3rd party PS4 Bluetooth controller does not reconnect automatically

[SaltyBet]

Your system information

• Steam client version: Latest Stable
• SteamOS version: Latest Stable
• Opted into Steam client beta?: No
• Opted into SteamOS beta?: No
• Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

On Steam Deck.

3rd party PS4 Bluetooth controller, initial pairing/connection flawless, but does not reconnect automatically.

If you go to Bluetooth paired devices list and select it, it connects just fine.

Device details:

(deck@steamdeck ~)$ bluetoothctl info 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB
Device 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB (public)
        Name: Wireless Controller
        Alias: Wireless Controller
        Class: 0x00002508
        Icon: input-gaming
        Paired: yes
        Trusted: yes
        Blocked: no
        Connected: yes
        WakeAllowed: yes
        LegacyPairing: no
        UUID: Human Interface Device... (00001124-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
        UUID: PnP Information           (00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
        Modalias: usb:v054Cp05C4d0100

Also tested an Xbox One controller and that one reconnects successfully.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Press SHARE+HOME on controller.
2. Select controller in Bluetooth available devices list.
3. Controller pairs/connects successfully.
4. Reboot Steam Deck.
5. Press SHARE+HOME on controller.
6. Controller does not reconnect automatically.
7. Select controller in Bluetooth paired devices list.
8. Controller connects successfully.

[SaltyBet]

Also tested pressing only HOME, the controller gets highlighted in white on the Bluetooth paired devices list, so it seems to be detected, but then it gets grayed out a few seconds later.

[SaltyBet]

[SaltyBet]

Before connecting:

(deck@steamdeck ~)$ sudo dmesg|grep "BLUETOOTH HID.*Controller"
[   96.631724] sony 0005:054C:05C4.0008: input,hidraw6: BLUETOOTH HID v81.00 Gamepad [Wireless Controller] on 14:d4:24:09:6e:4a
[ 5666.675876] hid-generic 0005:045E:0B20.000A: input,hidraw6: BLUETOOTH HID v5.15 Gamepad [Xbox Wireless Controller] on 14:d4:24:09:6e:4a

After connecting:

(deck@steamdeck ~)$ sudo dmesg|grep "BLUETOOTH HID.*Controller"
[   96.631724] sony 0005:054C:05C4.0008: input,hidraw6: BLUETOOTH HID v81.00 Gamepad [Wireless Controller] on 14:d4:24:09:6e:4a
[ 5666.675876] hid-generic 0005:045E:0B20.000A: input,hidraw6: BLUETOOTH HID v5.15 Gamepad [Xbox Wireless Controller] on 14:d4:24:09:6e:4a
[ 6653.535981] sony 0005:054C:05C4.000B: input,hidraw7: BLUETOOTH HID v81.00 Gamepad [Wireless Controller] on 14:d4:24:09:6e:4a

[SaltyBet]

[ 6653.514328] sony 0005:054C:05C4.000B: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 6653.534603] input: Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.4/usb3/3-5/3-5:1.0/bluetooth/hci0/hci0:8/0005:054C:05C4.000B/input/input40
[ 6653.534930] input: Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.4/usb3/3-5/3-5:1.0/bluetooth/hci0/hci0:8/0005:054C:05C4.000B/input/input41
[ 6653.535410] input: Wireless Controller as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.4/usb3/3-5/3-5:1.0/bluetooth/hci0/hci0:8/0005:054C:05C4.000B/input/input39
[ 6653.535981] sony 0005:054C:05C4.000B: input,hidraw7: BLUETOOTH HID v81.00 Gamepad [Wireless Controller] on 14:d4:24:09:6e:4a

[SaltyBet]

Press HOME, then:

[BT 5.0 KB ]# connect 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB
Attempting to connect to 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB
Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.Failed br-connection-create-socket
[CHG] Device 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB Connected: no

Press SHARE+HOME, then:

[BT 5.0 KB ]# connect 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB
Attempting to connect to 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB
[CHG] Device 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB Connected: yes
Connection successful
[CHG] Device 8E:21:F8:57:49:CB ServicesResolved: yes

[TTimo]

Is this only observed on SteamOS? This doesn't seem particularly SteamOS specific. Similar to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/9253 ? (@kisak-valve - move to other tracker?)

[kisak-valve]

Re-reading this issue report, this doesn't really read like a Steam client issue to me and leans more towards a general kernel or bluetooth stack issue.

[Zin4uk]

Have the same story as the author: steam deck, ps4 controller, org.bluez.Error.Failed br-connection-create-socket error in logs. Getting connection for a second and then disconnecting: ... Connected: yes Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.Failed br-connection-create-socket ... Connected: no Do you have any ideas on how to fix it?

[jpwhiting]

This is either fixed in steamos 3.5 or was fixed by trying something slightly different. Here in step 5 instead of using Share + home to go back into pairing mode, just press home to turn on the controller. It reconnected fine here. I am using SteamOS 3.5 though, so maybe a bug fix in the newer kernel/bluetooth stack there, etc. At any rate worth trying just use home to turn on the controller. Iiuc share + home is to reenter pairing mode.

[Zin4uk]

This is either fixed in steamos 3.5 or was fixed by trying something slightly different. Here in step 5 instead of using Share + home to go back into pairing mode, just press home to turn on the controller. It reconnected fine here. I am using SteamOS 3.5 though, so maybe a bug fix in the newer kernel/bluetooth stack there, etc. At any rate worth trying just use home to turn on the controller. Iiuc share + home is to reenter pairing mode.

I have the same issue and pressing HOME on step 5 does not work. This is what happens:

... Connected: yes
Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.Failed br-connection-create-socket
... Connected: no

It only works on SHARE+HOME and then select 'connect to the controller' in the Bluetooth menu.

[Zin4uk]

I didn't find a fix, so I'm using a workaround. The script runs in the background, it monitors and connects automatically. I'm running it on system boot as a service for 2 gamepads. Temp workaround before I find a better solution.

#!/bin/bash

if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
    echo "Usage: $0 <gamepad_address>"
    exit 1
fi

gamepad_address="$1"

# Check if another instance is already running for this gamepad
lock_file="/tmp/gamepad_connect_${gamepad_address//:/}.lock"

if [ -e "$lock_file" ]; then
    echo "Another instance for gamepad $gamepad_address is already running."
    exit 1
fi

# Create the lock file
touch "$lock_file"

# Function to remove the lock file on script exit
cleanup() {
    rm -f "$lock_file"
    exit
}

trap cleanup EXIT

while true; do
    # Check if the device is already connected
    info_output=$(bluetoothctl info "$gamepad_address")

    if [[ $info_output == *"Connected: yes"* ]]; then
        # echo "Bluetooth device $gamepad_address is already connected!"
        :
    else
        # echo "Connecting to Bluetooth device $gamepad_address..."
        bluetoothctl connect "$gamepad_address"

        if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
            echo "Bluetooth device $gamepad_address connected successfully!"
        else
            # echo "Connection failed. Retrying in 5 seconds..."
            :
        fi
    fi

    sleep 10
done

[ZongerX]

I have same issue with OLED and thirs party DualShock 4 controller. Reconnect only after delete controller and press Share + Home buttons.

But i have 2 controllers, 1 working normal, but other cant reconnect. Both is third party, not original.

[VictorKolb]

I have same issue