Intel AX200 bluetooth won't work on Linux

[kapa]

Hi,

I purchased a PCIE AX200 Wifi6 and Bluetooth adapter for my notebook (Asus Zenbook 14 OLED) as the WiFi performance of the factory delivered adapter of another manufaturer was not that good.

With AX200, Wifi was working out of the box, but the bluetooth device was not recognized at all. 

Since I have a dual boot set up, I booted into Windows 11 and wifi worked out of the box too, however the bluetooth adapter was not recognized, but after intalling Intel PROSet drives it was working! 

Conclusion: no hardware problem as such.

Then I disabled fast boot in BIOS and shut down the notebook. After a cold boot I could see the Bluetooth adapter in Linux dmesg, but the system fails to initialize it:

dmesg | grep Blue
[    9.205446] Bluetooth: Core ver 2.22
[    9.205474] Bluetooth: HCI device and connection manager initialized
[    9.205479] Bluetooth: HCI socket layer initialized
[    9.205482] Bluetooth: L2CAP socket layer initialized
[    9.205488] Bluetooth: SCO socket layer initialized
[    9.279965] Bluetooth: hci0: Bootloader revision 0.3 build 0 week 24 2017
[    9.281972] Bluetooth: hci0: Device revision is 1
[    9.281977] Bluetooth: hci0: Secure boot is enabled
[    9.281980] Bluetooth: hci0: OTP lock is enabled
[    9.281982] Bluetooth: hci0: API lock is enabled
[    9.281985] Bluetooth: hci0: Debug lock is disabled
[    9.281987] Bluetooth: hci0: Minimum firmware build 1 week 10 2014
[    9.310291] Bluetooth: hci0: Found device firmware: intel/ibt-20-1-3.sfi
[    9.310300] Bluetooth: hci0: Boot Address: 0x24800
[    9.310302] Bluetooth: hci0: Firmware Version: 132-3.24
[    9.614685] Bluetooth: hci0: Failed to send firmware data (-19)
[    9.614724] Bluetooth: hci0: sending frame failed (-19)
[    9.614737] Bluetooth: hci0: FW download error recovery failed (-19)
[    9.614776] Bluetooth: hci0: sending frame failed (-19)
[    9.614786] Bluetooth: hci0: Reading supported features failed (-19)
[    9.614789] Bluetooth: hci0: Error reading debug features
[    9.614793] Bluetooth: hci0: HCI LE Coded PHY feature bit is set, but its usage is not supported.
[    9.614803] Bluetooth: hci0: sending frame failed (-19)
[    9.614812] Bluetooth: hci0: Failed to read MSFT supported features (-19)
[   10.175761] Bluetooth: BNEP (Ethernet Emulation) ver 1.3
[   10.175768] Bluetooth: BNEP filters: protocol multicast
[   10.175774] Bluetooth: BNEP socket layer initialized

I am running Fedora 40 with kernel 6.8.8, also compiled tried 6.9 and 6.1.9 myself to see if it helps. Also tried Manjaro 240513 with kernel 6.9

Correspondingly hcitool, rfkill commands don't show anything and  /sys/class/bluetooth is an empty directory.

I could not find any info on which kernel it was supposed to work and why loading the firmware fails. I have tried different linux-firmware versions too, from latest Fedora to latest from kernel.org, just the (-19) code changes to (-22).

If I insert a USB bluetooh dongle, it works immediately, but not the AX200 bluetooth module, please help figuring out what can be done.

Best regards,

Kapa 

# inxi -E
Bluetooth:
  Message: No bluetooth data found.

# hcitool  dev
Devices:

# rfkill list
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
        Soft blocked: no
        Hard blocked: no

[Caguicla_Intel]

Hi kapa,

Thank you for posting in Intel Communities!

We're grateful for the troubleshooting efforts you've made to get the wireless functioning with your system. To guarantee that we offer a precise solution, we ask for a bit more time to thoroughly investigate this matter. Rest assured, we will contact you with an update as promptly as possible.

Best regards,

Caguicla C.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[kapa]

Hi Caguicla,

> Upon reviewing the provided logs and running hciconfig, it appears that no details regarding the Bluetooth (BT) adapter are present.
> Similarly, lsusb does not yield any information about the BT device.
> This suggests that the adapter may not be recognized by the system.

