Wi-Fi & Bluetooth at fresh install of Kubuntu 24.04 LTS. «Hard blocks» gone, Wi-Fi works OK now. «Soft blocks» still disable Bluetooth.

[Bas Roufs]

Cannot enable WIFI & Bluethooth at fresh install of Kubuntu 24.04 LTS. «Hard blocks» or something else?

Update from the bug reporter, Bas Roufs, Tuesday 7 May 2024, at about 12.30 CEST, Mook, near Nijmegen, The Netherlands:

For:

Expert users and developers of Kubuntu and/or other flavours of *Ubuntu, who know about WIFI and Bluetooth - especially in connection with the package rfkill.

Cc.:

KDE Experts.

Previous versions of this report I have submitted here:

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=486368

KDE experts who have replied me there, emphasised that the issue needs to be resolved «downstream», in my case at the level of *Ubuntu.

INTRODUCTION.
============

@ Kubuntu and other *Ubuntu expert users.....

After checking the settings related to WIFI (and Bluetooth), I ended up filing a bug report at KDE:

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=486368

According to the feedback I got from KDE experts after doing so, the problem is real. However, those experts say it cannot be solved at the side of KDE. It needs to be solved «downstream», so at the side of Kubuntu and other Ubuntu flavours in our case. That's why, i finally file this bug report.

THE PROBLEM IN BRIEF.
====================

So far, I do not manage to get WIFI enabled by the useful steps at a fresh install of Kubuntu 24.04 LTS, at this laptop:
Lenovo Thinkpad X230 i5, along with 4 GB RAM, 250 GB SSD. A quick internet search clarifies me that I am not the only one who deals with this problem.

I do work now with wired internet. However, this wired connection does not help me so far to get the WIFI enabled. The same applies for Bluetooth. Neither GUI approaches, nor command line solves anything so far.

Ticking the box for enabling WIFI is not possible. The same applies for Bluetooth. Check the screenshots I send along with this bug report.
It's about the graphical check down under - fruitlessly trying to tick the box to enable WIFI or the one to enable Bluetooth.
At each screenshot, you can see a red arrow pointing at a WIFI or Bluetooth check box that cannot be ticked.

Here, I go through the screeenshots that I send along this bug report:

1. Mouse at WIFI connection corner right down under. I indicate the place to look at by means of a red arrow.

1a. Focus at mouse pointer at WIFI connection corner right down under.

2. Enabling WIFI not possible. The red arrow and the mouse pointer point at the box that cannot be ticked with a view to enabling WIFI.

2a. Detail - Enabling WIFI not possible. A more detailed look at the corner where the red arrow points at the box that cannot be ticked.

3. Bluetooth disbabled. The red arrow and the mouse pointer both point at the area where bluetooth should need to be enabled.

3a. Impossible to get Bluetooth enabled. After the click indicated by image 3, I end up here.... The button aimed at enabling Bluetooth cannot
be toggled. This button is being indicated by the mouse pointer and the red arrow.

A few terminal checks so far do not solve the problem. However, more info comes to the surface. Take a look at the next paragraph.

COMMAND LINE OUTPUT REPORTS.
=============================
Terminal checks derived from, amongst other pages:

https://www.baeldung.com/linux/connect-network-cli

https://www.baeldung.com/linux/disable-wireless-network

bas@Camino:~$ iw dev
phy#0
        Interface wlp3s0
                ifindex 3
                wdev 0x1
                addr 9c:4e:36:aa:5c:d0
                type managed
                txpower 0.00 dBm
                multicast TXQ:
                        qsz-byt qsz-pkt flows drops marks overlmt hashcol tx-bytes tx-packets
                        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
bas@Camino:~$ sudo ip link set wlp3s0 up
RTNETLINK answers: Operation not possible due to RF-kill
bas@Camino:~$
bas@Camino:~$ nmcli radio wifi disabled
bas@Camino:~$ nmcli radi wifi on
bas@Camino:~$ sudo nmcli radio wifi on
bas@Camino:~$ sudo ip link set wlp3s0 up
RTNETLINK answers: Operation not possible due to RF-kill
bas@Camino:~$
bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
bas@Camino:~$

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
=================
1. Check my screeenshots attached to this bug report. See also above, «THE PROBLEM IN BRIEF».

