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FP6: Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) connections do not play audio

  • /e/OS version: /e/OS 3.2-a15-20251022539003-official-FP6

Previous, also affected versions:

  • /e/OS 3.1.4-a15-20250915526528-official-FP6
  • /e/OS 3.0.4-a15-202507085007307-official-FP6

Other Details:

The problem

Trying to play audio via Bluetooth LE does not work. The audio source (Firefox/Tidal/Spotify) plays, but no audio gets transmitted/can be heard.

I recreated the same test setup on a new Google Pixel (from a friend) with Stock Android, and it worked perfectly the first time.

Steps to reproduce

For LinkBuds Open:

  1. Install Sony Sound Connect App
  2. Link your LinkBuds Open to the phone via bluetooth
  3. In the Sound Connect App, enable Bluetooth LE mode
  4. In the android settings, enable Bluetooth LE for the LinkBuds
  5. Try to play any audio

Technical details

I installed the Sony Sound Connect app and activated BTLE. I activated BTLE in the Bluetooth settings. I started an audio source in Firefox/Spotify/Tidal, the audio "played" but did not sound from any speaker.

I recreated the same on a new Google Pixel (from a friend) with Stock Android, and it worked perfectly the first time.

I tested this with my Sony LinkBuds Open. These are BTLE compatible. The LinkBuds support Bluetooth 5.3, AAC, LC3/​LE Audio, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and Multipoint.

This issue peristed after my upgrade from /e/OS a15-3.0.1-official to a15-3.1.4-official.

Changing Developer Settings did not help either, I tried with the following:

  • Enable BTLE Broadcast UI Preview
  • Bypass BTLE allowlist
  • Bypass BTLE hardware offload
  • BT AVRCP version 1.5->1.6
  • BT MAP version 1.2->1.4

The tests from above were made with default dev-settings on both devices.

Edited by Arty / Kai