This is not entirely accurate. The device is recognized by the system as indicated by the log entry:

[ 10.021663] usb 3-3: New USB device found, idVendor=8087, idProduct=0029, bcdDevice= 0.01

Subsequently, the btintel module uploads the firmware and waits for the device to respond. The device then disconnects, and the btintel module throws the following error:

[ 16.282223] usb 3-3: USB disconnect, device number 2

[ 16.282447] Bluetooth: hci0: Failed to send firmware data (-19)

[ 16.282463] Bluetooth: hci0: sending frame failed (-19)

[ 16.282472] Bluetooth: hci0: FW download error recovery failed (-19)

[ 16.282506] Bluetooth: hci0: sending frame failed (-19)

[ 16.282512] Bluetooth: hci0: Reading supported features failed (-19)

After this, the kernel does not see the USB 3-3 device, which seems to be a result of the btintel module bricking it.

> To address this, I recommend verifying the adapter's compatibility and ensuring it has been integrated correctly. Please contact your  system manufacturer for further assistance with these checks.

I want to point out that the adapter is an Intel product, and the issue appears to lie with the btintel module, which is also developed by Intel. Therefore, suggesting compatibility issues or system integration checks seems misplaced.

> Regarding your inquiry about older kernel versions, it may be beneficial to seek advice from the Linux community forums. The members there often have a wealth of knowledge and experience and may be able to offer practical workarounds for your situation.

Given these circumstances, I am led to believe that Intel might not prioritize ensuring the BT feature of the AX200 adapter is fully functional on Linux.

Cheers,
kapa

[kapa · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I just want to post an update on this. I solved the problem. Now I have a fully functional PCI-E card with WiFi and Bluetooth.

But since you whre reluctant to help me, I won't tell you what I did.

Enjoy your day,
kapa

[nullptroma]

Hi
I have exactly the same problem on my asus laptop. Tell me, how did you fix it?

[kapa]

Like Sarah Connor with the T-800 remnants, I’ve destroyed the hardware—I threw it away and moved on. If you want answers, I suggest you take it up directly with Intel.

[mmmkl]

I'm in exactly the same boat with same issue with a amd zenbook and same errors in the system log (-19) when the intel bt driver tries to load the firmware. Any hints how you solved this? or did you just solve it by throwing the ax200 in the bin and getting a different m2 wifi/bt card?

[kapa]

Pretty close. It's the best you can do with such HW and support.

[ShadowHolder]

PLEASE tell us how you fixed this issue I am begging you. I have the exact same issue on the exact same hardware. You are not hindering Intel by not sharing the solution which seems to be the intent, only causing harm to other members of the community with the same problem. Thank you.

[kapa]

Hi, I appreciate your enthusiasm for solving this issue, but I’m not in a position to share the fix. I’ve moved on from this problem and prefer to keep my approach private. If you want answers, I suggest you take it up directly with Intel—I didn’t produce this piece of hardware, so I’m not responsible for its quirks. Best of luck with your troubleshooting!

[mmmkl]

As the OP pointed out, the only solution is, as I myself discovered, is to throw the AX200 into the nearest rubbish bin (or in my case 2 separate units I purchased, made by 2 different oems) and get a wifi/bt card from a vendor that has not reached rock bottom with the quality of their products as Intel sadly now has.

[kapa]

I could not have said it better! 

[ShadowHolder]

Hello, thank you for responding.

If you never found a fix for the problem other than replacing the hardware then that’s fine. However, if you were able to get Bluetooth working at all properly on this hardware I would really appreciate it if you shared what you did, as it would save me both money and the effort of opening the laptop again. I promise I will not try and get you to troubleshoot my issue or walk me through it in baby steps or blame you if it does not work, I would just like to know in general terms what your solution was. Thank you.

[kapa]

Hi,

I spent quite a bit of time trying to resolve this issue. I tested several different WiFi cards — including non-Intel ones (I'll spare the details to avoid sounding too critical of Intel). Once my total spend passed €120, I gave up on trying to fix an €800 notebook and reverted to the original OEM-supplied adapter from Mediatek.

The newer firmware is an improvement — while the 5GHz range is still weak, at least Bluetooth is working reliably now. I’m not sure what OEMs do differently, but as usual, their drivers seem to perform better under Windows.

Next time, I’ll probably go with a Starlabs notebook.

Hope this helps.

