Installing Bluetooth on Debian LXQt

The following shell script will install Bluetooth support on Debian LXQt:

#!/bin/bash
# Debian LXQt - Fresh Bluetooth & PipeWire Audio Setup
# Cleans old configs, reinstalls required components, and ensures working Bluetooth + audio integration (PipeWire only).

set -e

echo "🧹 Cleaning old Bluetooth and audio setup..."
sudo systemctl stop bluetooth.service || true
sudo systemctl stop pipewire.service 2>/dev/null || true
sudo systemctl stop wireplumber.service 2>/dev/null || true

# Remove old audio/Bluetooth components (PulseAudio, PipeWire remnants, etc.)
sudo apt purge -y bluez* blueman pulseaudio* pipewire* wireplumber* libspa-0.2-bluetooth rfkill || true
sudo apt autoremove -y
sudo apt clean

echo "🔧 Updating system..."
sudo apt update -y && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

echo "📦 Installing base Bluetooth + PipeWire stack..."
sudo apt install -y \
    bluez bluez-obexd rfkill blueman \
    pipewire pipewire-audio pipewire-pulse wireplumber libspa-0.2-bluetooth

echo "⚙️ Enabling and starting Bluetooth service..."
sudo systemctl enable bluetooth.service
sudo systemctl restart bluetooth.service

echo "🔓 Unblocking Bluetooth radio..."
sudo rfkill unblock bluetooth

echo "🔁 Restarting PipeWire audio services..."
systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user enable pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

echo "🧠 Setting autostart for Blueman in LXQt..."
mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
cat > ~/.config/autostart/blueman-applet.desktop <<'EOF'
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Blueman Applet
Exec=blueman-applet
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
EOF

echo "✅ Bluetooth + PipeWire Audio setup complete!"
echo "👉 Reboot or log out/in to apply changes and show the tray icon."

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Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

DevOps viewpoints are those of its owner. You may share and adapt this article for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given. Attribution should include:

Title: Installing Bluetooth on Debian LXQt
Author: peter arthur martin
Original URL: https://www.woodcentral.com/-/peter/installing-bluetooth-on-debian-lxqt/
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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