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Amit Moshe
Asked: 2018-10-22 14:38:52 +0800 CST

Use Bluetooth headset with microphone (HFP) in Ubuntu 18.04

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My Bluetooth headset (IFROGZ Toxix Wireless) supports the Headset Head Unit profile (headset_head_unit or HSP/HFP) and the audio playback profile (a2dp_sink). It pairs and connects successfully with my Ubuntu 18.04 laptop. However, when connected, in the Settings > Sound menu, it is only listed under Output and not under Input (i.e. the mic is not recognized).

Therefore, I can only use it for playback, and not as a headset for video meetings, which poses a big problem for me as all my work is done on this computer.

I found that this is a known bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/1768625

Are there any workarounds / pathces / solutions for this?

(been using Ubunu for years but very much a noob here when it comes to the inner workings)

bluetoothctl output (note it supports Handsfree HFP but not Headset HSP)

Device 61:21:34:24:4F:20 (public)
Name: IFROGZ Toxix Wireless
Alias: IFROGZ Toxix Wireless
Class: 0x00240404
Icon: audio-card
Paired: yes
Trusted: yes
Blocked: no
Connected: yes
LegacyPairing: no
UUID: Audio Sink                (0000110b-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
UUID: A/V Remote Control Target (0000110c-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
UUID: A/V Remote Control        (0000110e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
UUID: Handsfree                 (0000111e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)

pacmd list-cards output (note at the end that headset-input has available: no):

$ pacmd list-cards
2 card(s) available.
index: 0
name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 7
properties:
    alsa.card = "0"
    alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
    alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xb1328000 irq 134"
    alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
    device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
    sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
    device.bus = "pci"
    device.vendor.id = "8086"
    device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
    device.product.id = "9d71"
    device.product.name = "Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio"
    device.form_factor = "internal"
    device.string = "0"
    device.description = "Built-in Audio"
    module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
    device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
profiles:
    input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60, available: unknown)
    output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6000, available: unknown)
    output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6060, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5400, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5460, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra4: Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
    output:hdmi-stereo-extra4+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra4: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 5) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround-extra4+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 5) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra4: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 5) Output (priority 100, available: no)
    output:hdmi-surround71-extra4+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 5) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: unknown)
    off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo>
sinks:
    alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo/#0: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
sources:
    alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor/#0: Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
    alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo/#1: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
ports:
    analog-input-internal-mic: Internal Microphone (priority 8900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
    analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
    analog-output-speaker: Speakers (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
    analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9000, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
    hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "video-display"
            device.product.name = "2429W"
    hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "video-display"
    hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "video-display"
    hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "video-display"
    hdmi-output-4: HDMI / DisplayPort 5 (priority 5500, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
            device.icon_name = "video-display"
index: 1
name: <bluez_card.61_21_34_24_4F_20>
driver: <module-bluez5-device.c>
owner module: 24
properties:
    device.description = "IFROGZ Toxix Wireless"
    device.string = "61:21:34:24:4F:20"
    device.api = "bluez"
    device.class = "sound"
    device.bus = "bluetooth"
    device.form_factor = "headset"
    bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_61_21_34_24_4F_20"
    bluez.class = "0x240404"
    bluez.alias = "IFROGZ Toxix Wireless"
    device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
    device.intended_roles = "phone"
profiles:
    a2dp_sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) (priority 40, available: unknown)
    headset_head_unit: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP) (priority 30, available: no)
    off: Off (priority 0, available: yes)
active profile: <a2dp_sink>
sinks:
    bluez_sink.61_21_34_24_4F_20.a2dp_sink/#1: IFROGZ Toxix Wireless
sources:
    bluez_sink.61_21_34_24_4F_20.a2dp_sink.monitor/#2: Monitor of IFROGZ Toxix Wireless
ports:
    headset-output: Headset (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
        properties:

    headset-input: Headset (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
        properties:
microphone bluetooth headset 18.04

6 Answers

  1. I was facing the same issue with Oneplus Wireless Z Bass edition. My headset microphone was not detected by PulseAudio and the problem is that my headphones don't have HSP profile, only HFP profile. After trying for 2 days, I came to the solution of replacing PulseAudio with Pipewire sound server, which supports HSP, HFP and A2DP by itself. So there will be no need to install any other utility like ofono, phonesim. Also, to be noted that my problem wasn't resolved even after following all the steps to configure ofono in PulseAudio. So I came up with the steps to replace PulseAudio with PipeWire.

