DualSense (PS5) Controllers No Longer Re-Connecting

Starting about a month ago none of my DS5/PS5 controllers will re-connect once disconnected from any of my Bazzite systems. Here is the dmesg output relevant to the issue:

First connection:
[ 1079.848585] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1079.848882] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1080.116180] input: DualSense Wireless Controller as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input18
[ 1080.116391] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input19
[ 1080.116527] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input20
[ 1080.116866] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: Registered DualSense controller hw_version=0x00000616 fw_version=0x010c000a

First connection:
[ 1079.848585] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1079.848882] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1080.116180] input: DualSense Wireless Controller as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input18
[ 1080.116391] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input19
[ 1080.116527] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input20
[ 1080.116866] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: Registered DualSense controller hw_version=0x00000616 fw_version=0x010c000a

First connection:
[ 1079.848585] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1079.848882] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1080.116180] input: DualSense Wireless Controller as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input18
[ 1080.116391] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input19
[ 1080.116527] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input20
[ 1080.116866] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: Registered DualSense controller hw_version=0x00000616 fw_version=0x010c000a

First connection:
[ 1079.848585] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1079.848882] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1080.116180] input: DualSense Wireless Controller as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input18
[ 1080.116391] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input19
[ 1080.116527] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0004/input/input20
[ 1080.116866] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0004: Registered DualSense controller hw_version=0x00000616 fw_version=0x010c000a

Attempt to reconnect after power off:
[ 1107.783528] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1107.783677] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1112.989852] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve feature with reportID 9: -5
[ 1112.989860] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve DualSense pairing info: -5
[ 1112.989863] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to get MAC address from DualSense
[ 1112.989865] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to create dualsense.

Attempt to reconnect after power off:
[ 1107.783528] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1107.783677] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1112.989852] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve feature with reportID 9: -5
[ 1112.989860] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve DualSense pairing info: -5
[ 1112.989863] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to get MAC address from DualSense
[ 1112.989865] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to create dualsense.

Attempt to reconnect after power off:
[ 1107.783528] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1107.783677] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1112.989852] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve feature with reportID 9: -5
[ 1112.989860] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve DualSense pairing info: -5
[ 1112.989863] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to get MAC address from DualSense
[ 1112.989865] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to create dualsense.

Attempt to reconnect after power off:
[ 1107.783528] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1107.783677] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: hidraw3: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1112.989852] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve feature with reportID 9: -5
[ 1112.989860] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to retrieve DualSense pairing info: -5
[ 1112.989863] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to get MAC address from DualSense
[ 1112.989865] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0005: Failed to create dualsense.

XipherOP•4/25/24, 3:57 PM

Resetting the bluetooth service allows the DS5/PS5 controller to connect:

Re-connect attempt after resetting BT service:
[ 1346.042796] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0006: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1346.043072] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0006: hidraw1: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1346.063334] input: DualSense Wireless Controller as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0006/input/input22
[ 1346.063458] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0006/input/input23
[ 1346.063574] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0006/input/input24
[ 1346.063786] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0006: Registered DualSense controller hw_version=0x00000616 fw_version=0x010c000a

Re-connect attempt after resetting BT service:
[ 1346.042796] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0006: unknown main item tag 0x0
[ 1346.043072] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0006: hidraw1: BLUETOOTH HID v1.00 Gamepad [DualSense Wireless Controller] on 5c:f3:70:94:9f:19
[ 1346.063334] input: DualSense Wireless Controller as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0006/input/input22
[ 1346.063458] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Motion Sensors as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0006/input/input23
[ 1346.063574] input: DualSense Wireless Controller Touchpad as /devices/virtual/misc/uhid/0005:054C:0CE6.0006/input/input24
[ 1346.063786] playstation 0005:054C:0CE6.0006: Registered DualSense controller hw_version=0x00000616 fw_version=0x010c000a

Looking for a workaround or solution that will allow me to use my DS5/PS5 controllers with Bazzite. Currently running Bazzite40-2024-04-24 image (Yesterdays Update).

antheas•4/25/24, 4:32 PM

Can you try disabling the ds inhibit service and see if that helps.

antheas•4/25/24, 4:32 PM

XipherOP•4/25/24, 6:09 PM

Ill give it a go

XipherOP•4/25/24, 6:19 PM

That seems to have helped somewhat. If I disconnect and reconnect it will connect on the 2nd attempt and will not get stuck in a pseudo connected state where the controller thinks its connected but the system doesnt have any input.

