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I can successfully connect my android device as audio source, and listen to music, youtube videos etc. on my laptop(that are played on android phone). But when I'm in a call, the audio doesn't go through the laptop, but it works on my bluetooth headset. If I select an option on my android phone to transfer the call via bluetooth(like I would on my headset), there's no sound on my computer...

What I tried:

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  • Here is the sourcecode for HFP for Linux, if you want to try and build it Aug 3, 2018 at 7:07
  • @Dusan Milosevic is your problem that the audio source/sink doesn't switch automatically? Also, please provide your Ubuntu version/flavor.
    – danzel
    Aug 4, 2018 at 15:44
  • You really need to reply to comments - we can't help you without knowing more.
    – Tim
    Aug 7, 2018 at 16:05
  • I'm not sure. Manual source switching often doesn't work in blueman. My ubuntu version is 18.04, bu I think it didn't work in the previous version too Aug 8, 2018 at 10:28
  • 1
    Also for me, Linux Mint 19 with Blueman app and pulseaudio. I paired Moto C Plus via bluetooth and I can listen to music from phone, but when calling it becomes mute...
    – kokbira
    Nov 14, 2018 at 15:46

1 Answer 1

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I had this problem, too. I was trying to record my phone calls with OBS. After fiddling around with various audio sources, without paying too much attention, I was able to record the call. This wasn't much use to me because the audio didn't play through the speakers, plus for some reason placing the call disabled microphone input. At the time I regarded these as two separate issues.

I realized that this proves that the problem originates not on the Android side, nor in the Bluetooth transmission of the audio to Linux. The problem lies somewhere between PulseAudio and the speakers.

I investigated further and noticed something. When I played music from the phone, OBS detected it as audio output. But when I placed a phone call, OBS detected it as audio input. This explained both of my problems!

What I did was set OBS to output my microphone:

  1. Connect your smartphone and computer with Bluetooth.
  2. Install OBS: sudo apt install obs-studio.
  3. In the "Sources" pane at the bottom of the screen, click the "+" sign to add a new audio source.
  4. Select either "Audio Capture Device (ALSA)" or "Audio Input Capture (PulseAudio)".

enter image description here

  1. You don't need to change anything on the "Create/Select Source" window that pops up, just click OK.
  2. You don't need to change anything on the "Properties" window that pops up, just click OK.
  3. A new set of bars will appear in the "Mixer" panel, the visualization showing that it is capturing your computer's microphone if you have one. Turn the volume down using the blue slider underneath it; you don't want feedback when we start outputting the microphone.
  4. Click the settings gear next to the Audio Capture Device entry.
  5. select "Advanced Audio Properties" on the menu.

enter image description here

  1. Place a call from your smartphone.
  2. In the window that pops up, select the "Audio Monitoring" drop down menu for "Audio Capture Device (ALSA)" and set it to "Monitor and Output". I found it works most consistently when the call is placed before the setting is changed. enter image description here
  3. The speakers should now start playing the call! Should. This doesn't always work. Sometimes I had to remove and re-add the audio source to make it work.

There is probably a better way to do this with VLC streaming.

This isn't the end of the story if you want to record the call, because the call still disables the microphone, so you can't record yourself speaking. I will update this answer if I figure out how to do that.

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  • Does it mean your answer is incomplete? Jun 13, 2020 at 0:09
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    I'm not sure what you mean, but it is regardless. This method is inconsistent and doesn't allow you to record your microphone.
    – Purple P
    Jun 13, 2020 at 0:14
  • I get your point then... But my point was if it solves the issue, then fine. Else... And also, if the OP needs the recording thing, then that could be another Question tho. Jun 13, 2020 at 0:15

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