--- name: "hcitool" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "bluez-deprecated-tools" version: "5.87-2" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/hcitool" --- # hcitool(1) Configure Bluetooth connections ## Name hcitool - Configure Bluetooth connections ## SYNOPSIS **hcitool** -h **hcitool** *COMMAND* --help **hcitool** \[-i *hciX*\] \[*COMMAND* \[*PARAMETERS*\]\] ## DESCRIPTION **[hcitool(1)](/hcitool/1.md)** is used to configure Bluetooth connections and send some special command to Bluetooth devices. If no **command** is given, or if the option **-h** is used, *hcitool* prints some usage information and exits. ## OPTIONS - **-i** *\* The command is applied to device *hciX*, which must be the name of an installed Bluetooth device. If not specified, the command will be sent to the first available Bluetooth device. - **-h** Gives a list of possible commands ## COMMANDS - **dev** Display local devices - **inq** Inquire remote devices. For each discovered device, Bluetooth device address, clock offset and class are printed. - **scan** Inquire remote devices. For each discovered device, device name are printed. - **name \<*bdaddr*\>** Print device name of remote device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **info \<*bdaddr*\>** Print device name, version and supported features of remote device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **spinq** Start periodic inquiry process. No inquiry results are printed. - **epinq** Exit periodic inquiry process. - **cmd \<*ogf*\> \<*ocf*\> \[*parameters*\]** Submit an arbitrary HCI command to local device. *ogf*, *ocf* and parameters are hexadecimal bytes. - **con** Display active baseband connections - **cc \[--*role*=c\|p\] \[--*pkt-type*=\<*ptype*\>\] \<*bdaddr*\>** Create baseband connection to remote device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. Option **--pkt-type** specifies a list of allowed packet types. \<*ptype*\> is a comma-separated list of packet types, where the possible packet types are **DM1**, **DM3**, **DM5**, **DH1**, **DH3**, **DH5**, **HV1**, **HV2**, **HV3**. Default is to allow all packet types. Option **--role** can have value **c** (do not allow role switch, stay central) or **p** (allow role switch, become peripheral if the peer asks to become central). Default is **c**. - **dc \<*bdaddr*\> \[*reason*\]** Delete baseband connection from remote device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. The reason can be one of the Bluetooth HCI error codes. Default is **19** for user ended connections. The value must be given in decimal. - **sr \<*bdaddr*\> \<*role*\>** Switch role for the baseband connection from the remote device to **central** or **peripheral**. - **cpt \<*bdaddr*\> \<*ptypes*\>** Change packet types for baseband connection to device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. *ptypes* is a comma-separated list of packet types, where the possible packet types are **DM1**, **DM3**, **DM5**, **DH1**, **DH3**, **DH5**, **HV1**, **HV2**, **HV3**. - **rssi \<*bdaddr*\>** Display received signal strength information for the connection to the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **lq \<*bdaddr*\>** Display link quality for the connection to the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **tpl \<*bdaddr*\> \[*type*\]** Display transmit power level for the connection to the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. The *type* can be **0** for the current transmit power level (which is default) or **1** for the maximum transmit power level. - **afh \<*bdaddr*\>** Display AFH channel map for the connection to the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **lp \<*bdaddr*\> \[*value*\]** With no value, displays link policy settings for the connection to the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. If *value* is given, sets the link policy settings for that connection to *value*. Possible values are **RSWITCH**, **HOLD**, **SNIFF** and **PARK**. - **lst \<*bdaddr*\> \[*value*\]** With no value, displays link supervision timeout for the connection to the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. If *value* is given, sets the link supervision timeout for that connection to *value* slots, or to infinite if value is 0. - **auth \<*bdaddr*\>** Request authentication for the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **enc \<*bdaddr*\> \[*encrypt*\]** **enable** or **disable** the encryption for the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **key \<*bdaddr*\>** Change the connection link key for the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **clkoff \<*bdaddr*\>** Read the clock offset for the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. - **clock \[*bdaddr*\] \[*clock*\]** Read the clock for the device with Bluetooth address *bdaddr*. The *clock* can be **0** for the local clock or **1** for the piconet clock (which is default). - **lescan \[--*privacy*\] \[--*passive*\] \[--*acceptlist*\] \[--*discovery*=g\|l\] \[--*duplicates*\]** Start LE scan - **leinfo \[--*static*\] \[--*random*\] \<*bdaddr*\>** Get LE remote information - **lealadd \[--*random*\] \<*bdaddr*\>** Add device to LE Accept List - **lealrm \<*bdaddr*\>** Remove device from LE Accept List - **lealsz** Read size of LE Accept List - **lealclr** Clear LE Accept List - **lerladd \[--*local\_irk*\] \[--*peer\_irk*\] \[--*random*\] \<*bdaddr*\>** Add device to LE Resolving List - **lerlrm \<*bdaddr*\>** Remove device from LE Resolving List - **lerlclr** Clear LE Resolving List - **lerlsz** Read size of LE Resolving List - **lerlon** Enable LE Address Resolution - **lerloff** Disable LE Address Resolution - **lecc \[--*static*\] \[--*random*\] \<*bdaddr*\> \| \[--*acceptlist*\]** Create a LE Connection - **ledc \<*handle*\> \[*reason*\]** Disconnect a LE Connection - **lecup \<*handle*\> \<*min*\> \<*max*\> \<*latency*\> \<*timeout*\>** LE Connection Update ## RESOURCES \ ## REPORTING BUGS \ ## Author Maxim Krasnyansky \, Marcel Holtmann \, Fabrizio Gennari \ ## Copyright Free use of this software is granted under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public Licenses (LGPL).