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bluetoothctl is the CLI tool for managing Bluetooth on Linux (part of BlueZ).
Quick Reference
Setup
bluetoothctl
agent NoInputNoOutput # skip PIN prompts (for mice, keyboards, etc.)
default-agent
Connect to a Device
power on
scan on # wait for device to appear
pair AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
trust AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF # auto-reconnect on future boots
connect AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
scan off
Useful Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
devices | List known/paired devices |
info AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF | Show device details |
disconnect AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF | Disconnect device |
remove AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF | Unpair and forget device |
power off | Turn off Bluetooth adapter |
Agent Capabilities
Set before pairing to match the device type:
| Capability | Use case |
|---|---|
NoInputNoOutput | Mice, headphones — no PIN needed |
KeyboardOnly | Devices that require PIN entry |
DisplayYesNo | Devices with confirmation prompt |
References
- BlueZ documentation