    Here is the detailed article I have written to resolve this problem, the steps of which I'm also adding here. You can follow it and most probably be able to solve your problem.

    Bluetooth headset microphone not detected

    Open your terminal and follow these steps:

    1. We will use a PPA for adding Pipewire to Ubuntu 20.04, which is maintained regularly:

      sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pipewire-debian/pipewire-upstream

    2. To update the PPA packages in your system do:

      sudo apt update

    3. Install the package:

      sudo apt install pipewire

    4. There is also a dependency needed to be installed with Pipewire, otherwise you will face the issue of “Bluetooth headset won’t connect after installing pipewire”. Install the dependency by:

      sudo apt install libspa-0.2-bluetooth

    5. Now, to install the client libraries:

      sudo apt install pipewire-audio-client-libraries

    6. Reload the daemon:

      systemctl --user daemon-reload

    7. Disable PulseAudio:

      systemctl --user --now disable pulseaudio.service pulseaudio.socket

    8. If you are on Ubuntu 20.04, you also need to “mask” the PulseAudio by:

      systemctl --user mask pulseaudio

    I am not sure but, if possible, you can try to run this on other versions too.
    9. After a new update of Pipewire, you also need to enable pipewire-media-session-service:

       systemctl --user --now enable pipewire-media-session.service

    1. You can ensure that Pipewire is now running through:

      pactl info

      This command will give the following output, in Server Name you can see:

      PulseAudio (on PipeWire 0.3.28)

      Things should be working by now and you can see your microphone.

    If it doesn’t show up, then try restarting Pipewire by this command:

    systemctl --user restart pipewire

    If it’s still not showing your microphone, you can try rebooting once and remove and pair your Bluetooth device again to check if it works now.

    I hope I have helped you solve your problem.

    If you want to rollback all the changes we did, you can do it by using:

    systemctl --user unmask pulseaudio
systemctl --user --now enable pulseaudio.service pulseaudio.socket
    • 28

  2. The problem here is that your IFROGZ Toxix Wireless do not support Headset profile (HSP). They only support Handsfree profile (HFP) as can be seen in your bluetoothctl output. PulseAudio on the other hand does not support HFP out of the box, as is explained here: https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/PulseAudio/Documentation/User/Bluetooth/

    So your only options are to install oFono or to patch and compile PulseAudio yourself. Patch is available here: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/-/merge_requests/94

    • 2

  3. There main reason the HFP profile is not available is the Pulseaudio drivers have removed support for it. Any Bluetooth device can now only connect via A2DP configuration which does not support on-device microphone. I myself had the same problem and had spend around a week to figure out the solution that works without much hassle. You can follow the instruction mentioned at https://eternalgeek.in/index.php/2021/06/13/solving-mic-of-wireless-earbuds-not-working-on-ubuntu-20/

    Hope this helps and save time at your end!

    • 2

  4. I was facing the same issue for a long time. After researching I fixed this issue by this command as there were missing multimedia extras plugins on my system.

    sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

    make sure to restart the system after this. Also, before trying this make sure you research a little as it may work for me but might not work for you.

    • 1

  5. I posted an answer to a similar problem over here: https://askubuntu.com/a/1223200/12717

    Note that you need to switch to HSP/HFP mode to be able to use the microphone. In my case, that setting didn't actually work until I used the workaround in that AskUbuntu answer.

    • 0

  6. Installing Blueman allowed me to get my Tozo T6 earbuds working.

    sudo apt-get install blueman

    After launching Blueman, right-click on the headphones and click "Setup." Under "Connect to:" select headset, click next. Then right-click on the headphones again, then audio profile, then select Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP).

    I did have to relaunch Blueman and do the above steps again after disconnecting and reconnecting the earbuds. Attempting to switch the audio profile without running setup failed, but this workaround seems to do the trick. I am on Ubuntu 19.10.

    • 0