc
May 17 18:13:04 khan bluetoothd[2808]: Endpoint registered: sender=:1.140 path=/MediaEndpoint/A2DPSource/sbc

Bluetooth device: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FBSV1XZ/

Kay
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3 Answers3

30

Short answer is: use ControllerMode = bredr as discussed here

For others:

  1. Set ControllerMode = bredr by editing /etc/bluetooth/main.conf file using sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/main.conf command (or another text editor of your choice)
  2. sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart
  3. Try to pair again.
Stiin
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    I have the same problem as the OP. This solution didn't help me. Setting mode to `bredr` and restarting service simply resulted in the headphones not responding to my clicks at all (click in default (dual) mode: spinning wheel that eventually times out, click in bredr mode: no response at all, not even spinning wheel). – Alexander Tsepkov Jan 14 '21 at 19:47
  • this solution resolved the problem for me. had to try twice but otherwise worked fine – Jake Boomgaarden Mar 27 '21 at 05:20
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    had same problem as @AlexanderTsepkov but connected successfully with bredr after turning off and on the bluetooth switch in the GUI – Rich Steinmetz Aug 17 '21 at 05:04
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    Woah, in my case there was a `#` in front of `ControllerMode` so the variable wasn't even active in the first place! You need to uncomment that line so init won't initialize with default value! – Marcel Braasch Jan 26 '22 at 15:18
  • @Stiin ye if i remember correctly it did work at the time, so ill mark this as an answer, but now i just use the default settings and it works – Kay Jul 08 '22 at 09:35
  • Step 4 (already paired on wrong controller mode), If you already have paired unsuccessfully you might have to delete the previous pairing. Run `bluetoothctl devices` on command line. based on the output run bluetoothctl remove . Restart bluetooth once again `/etc/init.d/bluetooth restart` https://askubuntu.com/questions/1285765/how-to-delete-not-set-up-bluetooth-history – PHPDave Aug 31 '22 at 14:59
  • Remember to uncomment the ControllerMode line. – Madhuparna Bhowmik Jul 01 '23 at 07:37
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Steps to resolve the issue:

  1. sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
  2. Set ControllerMode = dual

I had to set dual because my Bluetooth mouse was not being detected if I assign bredr.

With dual I can use both my wireless Bluetooth earphones as well as Bluetooth mouse simultaneously.

Aswath
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In my case changeing ControllerMode to "bredr" or keeping the default value on "dual" didn't work and AirPods still trying endlessly set up connection.

When i changed ControllerMode=le and restart bluetooth it will connect to pods immidietly.

All the best!

VladB
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