Once its connected it works as expected, but it does not show as a connected device under the bluetooth settings tab. I have the controller-tools decky plugin installed and it sees it and reports on its battery life.

This is an improvement, but still not quite what I think its suppose to be doing. It should reconnect and be detected by steam properly and the PS+Button combinations should work, but they do not. The button combinations only work on the 1st connection

XXipher That seems to have helped somewhat. If I disconnect and reconnect it will connec...

antheas•4/25/24, 6:38 PM

Keep us updated about whether disabling ds inhibit helps

antheas•4/25/24, 6:38 PM

It's a script provided by valve so you'd think

antheas•4/25/24, 6:38 PM

Well

antheas•4/25/24, 6:38 PM

It is what it is

antheas•4/25/24, 6:39 PM

Ds inhibit disables the touchpad handling of the kernel

Aantheas Keep us updated about whether disabling ds inhibit helps

XipherOP•4/25/24, 6:47 PM

That was after stopping and disabling ds-inhibit. Better behavior, but not quite right.

antheas•4/25/24, 6:47 PM

Whatever you can document would be great

XipherOP•4/25/24, 6:47 PM

Sure; I should get some more time later today, Ill update then with dmesg and BT logs

XipherOP•5/5/24, 9:41 PM

@antheas Still seeing problems after disabling ds-inhibit. Looking a my Arch system (Where BT connections to my DS5 controllers work as expected) compared to the Bazzite boxes there are some differences in the main.conf.

xipher@Arizona ~]$ diff main_bazzite.conf main_local.conf 
1a2
> Class = 0x000100
3,5c4,6
< Privacy=device
< ControllerMode=dual
< JustWorksRepairing=always
---
> FastConnectable = true
> Privacy = device
> JustWorksRepairing = always
13a15,18
> 
> [GATT]
> Cache = always
>

xipher@Arizona ~]$ diff main_bazzite.conf main_local.conf 
1a2
> Class = 0x000100
3,5c4,6
< Privacy=device
< ControllerMode=dual
< JustWorksRepairing=always
---
> FastConnectable = true
> Privacy = device
> JustWorksRepairing = always
13a15,18
> 
> [GATT]
> Cache = always
>

I'm going to add those options to the /etc/bluetooth/main.conf on one of my bazzite boxes and see if that helps. Will update with the results

Update: Same behavior. I noticed the same behavior on my Arch system until a recent Bluez update. Checking versions between whats running on bazzite vs that Arch system now.

Update2: Running same bluez version on both the last Bazzite Image and my arch system (5.75-1).

Final note: The Decky Plugin "Controller Tools" correctly sees the DS5 controller even after reconnect while the 'Settings' within gamescope does not show any devices connected.

XipherOP•5/5/24, 10:42 PM

Im at a loss. Anyhelp would be appreciated at this point. This appears to be effecting PS4 and DS5 controllers.

antheas•5/5/24, 10:53 PM

well that sucks

antheas•5/5/24, 10:53 PM

whats the bluetooth ver on the two boxes

antheas•5/5/24, 10:53 PM

i should mention i dont have a bluetooth controller

antheas•5/5/24, 10:54 PM

but my arch install has been having bluetooth issues the last 2 weeks

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:08 PM

@antheas No problem, heres the package versions for bluez for each system.

Arch System:

[xipher@Arizona ~]$ uname -a
Linux Arizona 6.8.9-zen1-1-zen #1 ZEN SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Thu, 02 May 2024 17:48:53 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[xipher@Arizona ~]$ sudo pacman -Qs bluez
local/bluez 5.75-1
    Daemons for the bluetooth protocol stack
local/bluez-libs 5.75-1
    Deprecated libraries for the bluetooth protocol stack
local/bluez-qt 6.1.0-1 (kf6)
    Qt wrapper for Bluez 5 DBus API
local/bluez-qt5 5.115.0-1 (kf5)
    Qt wrapper for Bluez 5 DBus API
local/bluez-utils 5.75-1
    Development and debugging utilities for the bluetooth protocol stack