2. Command line checks summarised here - see here above, «COMMAND LINE OUTPUT REPORTS.»,

What I expected to happen.
=========================
Enabling WIFI should need to be possible via either command line, the graphical approach or both of them.
In early April 2024, only some weeks ago, I have fresh-installed Kubuntu 22.04.4 LTS at exactly the same laptop, with the same SSD, the same hardware specs and BIOS settings. At that configuration, WIFI worked out of the box, simply correctly. Bluethooth worked also - however, with hiccups and interruptions. I expected similar results after fresh-installing Kubuntu 24.04 LTS. More info about my laptop: see here below, «Software and hardware system info».

what happened instead.
========================
So far, it has not yet been possible to enable WIFI and Bluethooth. At the GUI screenshots I send along with this report, you can see the check boxes that CANNOT be ticked with a view to enabling WIFI and Bluethooth.

The terminal checks summarised here above, produce some useful info. However, they do so far not bring any solution that helps to enable WIFI and BLuetooth.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
====================
Linux/KDE Plasma:
(available in About System)

Software and hardware system info
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Operating System: Kubuntu 24.04
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.11
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.115.0
Qt Version: 5.15.13
Kernel Version: 6.8.0-31-generic (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 4 × Intel® Core™ i5-3320M CPU @ 2.60GHz
Memory: 3,5 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Manufacturer: LENOVO
Product Name: 2325AZ8
System Version: ThinkPad X230

bas@Camino:~$ lsb_release -rd
No LSB modules are available.
Description: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Release: 24.04

bas@Camino:~$ apt-cache policy rfkill
rfkill:
  Installed: 2.39.3-9ubuntu6
  Candidate: 2.39.3-9ubuntu6
  Version table:
 *** 2.39.3-9ubuntu6 500
        500 http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

WHAT IS THE CORE ISSUE? HARD BLOCKS AND/OR SOMETHING ELSE?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On Wednesday 1 May 2024, a comment came in about this passage in my bug report at KDE, https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=486368

> bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list
> 0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
> Soft blocked: yes
> Hard blocked: yes
> 1: phy0: Wireless LAN
> Soft blocked: no
> Hard blocked: yes

This is the comment I point at:

«(...)

If it is hardblocked, it cannot be enabled in software. E.g., see https://askubuntu.com/questions/98702/how-to-unblock-something-listed-in-rfkill

Unfortunately this seems like a downstream configuration issue and I would suggest asking for help on the distribution forums.
(...)»

More about Bluetooth.
---------------------

Here below, I carry out some checks recommended in this article:

https://community.spiceworks.com/t/how-to-verify-bluetooth-using-linux-command/961891

bas@Camino:~$ bluetoothctl -v
bluetoothctl: 5.72
bas@Camino:~$

No error report so far - there is apparently SOME bluetooth in the system.

Now, I check whether bluetooth is running or not.....

bas@Camino:~$ systemctl status bluetooth
● bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2024-05-03 14:49:51 CEST; 5h 40min ago
       Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)
   Main PID: 1931 (bluetoothd)
     Status: "Running"
      Tasks: 1 (limit: 4220)
     Memory: 552.0K (peak: 2.9M swap: 412.0K swap peak: 412.0K)
        CPU: 98ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/bluetooth.service
             └─1931 /usr/libexec/bluetooth/bluetoothd

mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: Starting SDP server
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support csip plugin
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: profiles/audio/micp.c:micp_init() D-Bus experimental not enabled
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support micp plugin
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support vcp plugin
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support mcp plugin
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support bass plugin
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support bap plugin
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: Bluetooth management interface 1.22 initialized
mei 03 14:49:51 Camino bluetoothd[1931]: src/profile.c:register_profile() :1.53 tried to register 0000111e-00>
lines 1-22/22 (END)

Apparently, it is running, however, with some complications. How to fix them? Can anybody help with this?

Now, I try this.....

bas@Camino:~$ sudo systemctl start bluetooth
[sudo] password for bas:
bas@Camino:~$

No error report here.

Now, I try again this command:
systemctl status bluetooth

The result I get is exactly as above.

Now, I gonna check whether or not all required packages have been installed:

sudo apt list --installed | grep blue

bas@Camino:~$ sudo apt list --installed | grep blue
[sudo] password for bas:

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

bluedevil/noble,now 4:5.27.11-0ubuntu2 amd64 [installed,automatic]
bluez-cups/noble,now 5.72-0ubuntu5 amd64 [installed,automatic]
bluez-obexd/noble,now 5.72-0ubuntu5 amd64 [installed,automatic]
bluez/noble,now 5.72-0ubuntu5 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libbluetooth3/noble,now 5.72-0ubuntu5 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libkf5bluezqt-data/noble,noble,now 5.115.0-0ubuntu6 all [installed,automatic]
libkf5bluezqt6/noble,now 5.115.0-0ubuntu6 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libspa-0.2-bluetooth/noble,now 1.0.5-1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
qml-module-org-kde-bluezqt/noble,now 5.115.0-0ubuntu6 amd64 [installed,automatic]

Apparently, everything needed has been installed.

