How to force bluetooth headphones to connect via A2DP in Ubuntu 19.04?

skykooler · 10-15-2019, 09:10 AM

I have a pair of Sony bluetooth headphones, paired with my laptop. When I turn them on, they automatically connect in HSP mode. If I go into Bluetooth Settings on my laptop and disconnect them, then reconnect them, they connect in A2DP mode and I can listen to music.
Is there any way to make them connect in A2DP mode automatically? I've already tried adding

Code:

Disable=Headset

and

Code:

MultiProfile = multiple

to my /etc/bluetooth/main.conf based on advice I've seen on StackOverflow, but that that has had no effect.

TB0ne · 10-15-2019, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skykooler

I have a pair of Sony bluetooth headphones, paired with my laptop. When I turn them on, they automatically connect in HSP mode. If I go into Bluetooth Settings on my laptop and disconnect them, then reconnect them, they connect in A2DP mode and I can listen to music.
Is there any way to make them connect in A2DP mode automatically? I've already tried adding

Code:

Disable=Headset

and

Code:

MultiProfile = multiple

to my /etc/bluetooth/main.conf based on advice I've seen on StackOverflow, but that that has had no effect.

May want to look here: https://rastating.github.io/setting-...-ubuntu-18-04/

You may be able to set your preferred device that way, so that your headphones identify as a A2DP, rather than as an input-device/microphone. Setting the preference for your input device lower than the output device might (?) get it to automatically go A2DP.

skykooler · 10-15-2019, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB0ne

May want to look here: https://rastating.github.io/setting-...-ubuntu-18-04/

You may be able to set your preferred device that way, so that your headphones identify as a A2DP, rather than as an input-device/microphone. Setting the preference for your input device lower than the output device might (?) get it to automatically go A2DP.

The thing is, it doesn't even display the A2DP option until being disconnected and reconnected once. And pactl only shows it as a single device, whichever profile it's currently connected as.

TB0ne · 10-16-2019, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skykooler

The thing is, it doesn't even display the A2DP option until being disconnected and reconnected once. And pactl only shows it as a single device, whichever profile it's currently connected as.

A few things to try. First, make sure these things are installed:

Code:

sudo apt install pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils pavucontrol pulseaudio-module-bluetooth

Then, either add these lines to /etc/bluetooth/audio.conf (or create the file if it does NOT exist):

Code:

    [General]
    Enable=Source,Sink,Media,Socket

And either reboot or restart the system. That *MIGHT* work. Can also try putting:

Code:

alias soundon = 'pacmd set-card-profile <BLUETOOTH NAME> a2dp_sink'

..into your .bashrc, and you can find the name with

Code:

pacmn list-card

...where it will be, obviously, the field labeled "name".

skykooler · 10-24-2019, 01:14 PM

That did not work; it still connects as HSP on first connection. It also still will not switch to A2DP if I select that mode in Audio Settings, or when running that command; it only switches after disconnecting and reconnecting via the Bluetooth panel.

skykooler · 02-26-2020, 08:54 AM

This problem seems to be fixed in Ubuntu 19.10.

otocon · 06-14-2021, 05:14 AM

This issue seems to be back in Ubuntu 21.04. I'm using Jabra Elite 75t. Tried all things mentioned here to no avail. Updated from Ubuntu 20.10 where it worked just fine. @skykooler do you know what changed in Ubuntu 19.10 that fixed it?