ble.enum fails with "ble.recon connection timeout" on bettercap 2.32.0
Author: kadin2048Created Jun 24, 2022Updated Feb 8, 2026
Bettercap 2.32.0 seems to consistently fail enumerating BLE devices on my machine, which is running a clean install of Debian Bullseye
Environment
- Bettercap version you are using (
bettercap -version).bettercap v2.32.0 (built for linux amd64 with go1.15.15) - OS version and architecture you are using.
Debian 11 "Bullseye" with all updates as of 2022-06-24
Kernel info:
Linux thinkpad 5.10.0-15-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.120-1 (2022-06-09) x86_64 GNU/LinuxI also tested using the Docker version (bettercap/bettercap which is also 2.32.0) and got the same result Hardware is a Lenovo T430s with onboard OEM Bluetooth, reports as0a5c:21e6 Broadcom Corp. BCM20702 Bluetooth 4.0 [ThinkPad] - Go version if building from sources.
go1.15.15(packaged with Debian,apt install golang) - Command line arguments you are using.
Running
sudo bettercap -debugand also tested using web UI, got the same results - Caplet code you are using or the interactive session commands. See debug log or Steps to Reproduce, below, for interactive commands.
- Full debug output while reproducing the issue (
bettercap -debug ...). Debug output available in this Gist: https://gist.github.com/kadin2048/a72b2d5c0c41dbfd2c8c046438e21863
Steps to Reproduce
ble.recon on- wait a while for devices to populate
ble.recon offble.showble.enum [MAC address]- usually a 10s pause or so, on the first run
- error message
ble.recon connection timeoutis displayed alongside debug output
Expected behavior: Would have expected enum output for the device specified by the MAC address.
Actual behavior:
Receive message [sys.log] [war] ble.recon connection timeout
Issue is repeatable, and appears to happen faster on subsequent tries after the initial one
Happy to provide additional information that might help with resolving the issue.
Source: bettercap/bettercap