Arch Linux Bluetooth Connectivity Guide

Jun 1, 2026 · Arch Linux, Bluetooth, Linux

Table of contents

Installation

sudo pacman -S bluez bluez-utils

Systemd Service Management

sudo systemctl start bluetooth.service
sudo systemctl enable bluetooth.service
sudo systemctl stop bluetooth.service
sudo systemctl restart bluetooth.service
sudo systemctl status bluetooth.service

Bluetoothctl CLI Commands

Type bluetoothctl in your terminal to enter the interactive shell, then use these commands:

Command	Description
`power on` / `off`	Turn the Bluetooth radio on or off
`scan on` / `off`	Start or stop searching for nearby devices
`devices`	List all discovered and known devices
`paired-devices`	List all successfully paired devices
`pair <MAC>`	Pair with a specific device
`trust <MAC>`	Trust the device (allows automatic reconnects)
`connect <MAC>`	Establish a connection to the device
`disconnect <MAC>`	Disconnect from the device
`remove <MAC>`	Unpair and delete the device from system memory
`exit`	Quit the bluetoothctl shell

Real Example: Connect a Bluetooth Headset

Walk through pairing and connecting a headset from scratch:

sudo systemctl start bluetooth.service

bluetoothctl

power on
scan on
scan off
pair AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
trust AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
connect AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
exit