Fedora keeps detecting my Bluetooth headphones as a handsfree device only

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1

Hello! This is the last of my post-install issues that I haven’t been able to figure out on my own (or by looking around in the forum).

I have two different pairs of headphones (both Soundcore, different models), and both have the same issue. Generally, after booting up the computer, the headphones are detected (although not automatically connected or set as the sound output, but that’s fine) and they work without issues.

However, things go wrong when:

  • I put the headphones back in their case,
  • I suspend the computer and wake it up later, or
  • Rarely after booting up

In these circumstances, the Sound output settings will only see the headphones as a hands-free device rather than actual headphones/speakers, which has a much lower sound quality. I can always fix this with sudo systemctl restart bluetooth and manually reconnecting and selecting them. However, this is quite annoying.

I know Bluetooth has a reputation of not working properly on Linux, but given that a service restart consistently fixes it, I was wondering if there’s a way to just prevent the issue altogether?

Thank you!

2

I am having this same issue. Soundcore Space 40a’s.

When I initially pair the device it has two options, headset and handsfree. Handsfree is a crappy version that includes the mic, whereas headset is the good quality just headphones option.

When initially paired I can choose headset, but once I put them back in their case, then take them out, it auto connects to handsfree, and has no headset option.

I set it so that it will not swap to handsfree when something touched the mic (was happening when I joined discord)

wpctl settings --save bluetooth.autoswitch-to-headset-profile false

But then I took it a step farther and disabled the handsfree option alltogher

mkdir -p ~/.config/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d

cat > ~/.config/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d/50-a2dp-only.conf <<'EOF'
monitor.bluez.properties = {
  bluez5.roles = [ a2dp_sink a2dp_source ]
}
EOF

systemctl --user restart wireplumber

Now when I disconnect and reconnect they make the beep sound like they connected but they dont show up in sound. I have to forget the device and repair it every time, it auto connects to the headset when it does connect.

I am at a loss