# Perform Bluetooth HFP audio gateway functions You can perform HFP audio gateway functions using the `bluetoothctl` menu and `paplay` commands. Bluetooth HFP audio gateway functions allow you to connect or disconnect to a remote device and verify audio gateway functionality to ensure proper hands-free operation. ## Prerequisites Before you begin, [set up your device](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70029-13/topic/bluez-hfp.html#section-rmp-dgv-mcc-08-25-24-1227-32-765) and [configure the DUT for HFP audio gateway functions](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70029-13/topic/bluez-hfp.html#section-jgk-r3v-mcc-08-25-24-1246-49-237). ## Connect a remote device To connect a remote device, run the following command from the `bluetoothctl` menu: connect Copy to clipboard **Parameters** `` is the Bluetooth address of the remote device. **Example** To connect to a paired remote device with `` `20:19:D8:36:90:40`, run the following command: connect 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Copy to clipboard **Sample output** [Test]# connect 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Attempting to connect to 20:19:D8:36:90:40 [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Connected: yes [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 UUIDs: 00001108-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 UUIDs: 0000110b-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 UUIDs: 0000110c-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 UUIDs: 0000110e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 UUIDs: 0000111e-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 ServicesResolved: yes [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Bonded: yes [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Paired: yes [NEW] Endpoint /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1 [NEW] Transport /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1/fd1 Connection successful [CHG] Transport /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1/fdl State: active [CHG] Transport /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1/fd1 Volume: 0x0068 (104) [CHG] Transport /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1/fd1 State: idle Copy to clipboard ## Verify audio gateway functionality To verify the audio gateway functionality, do the following: Note The pactl tool isn’t available by default. Enable and build the tool on your device. 1. List all cards, verify the available profiles of the BlueZ card, and find its active profile by running the following command: pactl list cards Copy to clipboard **Sample output** # pactl list cards Card #65 Name: bluez_card.20_19_D8_36_90_40 Driver: module-bluez5-device.c Owner Module: n/a Properties: device.api = "bluez5" device.bus = "bluetooth" media.class = "Audio/Device" device.name = "bluez_card.20_19_D8_36_90_40" device.description = " MyHeadset" device.alias = " MyHeadset" device.form_factor = "headset" device.string = "20:19:D8:36:90:40 " api.bluez5.icon = "audio-headset" api.bluez5.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40" api.bluez5.address = "20:19:D8:36:90:40" api.bluez5.device = "" api.bluez5.class = "0x240404" api.bluez5.connection = "connected" device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth" bluez5.profile = "off" spa.object.id = "5" factory.id = "15" client.id = "33" object.id = "36" object.serial = "65" Profiles: off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes) a2dp-sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink, codec SBC) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 18, available: yes) a2dp-sink-sbc_xq: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink, codec SBC-XQ) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 17, available: yes) headset-head-unit-cvsd: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP, codec CVSD) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 2, available: yes) headset-head-unit: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP, codec mSBC) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 3, available: yes) Active Profile: a2dp-sink Ports: headset-input: Handsfree (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, available) Properties: port.type = "headset" Part of profile(s): headset-head-unit-cvsd, headset-head-unit headset-output: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, available) Properties: port.type = "headset" Part of profile(s): a2dp-sink, a2dp-sink-sbc_xq headset-hf-output: Handsfree (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, available) Properties: port.type = "headset" Part of profile(s): headset-head-unit-cvsd, headset-head-unit Copy to clipboard 2. If the active profile is `a2dp-sink` (`Active Profile: a2dp-sink`), switch the active profile to `headset-head-unit` by running the following command: pactl set-card-profile bluez_card.20_19_D8_36_90_40 headset-head-unit Copy to clipboard This setting ensures that the audio is streamed over SCO when multiple profiles are connected. 3. Verify that the active profile of the BlueZ card is set to `headset-head-unit` by running the following command: pactl list cards Copy to clipboard **Sample output** # pactl list cards Card #65 Name: bluez_card.20_19_D8_36_90_40 Driver: module-bluez5-device.c Owner Module: n/a Properties: device.api = "bluez5" device.bus = "bluetooth" media.class = "Audio/Device" device.name = "bluez_card.20_19_D8_36_90_40" device.description = " MyHeadset" device.alias = " MyHeadset" device.form_factor = "headset" device.string = "20:19:D8:36:90:40 " api.bluez5.icon = "audio-headset" api.bluez5.