[SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

DoomEy3 · 2026-10-22 20:25:43

I installed arch manually for the 1st time while following the wiki to the best of my ability. I installed very barebones utils+browser+sway. The laptop is thinkpad T440p from a retail store (Idk if any hardware was replaced from the original).

Issue is that whenever I try to connect my headphones (sony WH-1000XM4), the connection fails and i get the error message "br-connection-uknown." I've tried both bluetoothctl and bluetui, the same issue on both. I have the same issue with my reciever (sony STR-DH190). When I used to run endeavour os on the same hardware I didnt have this issue. I've also tried my friends speaker but I could connect just fine (sadly I dont remember the model but it wasnt sony for sure). Maybe it's a sony issue? I couldn't find any salution that worked online.

I've already tried the following:
Unpairing the device (this makes it so that the connection is sucesfull but after 1-2 seconds it fails, without unpairing 1st the connection doesnt even form)
Doing factory reset on the headphones
Rebooting linux
Trying to connect from bash before loading sway
Restarting bluetooth.service

The issue remains. Any ideas on what I could try to fix the issue or at least diagnose what is causing the problem?

Update:
I tried connecting to my friends JBL Tune headphones and I had the same issue, so the problem isn't sony I think
I also tried disabling NetowkManager.service, rebooting and tried to connect the headphones, didnt work

This is output from journalctl when I try pairing with the headphones:

449]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect() a2dp-sink profile connect failed for 80:99:E7:AE:C2:BD: Protocol not available

Last edited by DoomEy3 (2026-10-25 14:00:50)

seth · 2026-10-23 08:07:16

449]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect() a2dp-sink profile connect failed for 80:99:E7:AE:C2:BD: Protocol not available

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Bluetooth#Audio
Please post the output of

find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print | awk -F'/' '{ printf ("%-40s | %s\n", $(NF-0), $(NF-1)) }' | sort -f

in [code][/code] tags

NFrost · 2026-10-23 17:35:15

Hi, I noticed today the exact same problem. Some weeks ago it was all working fine but suddenly not. I am using the old UE Megaboom and Echo Dot.

Here is my output

autovt@.service                          | system
bluetooth.service                        | bluetooth.target.wants
cups.path                                | multi-user.target.wants
cups.service                             | multi-user.target.wants
cups.service                             | printer.target.wants
cups.socket                              | sockets.target.wants
dbus-org.bluez.service                   | system
dbus-org.freedesktop.nm-dispatcher.service | system
dbus-org.freedesktop.resolve1.service    | system
getty@tty1.service                       | getty.target.wants
NetworkManager-wait-online.service       | network-online.target.wants
NetworkManager.service                   | multi-user.target.wants
p11-kit-server.socket                    | sockets.target.wants
pcscd.socket                             | sockets.target.wants
pipewire-pulse.socket                    | sockets.target.wants
pipewire-session-manager.service         | user
pipewire.socket                          | sockets.target.wants
remote-fs.target                         | multi-user.target.wants
seatd.service                            | multi-user.target.wants
systemd-resolved.service                 | sysinit.target.wants
systemd-userdbd.socket                   | sockets.target.wants
wireplumber.service                      | pipewire.service.wants

I was looking more into it and wireplumber couldn't find "bluez.lua"

wireplumber[767]: wp-internal-comp-loader: <WpCore:0x555aade13290> optional component 'monitor.bluez [script/lua: monitors/bluez.lua]' failed to load: Could not locate script 'monitors/bluez.lua'

The problem is ".config/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf". It references still to "monitors/bluez.lua"

  {
    name = monitors/bluez.lua, type = script/lua
    provides = monitor.bluez
    requires = [ support.export-core,
                 pw.client-device,
                 pw.client-node,
                 pw.node-factory.adapter ]
    wants = [ monitor.bluez.seat-monitoring ]
  }

Updating that file should solve the Problem.

Last edited by NFrost (2026-10-23 20:07:02)

DoomEy3 · 2026-10-25 12:59:48

seth wrote:

449]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect() a2dp-sink profile connect failed for 80:99:E7:AE:C2:BD: Protocol not available

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Bluetooth#Audio
Please post the output of

find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print | awk -F'/' '{ printf ("%-40s | %s\n", $(NF-0), $(NF-1)) }' | sort -f

in [code][/code] tags

here is the output for the command

autovt@.service                          | system
bluetooth.service                        | bluetooth.target.wants
dbus-org.bluez.service                   | system
dbus-org.freedesktop.nm-dispatcher.service | system
getty@tty1.service                       | getty.target.wants
iptables.service                         | multi-user.target.wants
NetworkManager.service                   | multi-user.target.wants
NetworkManager-wait-online.service       | network-online.target.wants
nftables.service                         | multi-user.target.wants
p11-kit-server.socket                    | sockets.target.wants
pulseaudio.socket                        | sockets.target.wants
remote-fs.target                         | multi-user.target.wants
systemd-userdbd.socket                   | sockets.target.wants
ufw.service                              | multi-user.target.wants
xdg-user-dirs.service                    | graphical-session-pre.target.wants

seth · 2026-10-25 13:03:52

If you insist on using pulseaudio, see the linked wiki.
Otherwise try pipe wire (and pipewire-pulse) which should work ootb.

DoomEy3 · 2026-10-25 14:04:07

I installed pipewire according to the wiki. After I startup wiremix client then I can connect the bt audio device and it works. Thanks a lot

Arch Linux

#1 2026-10-22 20:25:43

[SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

#2 2026-10-23 08:07:16

Re: [SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

#3 2026-10-23 17:35:15

Re: [SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

#4 2026-10-25 12:59:48

Re: [SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

#5 2026-10-25 13:03:52

Re: [SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

#6 2026-10-25 14:04:07

Re: [SOLVED] can't connect bluetooth audio devices, "br-connection-uknown"

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