Created attachment 166039 [details] Bluetooth being on by default and its system tray widget showing a confusing icon and message SUMMARY Bluetooth should not be ON by default STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Install KDE Neon on a laptop or other device that has a Bluetooth adapter 2. 3. Look at Bluetooth status in the system tray widget or in System Settings OBSERVED RESULT 1. Bluetooth is ON by default 2. Confusing icon and message (No devices found), suggesting that some devices were searched for. EXPECTED RESULT 1.Bluetooth to be OFF by default. 2. The confusing icon and message to not be there as I have not initiated any search for devices action. Did the computer do it by itself, without asking me? What has it searched for if I never paired any device and I also haven't searched for any device to pair and I have never sent a file to any device? 3. I expect that the Bluetooth adapter is not on by default, potentially consuming more energy, doing more EM radiation, heating up the adapter and the laptop more. On my laptop, I've seen in the past that after prolonged used of a Bluetooth connection (mouse or game controller) the connection just stops working, even restarting the laptop will not help for a while. I assume it's because the adapter heats up and then drops all the connections, so it's better to have it off as long as possible and not have it on if it's not used. 4. Because of the so many Bluetooth vulnerabilities, most guides recommend the Bluetooth to be off when not used: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/blueborne-vulnerabilities-impact-over-5-billion-bluetooth-enabled-devices/ https://itigic.com/why-turning-off-bluetooth-when-not-in-use-is-a-wise-move/ https://us.norton.com/blog/mobile/bluetooth-security I am wondering if I had more than one Bluetooth adapter, like a few more connected by USB. I would definitely not expect to also have those ones on by default too, draining even more energy and adding more vulnerabilities. I expect the Bluetooth to be turned on only if I try to send a file, try to pair a device or some devices have been paired in the past, which some of them might be ON and need to be auto-connected. And in the cases of: -Sending a file to a device - Searching for a device by not finding it or not pairing to any I expect that the Bluetooth turn itself off after some minutes, in case I forget to do it myself. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Linux/KDE Plasma: KDE Plasma Version: 6.0.0 KDE Frameworks Version: 6.0.0 Qt Version: 6.6.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Graphics Platform: Wayland Installed ISO: neon-testing-20240207-1524.iso Fully up to date: 2024-02-23
Being on by default is not KDE's choice; it's determined by the kernel and the distro, so we have to honor that. However the message being inconsistent is something that is under our control and that can be changed. I'll fix it.
I understand, thanks for explaining to me who determines Bluetooth being on or off! I will ask Debian developers what they think about it being on by default, as that's my distro of choice. I'm using KDE Neon just temporarily to give a hand with Plasma 6 testing. Thanks for changing the title, confirming it and putting it to be fixed! Between the two already existing messages, I don't know why, but the "No devices paired" seems to me more correct / what I would expect to see. Even though this kinda still leaves a bit of confusion like: No devices paired at the moment / right now? Or no devices paired in the past? Or no devices paired both in the past and right now? Maye one of the following would be better: No devices paired at the moment / Currently no devices are paired No devices were paired (which I think it's for both the past and the present) Anyway, English is not my first language, so this might be what confuses me. Also, I'm not sure if the devices paired in the past and then unpaired are still shown anywhere BTW, I tried to disconnect my Bluetooth mouse to see what happens and what is then displayed in the Bluetooth widget and I couldn't. It will disconnect it for a second and then automatically reconnect it back. Is this a known issue, is it normal? I had to turn off the mouse to get what I wanted, which still left the mouse name visible in the Bluetooth widget along with a "Connect" button, which is weird and confusing as the mouse is impossible to be connected as it's turned off. Is this normal? Does the "Connect" button tries to find it at that time, when it's pressed? Because I expected that the widget worked more similar to the Wifi networks widget, where if I turn off my routed that provides my Wifi network, the network of course disappears from that list and there is of course not connect button as there is not network to connect to. It's this a shortcoming of the Bluetooth protocol, like when a previously connected Bluetooth devices being turned off or going out of range the laptop's adapter cannot detect that?
> No devices paired at the moment / right now? > Or no devices paired in the past? > Or no devices paired both in the past and right now? Paired devices are the ones your Bluetooth chip knows about. I think Android calls them "Saved devices" or at least that's how it translates back from russian. "Paired at the moment" are being "Connected". This part is simple. > BTW, I tried to disconnect my Bluetooth mouse to see what happens and what is then displayed in the Bluetooth widget and I couldn't. > It will disconnect it for a second and then automatically reconnect it back. Which mouse vendor/model are you using? I experience a similar behavior with Logitech MX Keys keyboard: it autoconnects when being touched or even hovered by a palm. > I had to turn off the mouse to get what I wanted, which still left the mouse name visible in the Bluetooth widget along with a "Connect" button, which is weird and confusing as the mouse is impossible to be connected as it's turned off. At this point I wonder, have you used Bluetooth on other systems? It's a standard behavior. There is no way to know whether a connection would succeed until you try; and also a user might turn their device on while pressing "Connect" at the same time, so that the device isn't even ON when that happens but the connection will eventually be established after a couple of seconds. > Because I expected that the widget worked more similar to the Wifi networks widget Bluetooth is not Wi-Fi, don't expect it to work the same way (:
Git commit 78ae054c3c7d3b1c1d353ecff79fc678b456d16d by Nate Graham. Committed on 05/08/2024 at 01:45. Pushed by ngraham into branch 'master'. Improve placeholder messages and "Add" action text - The KCM's message says "no devices paired", so echo that terminology with the "Add" button's text. - Make the widget's placeholder message text and icon consistent with those of the KCM, which are better. FIXED-IN: 6.2.0 M +2 -2 src/applet/package/contents/ui/FullRepresentation.qml M +1 -1 src/applet/package/contents/ui/main.qml M +2 -2 src/kcm/ui/main.qml https://invent.kde.org/plasma/bluedevil/-/commit/78ae054c3c7d3b1c1d353ecff79fc678b456d16d