[xipher@Arizona ~]$ uname -a
Linux Arizona 6.8.9-zen1-1-zen #1 ZEN SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Thu, 02 May 2024 17:48:53 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[xipher@Arizona ~]$ sudo pacman -Qs bluez
local/bluez 5.75-1
    Daemons for the bluetooth protocol stack
local/bluez-libs 5.75-1
    Deprecated libraries for the bluetooth protocol stack
local/bluez-qt 6.1.0-1 (kf6)
    Qt wrapper for Bluez 5 DBus API
local/bluez-qt5 5.115.0-1 (kf5)
    Qt wrapper for Bluez 5 DBus API
local/bluez-utils 5.75-1
    Development and debugging utilities for the bluetooth protocol stack

Bazzite (2024-05-05 Image):

deck@bazzite1468:~$ uname -a
Linux bazzite1468 6.8.9-301.fsync.fc40.x86_64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Sat May  4 16:18:13 UTC 2024 x86_64 GNU/Linux

deck@bazzite1468:~$ /usr/libexec/rpm-ostree/wrapped/rpm -qa bluez
bluez-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64

deck@bazzite1468:~$ uname -a
Linux bazzite1468 6.8.9-301.fsync.fc40.x86_64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Sat May  4 16:18:13 UTC 2024 x86_64 GNU/Linux

deck@bazzite1468:~$ /usr/libexec/rpm-ostree/wrapped/rpm -qa bluez
bluez-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:09 PM

Appears to be the same kernel version and bluez packages on both systems.

antheas•5/6/24, 1:10 PM

thats not good

antheas•5/6/24, 1:10 PM

what could it be

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:13 PM

Are there other users reporting difficulties with PS4/DS5 controllers? Maybe its something specific to how I setup these systems months ago

antheas•5/6/24, 1:14 PM

yes

antheas•5/6/24, 1:14 PM

youre not the only one

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:15 PM

Ok, at least Im not alone. I not sure how to proceed, but if you need anything tested or logs please let me know, I have 2 Desktops and 1 HTPC running bazzite all with the same issue. I havent tried it on the LegionGO (Pairing DS5) but I suspect I would see it there as well.

antheas•5/6/24, 1:19 PM

its probably similar, a lot of users are having bluetooth issues

antheas•5/6/24, 1:19 PM

with controllers

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:20 PM

Hmm, looking through that package list I notice that I have bluez-libs installed on Arch which provides some legacy support. Its not present on bazzite.... I doubt it matters, but Im going to add it to my testing bazzite box and see if it makes any difference

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:21 PM

Scratch that

deck@holoiso1468:~$ sudo rpm-ostree install bluez-libs
[sudo] password for deck: 
error: "bluez-libs" is already provided by: bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64 bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.i686. Use --allow-inactive to explicitly require it.

deck@holoiso1468:~$ sudo rpm-ostree install bluez-libs
[sudo] password for deck: 
error: "bluez-libs" is already provided by: bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64 bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.i686. Use --allow-inactive to explicitly require it.

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:21 PM

It just didnt show in the rpm search :/

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:22 PM

deck@holoiso1468:~$ /usr/libexec/rpm-ostree/wrapped/rpm -qa bluez*
bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-obexd-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-cups-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.i686

deck@holoiso1468:~$ /usr/libexec/rpm-ostree/wrapped/rpm -qa bluez*
bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-obexd-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-cups-5.75-1.fc40.x86_64
bluez-libs-5.75-1.fc40.i686

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:22 PM

Should have used a wildcard

antheas•5/6/24, 1:23 PM

so all the vers are the same

antheas•5/6/24, 1:23 PM

we dropped the valve patch set so thats the same too

antheas•5/6/24, 1:23 PM

might be the kernel

XipherOP•5/6/24, 1:26 PM

Possible, I’m not sure exactly which opts were used by the zen kernel team for the Linux-zen kernel. I haven’t run a vanilla arch kernel in years (Para virt support requirement). Maybe checking the zen kernels build vs your guys may shed some light?

antheas•5/6/24, 1:27 PM

i suspect vanilla kernel works

antheas•5/6/24, 1:27 PM

and maybe the bluetooth sd patches are causing issues

XipherOP•5/6/24, 5:44 PM

@antheas huh, played around a bit and noticed that ds-inhibit isnt staying deactivated on reboot. Ive been stopping and disabling the service via sudo systemctlsudo systemctl ; what is the 'correct' way on bazzite?

XXipher @antheas huh, played around a bit and noticed that ds-inhibit isnt staying deact...

antheas•5/6/24, 6:20 PM

Aaaah you ask @Kyle Gospo to disable the service we haven't had to deal with this yet

antheas•5/6/24, 6:20 PM

Setup script disable when