Now, I look at the «bluetooth adapter» and connectivity issues.

sudo hciconfig hci0 reset

bas@Camino:~$ sudo hciconfig hci0 reset
Can't get device info: No such device

This is weird....This points at some hardare issue? On the other hand... at exactly the same laptop with the same specs, I DID work with Bluetooth. However, it was not reliable. There were hiccups.

By toggling FN + F5, I tried to get Bluetooth and or WIFI working.... But the test «sudo hciconfig hci0 reset» delivers the same non-result.

Any conflicting Bluetooth related services running? I try this command....

sudo systemctl list-units | grep -i bluetooth

bas@Camino:~$ sudo systemctl list-units | grep -i bluetooth
  bluetooth.service loaded active running Bluetooth service
bas@Camino:~$

Apparently, there is one process running. But I still cannot «enable» Bluetooth.

No clue what to do next to get Bluetooth running.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: HARDWARE ISSUES OR SOMETHING ELSE?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For both WIFI and Bluetooth, command output results shared in this report seemingly point at hardware issues, hard blocs, etc.On the other hand, at exactly the same laptop along with the same BIOS settings, I WAS able to work with those techniques along with Kubuntu 22.04.4 LTS - WIFI out of the box, BLuetooth with some hiccups and interruptions. Terminal output reports shared here above, indeed do point at «hard blocks» for both WIFI and Bluetooth. Also a few Kubuntu expert users I spoke with so far, think in the same direction, which I understand. On the other hand - Only a few weeks ago, I have been working with Kubuntu 22.04.4 LTS at exactly the same laptop with the same hardware and the same BIOS settings. Then, WIFI worked out of the box and Bluetooth with some hiccups and interruptions. BIOS settings at my Lenovo X230: NO «security» enabled. No BIOS password!

Provisional conclusion: I am really not sure whether «hard blocks» or any other hardware issues are the core issue.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: rfkill 2.39.3-9ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-31.31-generic 6.8.1
Uname: Linux 6.8.0-31-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.28.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Tue May 7 12:15:21 2024
InstallationDate: Installed on 2024-04-29 (8 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat" - Release amd64 (20240425.1)
SourcePackage: util-linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Bas Roufs (basroufs)]

Tests related to Bluetooth:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/641892/hcitool-scan-does-not-find-my-bluetooth-device

According to this article, the command hcitool dev should need to deliver a list of Bluetooth devices. I get this non-result - though I have been using Bluetooth at the same laptop, when it ran on Kubuntu 22.04.4. LTS:

bas@Camino:~$ hcitool dev
Devices:
bas@Camino:~$
bas@Camino:~$ hcitool -i hci1 scan
Invalid device: No such device

bas@Camino:~$ sudo hcitool scan
[sudo] password for bas:
Device is not available: No such device

WIFI and Bluetooth related tests based at this article:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/474219/wifi-is-hard-locked

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill unblock all
bas@Camino:~$
(Apparently, nothing happens.)

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list all
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
bas@Camino:~$

The keyboard key combination FN and F5 at my Lenovo Thinkpad X230 should need to switch on and switch off WIFI. However, nothing happens. I keep getting this test result:

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list all
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes

Info at page 47 of the hardware manual related to Lenovo Thinkpad X230: FN+F5 ....Enables or disables the built-in wireless networking features.
Notes: If you want to use Fn+F5 to enable or disable the wireless features, the following
device drivers must be installed on the computer beforehand:
• Power Management Driver
• On Screen Display Utility
• Wireless device drivers

Question - is there a way to get such drivers and to get them working at Kubuntu 24.04 LTS?

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1325028/wifi-gets-hard-blocked-on-ubuntu-20-04-2-hp-15-series

bas@Camino:~$ sudo rfkill unblock 0
[sudo] password for bas:
bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
bas@Camino:~$

bas@Camino:~$ sudo rfkill unblock all
[sudo] password for bas:
bas@Camino:~$ sudo update-initramfs -u
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.8.0-31-generic
bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
bas@Camino:~$

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1436900/wi-fi-and-bluetooth-got-hardblocked-after-upgrading-xubuntu-from-22-04-to-22-1

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list all
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
bas@Camino:~$

Test after removing and reinserting battery:

bas@Camino:~$ sudo rfkill list all
[sudo] password for bas:
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: yes
bas@Camino:~$

SUMMARY SO FAR:

WIFI and Bluetooth works at Kubuntu 22.04.4. LTS. However, it does not at Ku...

[Bas Roufs (basroufs)]

WIFI issue solved, however Bluetooth not yet.

