Make Bluetooth headset work properly in Ubuntu

2022-02-14

Problem: missing BT headset mic in input devices. So I can use only my BT headphones with internal laptop mic.

Solution: switch to PipeWire.

Install PipeWire

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pipewire-debian/pipewire-upstream
sudo apt update
sudo apt install pipewire gstreamer1.0-pipewire libspa-0.2-bluetooth pipewire-audio-client-libraries

Reload the list of SystemD daemons:

systemctl --user daemon-reload

Disable Pulseaudio

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

...and enable Pipewire

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

Check out

pactl info

Server Name should be smth like PulseAudio (on PipeWire 0.3.45)

Now you can switch between Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP) and High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) profiles.

For switching profiles quickly via terminal bind aliases:

alias sound_good="pactl set-card-profile $(pactl list cards |grep 'Name: bluez' |awk '{print $2}') a2dp-sink"
alias sound_talk="pactl set-card-profile $(pactl list cards |grep 'Name: bluez' |awk '{print $2}') headset-head-unit"

If you have audio delay when watching movies / playing games, install pavucontrol (PulseAudio Volume Control):

sudo apt install pavucontrol

...and change Latency offset in Output Devices -> Advanced.

Links:

https://journal.mach5.web.id/2021/06/fixing-bluetooth-hsp-hfp-profile-on-ubuntu-20-10/

http://pvh.wp.sanbi.ac.za/2021/08/06/solving-bluetooth-audio-delay-on-ubuntu-20-04/