Bluetooth unable to receive files from phone

[Glenn Brumfield]

Ubuntu 14.04.1 64-bit: Bluetooth will not receive photos or files from HTC Rezound running Android 4.0.3 OEM. I can browse files on the phone, but cannot use them (copy, transfer, etc.). If I attempt to transfer files from phone to PC, I get anOBEX error message. I also occasionally see an input/output error message. Bluetooth can send files to the phone.

Lubuntu 14.04.1 running from Live-USB is able to send & receive files & photos successfully on the same hardware.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: unity-control-center 14.04.3+14.04.20140604-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-32.57-generic 3.13.11.4
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-32-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.3
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Mon Aug 18 01:33:24 2014
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/unity-control-center
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-08-09 (8 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANGUAGE=en_US
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity-control-center
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
usr_lib_unity-control-center:
 activity-log-manager 0.9.7-0ubuntu14
 deja-dup 30.0-0ubuntu4

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

Additional information: When I select a photo on my phone to push to the PC, the Bluetooth icon on the upper taskbar momentarily changes to have a padlock on the lower-right side of the icon. After about 1 to 5 seconds, the padlock disappears. Even though the phone and PC are paired (it says so on both devices), they do not connect and remain connected. This is only the case for Ubuntu; Lubuntu works well for this.

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

I've found a workaround that is working for me: install Lubuntu Desktop Environment alongside Unity DE:

[CODE] sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop [/CODE]

My smartphone now not only pairs but connects to my PC; I can transfer photos from my phone to my PC now in both Unity and Lubuntu DE's.

The bluetooth packages have the same versions in common in Lubuntu and Unity, but Unity has more bluetooth packages in addition.

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

unity-control-center > bluez

Appears to be related to Bug # 1284308.

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

This same bluez version works with Ubuntu 14.10 current-daily-amd64 as of 20 September. Bluez pairs, connects and is able to stream a2dp stereo audio to my BT headset. This leads me to believe that the issues with Bluetooth audio streaming aren't with bluez - perhaps PulseAudio or another package.

This bug should be marked 'Invalid'.

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

I got sidetracked with audio issues - mea culpa - original issue of being unable to send photos from my phone to my PC still exist in 14.04 as well as 14.10 daily-current-amd64 as of 20 September. I can browse the phone folders from my PC but cannot do anything with those files from the PC. I am able to transfer files from the PC to the phone. The PC never pops up a window asking if I want to accept the files I attempt to send from my phone, even though the phone is paired and connected.

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

The version of bluez in utopic-desktop-amd64 as of 22 September seems to be working properly, at least for BT audio. Photo viewing is problematic but I'm suspecting obex-data-server or Nautilus rather than bluez. Closing bug.

[strk (strk)]

I'm having the same problem (lock icon showing up but no popup asking me to accept the download, and phone reporting failed attempt to send a file) with Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS, using gnome flashback desktop environment (metacity)

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

Currently appears related to Bug #1284308.

[Artscoop93 (artscoop93)]

Found a fix:
Type `sudo apt-get install gnome-user-share`

The tool to fix file reception via Bluetooth is available here:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/131570/how-do-you-make-ubuntu-accept-files-sent-over-bluetooth

Bluetooth reception on my computer from a phone stopped working after 14.10 or 14.04 (and has had a history of failing before), and this tool fixed everything immediately.

[Glenn Brumfield (brumfield-glenn)]

@Artscoop93 - thanks for the suggestion, but I've had that installed since July of 2014. I'll keep checking back on this.

[Lubensius (lubensius)]

I have the same problem and would it rephrase that -
"A fresh install of Ubuntu 14.04 LTS doesn't offer any possibility to accept an OBEX Push from an Bluetooth device."

Information which setting has to be applied or which package has to be installed additionally can not be found.
'sdptool browse local' shows no OBEX or FTP. In this case no device will send a file to the ubuntu computer.
I think OBEX Push should work 'out of the box' in both directions.

[Lubensius (lubensius)]

For me - Duplicate of Bug #1406108
OBEX Push and OBEX FTP show up in 'sdptool browse local' after 'gnome-file-share-properties' and enable Bluetooth get.
--> unfortunately it still doesn’t work. Destination folder with my locale is 'Öffentlich'. This folder disappears after a OBEXPush!!!
 Is this also true for english setup?