Linux Disable Bluetooth [ Bluetooth Input Devices (hidd) ]

by Vivek Gite on July 10, 2008 · 4 comments

How do I disable bluethooth support (including bluethooth based devices) under Linux operating systems?

Bluetooth provides another metod to transfer information between various devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, PCs, printers, digital cameras, etc over a short-range wireless link.

Remove Bluetooth Hardware

Removal of bluetooth hardware module is the only way to ensure that the Bluetooth wireless remains disabled. See your systems's hardware manual which should contain information on its bluetooth capabilities. Avoid purchasing equipment that comes with bluetooth.

Disable Bluetooth Service

Type the following commands under RHEL / CentOS / Fedora / Red Hat Linux:
# /etc/init.d/bluetooth stop # chkconfig bluetooth off
If you are using Debian / Ubuntu Linux use rcconf command to disable bluetooth service:
# update-rc.d bluetooth remove

Disable hidd Service

The hidd service used to provide support for Bluetooth input devices. If you don't use bluetooth based keyboard or mouse, disable it:
# /etc/init.d/hidd stop # chkconfig hidd off

Disable Linux Kernel Bluetooth Modules / Driver

Type the following command to disable the driver:
The kernel’s module loading system can be configured to prevent loading of the Bluetooth module.
echo 'alias net-pf-31 off' >> /etc/modprobe.conf

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Philippe Petrinko August 14, 2009: Hello Vivek,
Thanks for the article.
I would like to ask you:
1) Section : “If you are using Debian / Ubuntu Linux use rcconf command to disable bluetooth
service”
It seems to be odd to present a [update-rc.d] command after mentionning [rcconf].
/* I know that [rcconf] is just a text-interface to [update-rc.d] */
I mean if you use a update-rc.d command, you can do it without rcconf.
2) Section “Disable hidd Service”
This seems to be distribution-specific.
Under Debian Lenny 5.0.x, bluetooth service is named “bluetooth”, not hidd.
Command is (under root login or via sudo command of course)
/etc/init.d/bluetooth stop
Was this section intended for a specific distribution?
Thanks for you work and your answer in advance.
– Philippe
Reply
2 Philippe Petrinko August 14, 2009: Another tool: [sysv-rc-conf]: this command has a text-based user interface, (no need for X11-X Window).
It allows to choose more precisely which service will run under which runlevel.
It can interactively start or stop any installed service. (use the + / – key).
It is not or less Linux distribution-specific.
– Philippe
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3 Vivek Gite August 14, 2009: @ Philippe
Yes, this section intended for RHEL / CentOS / Fedora / Red Hat users only.
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4 Philippe Petrinko August 24, 2009: To Vivek:
> Yes, this section intended for RHEL / CentOS / Fedora / Red Hat users only.
Than, it would be better to make it clearer in labelling each section with the corresponding distribution name. Otherwise, it is unclear and brings to misunderstanding, as long as the main title says “Linux”.
TIA,
– Philippe
Reply