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40" api.bluez5.address = "20:19:D8:36:90:40" api.bluez5.device = "" api.bluez5.class = "0x240404" api.bluez5.connection = "connected" device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth" bluez5.profile = "off" spa.object.id = "5" factory.id = "15" client.id = "33" object.id = "36" object.serial = "65" Profiles: off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes) a2dp-sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink, codec SBC) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 18, available: yes) a2dp-sink-sbc_xq: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink, codec SBC-XQ) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 17, available: yes) headset-head-unit-cvsd: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP, codec CVSD) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 2, available: yes) headset-head-unit: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP, codec mSBC) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 3, available: yes) Active Profile: headset-head-unit Copy to clipboard 4. Create a dummy SCO as follows: 1. Run SSH. 2. Play a WAV file by running the following command: paplay -v Copy to clipboard **Example** To play the `AG_playback.wav` file, run the following command: paplay AG_playback.wav -v Copy to clipboard **Sample output** sh-5.1# paplay AG_playback.wav -v Opening a playback stream with sample specification 's16le 2ch 44100Hz' and channel map 'front-left,front-right'. Connection established. Stream successfully created. Buffer metrics: maxlength=4194304, tlength=352800, prebuf=349276, minreq=3528 Using sample spec 's16le 2ch 44100Hz', channel map 'front-left,front-right'. Connected to device bluez_output.20_19_D8_36_90_40 (index: 155, suspended: no). Stream started. Time: 2.003 sec; Latency: 2042009 usec. Copy to clipboard 5. Receive microphone data from the remote device by running the following command: parec -v --rate= --format= --channels= --file-format= --device= Copy to clipboard **Parameters** | Options | Parameter | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `--rate` | `` | The specific sample rate to play the audio file. | `16000` | | `--format` | `` | The specific sample format to play the audio file. | `s16le` | | `--channels` | `` | The specific number of channels to play the audio file. | `1` | | `--file-format` | `` | The file format to play the audio file from a directory. | `wav /data/rec1.wav` | | `--device` | `` | The device name of the source or sink to play the audio file. | `bluez_input.20_19_D8_36_90_40` | Note To identify the device name from a list of sources, run the following command in SSH: pactl list sources short Copy to clipboard **Sample output** sh-5.1# pactl list sources short 54 combined_output_db PipeWire float32le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 56 combined_output_ll PipeWire float32le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 58 pal_sink_speaker_ll PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 60 pal_sink_speaker_db PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 65 pal_sink_headset_ll PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 68 pal_sink_headset_db PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 78 pal_sink_dp_out_ll PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 80 pal_sink_hdmi_out_ll PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 81 pal_sink_dp_out_db PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 82 pal_sink_hdmi_out_db PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED 155 bluez_output.20_19_D8_36_90_40.1 PipeWire s16le 2ch 48000Hz IDLE Copy to clipboard **Example** To receive microphone data from a remote device for the example values listed in the table, run the following command: parec -v --rate=16000 --format=s16le --channels=1 --file-format=wav /data/rec1.wav --device=bluez_input.20_19_D8_36_90_40 Copy to clipboard 6. Play the recorded microphone data and verify if the audio is clear. ## Disconnect a remote device To disconnect a remote device, run the following command from the `bluetoothctl` menu: disconnect Copy to clipboard **Parameters** `` is the Bluetooth address of the remote device. **Example** To disconnect a paired remote device with `` `20:19:D8:36:90:40`, run the following command: disconnect 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Copy to clipboard **Sample output** [MyHeadset]# disconnect 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Attempting to disconnect from 20:19:D8:36:90:40 [DEL] Transport /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1/fd2 [DEL] Endpoint /org/bluez/hci0/dev_20_19_D8_36_90_40/sep1 [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 ServicesResolved: no Successful disconnected [CHG] Device 20:19:D8:36:90:40 Connected: no Copy to clipboard Last Published: Mar 27, 2026 [Previous Topic Perform Bluetooth HFP client functions](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-70029-13/topics/bluez-perform-bluetooth-hfp-client-functions.md) [Next Topic Verify OPP functions](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-70029-13/topics/bluez-opp.md)