I'm experiencing a similar issue on Thinkpad x220 running Linux Mint 18 (based on Ubuntu 16.04) with kernel 4.4.0-21. In my case, rfkill unblock needs to be called twice in order to fully enable (and soft unblock) bluetooth:
# rfkill block bluetooth
# rfkill list bluetooth
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
# rfkill unblock bluetooth
# rfkill list bluetooth
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
5: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
(At this stage, Bluetooth appears to be on in the Mint Bluetooth configuration dialog but can't see any devices).
# rfkill unblock bluetooth
# rfkill list bluetooth
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
5: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
I'm experiencing a similar issue on Thinkpad x220 running Linux Mint 18 (based on Ubuntu 16.04) with kernel 4.4.0-21. In my case, rfkill unblock needs to be called twice in order to fully enable (and soft unblock) bluetooth:
# rfkill block bluetooth bluetooth_ sw: Bluetooth bluetooth_ sw: Bluetooth
# rfkill list bluetooth
0: tpacpi_
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
# rfkill unblock bluetooth
# rfkill list bluetooth
0: tpacpi_
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
5: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
(At this stage, Bluetooth appears to be on in the Mint Bluetooth configuration dialog but can't see any devices).
# rfkill unblock bluetooth bluetooth_ sw: Bluetooth
# rfkill list bluetooth
0: tpacpi_
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
5: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
(Now Bluetooth works fully as expected).