Bluetooth headset is connected but the corresponding pipewire audio device is not available

[vvch]

My bluetooth headset is connected OK but there is no corresponding pipewire audio device available

bluetoothctl info [MAC]
Device [MAC] (random)
        Name: JBL Tune 520BT-LE
        Alias: JBL Tune 520BT-LE
        Paired: yes
        Bonded: yes
        Trusted: yes
        Blocked: no
        Connected: yes
        LegacyPairing: no
        CablePairing: no
...

Everything was OK before some Manjaro upgrade. There are no error messages in the system logs when the headset is conected. What else can I check?

[nikgnomic]

Please post more information about system

inxi -SMAEz

and audio devices detected in pipewire-pulse

pactl list cards

[vvch]

Thanks,

> inxi -SMAEz                                                                                                                                                

System:
  Kernel: 6.6.99-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.6 Distro: Manjaro Linux
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: HP product: HP ProBook 430 G6 v: N/A
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: HP model: 8536 v: KBC Version 51.20.00 serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: HP v: R71 Ver. 01.08.03 date: 07/17/2019
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Point-LP High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
  API: ALSA v: k6.6.99-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.6 status: active
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Realtek Bluetooth 4.2 Adapter driver: btusb type: USB
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci1 rfk-id: 3 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
    rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: N/A

> pactl list cards short                                                                                                                                     
265     alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3      alsa
266     alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0  alsa

When my bluetooth speakers (which work OK with my Manjaro) is connected, I can see third card in the list:

> pactl list cards short                                                                                                                                     
265     alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3      alsa
266     alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0  alsa
345     bluez_card.[MAC]    module-bluez5-device.c

But there is no third card in the list when the aforementioned BT headset is connected. The headset is working properly with any other system.

[nikgnomic]

ArchWiki - Bluetooth headset - Troubleshooting - Connecting works but device does not show up in PulseAudio sinks

If the headphones connect successfully (which can be confirmed via bluetoothctl) but do not show up as an output sink in pavucontrol, you can try adding (or creating) the following policy to your Bluetooth configuration file /etc/bluetooth/audio.conf:

# /etc/bluetooth/audio.conf

[General]
Enable=Control,Gateway,Headset,Media,Sink,Socket,Source

Restart the bluetooth.service, then reconnect the headphones.

Some users report that this has solved their problem.