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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Bluetooth controller auto connect

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    bluetoothcontroller
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    • M
      mxs @mxs
      last edited by mxs

      I tried all 3 connect options (default, boot, and background) and none of those are working. Let me make sure I am attempting this correctly. When I start the system it automatically starts Emulation Station and RetroPie. When I first turn it on, I then click the home button on the controllers which makes it give a slow constant white light flash while it looks for a connection. Is this the right mode as opposed to the pairing mode when it does a short blast of white flashes every 3 or 4 seconds?
      When I turn on the controller it attempts to connect for maybe 30 seconds then turns back off.

      I just removed the Bluetooth controller then paired/connected it again, and see that it held the button configuration. I may have been having difficulty because I have had other controllers, a mouse, and a keyboard connected at different times and they may have interfered or been taking the 'Port 1' in games.

      So now I am down to the issue being that the controller will not connect unless I readd it each time I restart the machine in the Bluetooth menu.

      mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mituM
        mitu Global Moderator @mxs
        last edited by mitu

        @mxs said in Bluetooth controller auto connect:

        . Is this the right mode as opposed to the pairing mode when it does a short blast of white flashes every 3 or 4 seconds?

        Yes, most likely. Assuming the same behavior as a genuine DS4 controller, the flashing lights are specific to the pairing mode.

        When I turn on the controller it attempts to connect for maybe 30 seconds then turns back off.

        Right, so no automatic re-connection. Any chance on getting the debug log I mentioned a while ago ?

        I may have been having difficulty because I have had other controllers, a mouse, and a keyboard connected at different times and they may have interfered or been taking the 'Port 1' in games.

        A keyboard/mouse will not take over the 'Port 1', only a controller.

        So now I am down to the issue being that the controller will not connect unless I readd it each time I restart the machine in the Bluetooth menu.

        Unfortunately I think this is a controller issue, not something that's caused by RaspiOS/Linux (RetroPie just uses the OS's Bluetooth stack). Maybe a debug log would show something of help, but ultimately any paired device should re-connect automatically to it's partner when it's powered on.

        Does the controller work with another PC ? Leaving aside a PS4, does it work properly (i.e. reconnects after a start/restart) to a PC running Windows/Linux ?

        EDIT: just to make sure, is your RetroPie system updated - with the OS packages also ?

        M 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • M
          mxs @mitu
          last edited by

          @mitu said in Bluetooth controller auto connect:

          Right, so no automatic re-connection. Any chance on getting the debug log I mentioned a while ago ?

          I'm not completely familiar with how to do the debug part. I did open a terminal and attempt to connect to the controllers while in desktop and was unsuccessful. I then attempted to connect via the Manage Bluetooth devices icon in the tray with the Wireless Controller -> Connect option and this is what it said in terminal...

          [NEW] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Wireless Controller
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Modalias: usb:v054Cp09CCd0100
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E UUIDs: 00001124-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E UUIDs: 00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Connected: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Bonded: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E UUIDs: 00001124-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E UUIDs: 00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E ServicesResolved: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Paired: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E WakeAllowed: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E ServicesResolved: no
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Connected: no
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Trusted: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E Connected: yes
          [CHG] Device 8D:AB:C5:B3:48:0E ServicesResolved: yes

          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 Connected: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 Bonded: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 UUIDs: 00001124-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 UUIDs: 00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 ServicesResolved: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 Paired: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 WakeAllowed: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 ServicesResolved: no
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 Connected: no
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 Trusted: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 Connected: yes
          [CHG] Device 16:3F:AD:A3:05:C4 ServicesResolved: yes

          They did connect with the blue and red lights on the controller so that was successful.

          If you can let me know what I need to do for the debug part I can attempt that.

          mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mituM
            mitu Global Moderator @mxs
            last edited by

            @mxs said in Bluetooth controller auto connect:

            If you can let me know what I need to do for the debug part I can attempt that.

            See:

            If that doesn't work, you should enable debugging (see https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Bluetooth, on the debugging section) and post the error/info messages shown by bluetoothd.

            M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • M
              mxs @mitu
              last edited by

              @mitu said in Bluetooth controller auto connect:

              Does the controller work with another PC ? Leaving aside a PS4, does it work properly (i.e. reconnects after a start/restart) to a PC running Windows/Linux ?

              EDIT: just to make sure, is your RetroPie system updated - with the OS packages also ?

              I don't really have another bluetooth computer to test the controllers with.

              All of the OS packages are updated.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • M
                mxs @mitu
                last edited by

                @mitu I read the debugging part but I don't really understand it as I am very new with Linux. I attempted and did the stop and start commands it said, but I don't know what I am supposed to be looking for after that.

                mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • mituM
                  mitu Global Moderator @mxs
                  last edited by

                  @mxs If you've enabled debugging, then run the following command

                  journalctl -f -u bluetoothd

                  This will print the bluetoothd debug messages in real-time. Power up the controller and see what's printed on the terminal after the power up. Leave it to time-out and then post the messages on the screen.

                  Press Ctrl+C to interrupt the journalctl command and get back to the command prompt.

                  M 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • M
                    mxs @mitu
                    last edited by

                    @mitu I will get that info next time I get a chance. If this ultimately doesn't work I am considering the 8bitdo SN30 and Pro 2 controllers, both Bluetooth versions. The Pro 2 seems to be a better controller, just looking for advice between the two and whether they are known to auto connect.

                    mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • mituM
                      mitu Global Moderator @mxs
                      last edited by

                      Both 8bitDo controllers are ok and work with Linux/RetroPie. You can also get a genune DualShock 4, is very well supported.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • M
                        mxs @mitu
                        last edited by

                        @mitu I wasn't able to get the debugging to work, I don't think I know how to do that correctly. Ultimately I installed and configured this and it seems to be working.
                        https://github.com/eberhab/bluetooth-repair

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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