This video has helped to solve the WIFI issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzFYP8WjXo

A tiny switch at the front side of the laptop had turned off the WIFI function. I switched the switch back to the on positition - from that moment on, it was no problem any more to enable WIFI.

Terminal tests points in the same direction......

bas@Camino:~$ iw dev
phy#0
        Interface wlp3s0
                ifindex 3
                wdev 0x1
                addr 9c:4e:36:aa:5c:d0
                ssid ArcoBaleno
                type managed
                channel 11 (2462 MHz), width: 20 MHz, center1: 2462 MHz
                txpower 15.00 dBm
                multicast TXQ:
                        qsz-byt qsz-pkt flows drops marks overlmt hashcol tx-bytes tx-packets
                        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
bas@Camino:~$

sudo ip link set wlp3s0 up
bas@Camino:~$

Now I check both WIFI and Bluethooth...

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

For WIFI ALL blocks have been eliminated now - the hard and the soft ones. There is no hardware problem anymore that blocks possibilities to enable WIFI.Software settings are also OK now apparently.

Bluetooth has no hard blocks anymore - no problems from the point of view of hardware. However, there are still one or a few problems in the realm of software - soft blocks.

Now, I focus more on Bluetooth.

bas@Camino:~$ bluetoothctl -v
bluetoothctl: 5.72
bas@Camino:~$

Apparently, there is Bluetooth software present.

Another test delivers the following output....

bas@Camino:~$ systemctl status bluetooth
● bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2024-05-10 22:24:26 CEST; 1h 16min ago
       Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)
   Main PID: 2378 (bluetoothd)
     Status: "Running"
      Tasks: 1 (limit: 4221)
     Memory: 988.0K (peak: 2.9M swap: 392.0K swap peak: 408.0K)
        CPU: 110ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/bluetooth.service
             └─2378 /usr/libexec/bluetooth/bluetoothd

mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: Starting SDP server
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support csip plugin
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: profiles/audio/micp.c:micp_init() D-Bus experimental not enabled
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support micp plugin
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support vcp plugin
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support mcp plugin
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support bass plugin
mei 10 22:24:26 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: src/plugin.c:plugin_init() System does not support bap plugin
mei 10 22:24:27 ConnectON bluetoothd[2378]: Bluetooth mana...

[Bas Roufs (basroufs)]

Short summary....

WIFI & Bluethooth at fresh install of Kubuntu 24.04 LTS.
«Hard blocks» gone. «Soft blocks» for Bluetooth only.

[Bas Roufs (basroufs)]

UPDATE AND SUMMARY 11 MAY 2024, 12.00 CEST.

Be reassured. Right now, I am writing this message under my veranda in my garden, while using Wi-Fi. Thanks God, this is possible now. Hallelujah! The core issue in this context is a tiny switch at the left front side of my laptop - Lenovo X230, product Name: 2325AZ8, Serial Number: R9XTT6X. I bought this device late March 2024. Then, I thought the switch was related to opening and closing the lid of the laptop. After watching one of the videos you showed me yesterday, it became clear to me that the switch was related to turning off and on Wi-Fi. The hard block has been caused by the switch in the off position. The devil is in the detail.....

About Bluethooth... I have checked this page....

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1465957/bluetooth-manager-not-connecting-to-devices-after-upgrading-to-ubuntu-23-04

This story is a good summary of my Bluethooth experience about one month ago, when I was still at Kubuntu 22.04.4 LTS along with the same laptop at which I am working now. Also in my case, connections with «trusted» devices were constantly being interrupted. I have carried out the advises I found there - however, it does not or not yet work out.

Like this, I have tried to get rid of the «soft block» that still prevents Bluetooth from working properly.

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill unblock 0
bas@Camino:~$

Let's test now...

bas@Camino:~$ rfkill list
0: tpacpi_bluetooth_sw: Bluetooth
        Soft blocked: yes
        Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

Wi-Fi is absolutely fine now. Bluetooth - no hard block, but the «soft» block still persists.

Now, I try this....

Systemsettings -> "Bluetooth" -> "Enable"
and then either "Add New Device…" or "Configure…".

I also tried the same by clicking the Bluethooth applet right down under.

In both case: no success yet. I have tried to enable Bluetooth several times like this. Now, I had a device with me I wanted to add.... However, I already get stuck when trying to enable Bluetooth. «Adding a new device» is still not possible.

Provisional conclusion for now.... Wi-Fi works absolutely fine now. No hard blocks and also no soft blocks.
The hard blocks have been removed for Bluethooth too. However, I still do not yet manage to get Bluethooth enabled by lifting it's «soft» blacks.