[ShadowHolder]

Thank you, I was thinking of purchasing a Qualcomm WiFi 7 card (I’ve heard their drivers actually work better in Linux than Windows) but perhaps for simplicity’s sake I will stick with the Mediatek card for now. I’ll certainly give up trying to make the intel card work as it seems the only way to fix that would probably be patching the firmware source code. Have a nice day!

[kapa]

Well, I tried a Qualcomm WiFi 6 card last summer. It didn’t work at all—not even as a basic NIC.

As for Intel, something’s clearly broken in the firmware. I traced it a bit at the kernel module level: the Bluetooth firmware gets uploaded, but it never actually starts up, so the module just times out.

Intel refuses to fix it, deflecting blame to OEMs and making excuses. It’s pretty obvious they just don’t care.

[Caguicla_Intel]

Hi kapa,

Thank you for your patience.

I am reaching out regarding the PCIE AX200 Wifi6 and Bluetooth adapter you recently acquired for your ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. It has come to our attention that while the WiFi functionality was activated without issue, the Bluetooth component was not immediately detected. We understand that after installing the Intel PROSet drivers on Windows 11, the Bluetooth feature became operational, which is a positive indication of no hardware defects.

To better assist you and resolve any outstanding issues, we kindly request the following information:

1. Could you please provide the model number of the original wireless adapter that came with your laptop?

2. For a detailed system review, we would appreciate it if you could share the exact model number of your ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED or, if possible, the SSU logs.

3. Have you consulted with your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) regarding the wireless hardware installation or upgrade? OEMs often have specific customizations for such modifications, and they may offer additional guidance. As a reference, we are sharing our Regulatory Information Regarding Wireless Hardware Installation or Upgrade article. 

Additionally, we have noted that the error messages from the Linux dmesg output suggest that the system recognizes the Bluetooth hardware but faces challenges loading the firmware. The error code (-19) usually signifies an issue with the firmware file or its compatibility with the system kernel.

In our continued efforts to understand your setup, we would also like to inquire about the installation process of the PCIE adapter. If you could provide photographs of the adapter and its installation on your laptop, it would greatly aid us in comprehending your configuration.

Awaiting your reply.

Best regards,

Caguicla C.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[kapa]

Hi Caguicla_Intel,

Thank you for your reply. Please fidn the answers to your questions as follows:

> 1. Could you please provide the model number of the original wireless adapter that came with your laptop?

The original wireless adapter was a MediaTek model MT7922A22M. The bluetooth worked out of the box, but the WiFi adapter speeds under Linux where horrible, especially after sleep.
This was the reason I chose to replace it with an intel adapter hoping for better hardware support. And indeed, the WiFi performance is now better than in Windows even.
But bluetooth does not work.

> 2. For a detailed system review, we would appreciate it if you could share the exact model number of your ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED or, if possible, the SSU logs. 

The exact model of the notebook is UM3402Y. The SSU logs are attached.

> 3. Have you consulted with your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) regarding the wireless hardware installation or upgrade?

No, I haven't. I just read though multiple forums in the internet that the original adapter is... not so good for Linux to say it carefully and saw that a 20 Euro AX200 adapter may solve my network issues. I was not aware of the bluetooth issues beforehand.

> Additionally, we have noted that the error messages from the Linux dmesg output suggest that the system recognizes the Bluetooth hardware but faces challenges loading the firmware. The error code (-19) usually signifies an issue with the firmware file or its compatibility with the system kernel.

I agree, but I could not find a way to fix it, hoping you could help.

dmesg shows the lines:

[ 7.213466] Bluetooth: hci0: Minimum firmware build 1 week 10 2014
[ 7.265762] Bluetooth: hci0: Found device firmware: intel/ibt-20-1-3.sfi

I checked the firmware file it tries to load:

ls -l /lib/firmware/intel/ibt-20-1-3.sfi.xz
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 475256 May 13 03:00 /lib/firmware/intel/ibt-20-1-3.sfi.xz

And to which RPM package it belongs:

rpm -qf /lib/firmware/intel/ibt-20-1-3.sfi.xz
linux-firmware-20240513-1.fc40.noarch

My current kernel is 6.8.10-300.fc40.x86_64 and the issue still persists.

> In our continued efforts to understand your setup, we would also like to inquire about the installation process of the PCIE adapter. If you could provide photographs of the adapter and its installation on your laptop, it would greatly aid us in comprehending your configuration.

Please find the photos attached, I hope it helps. The process was straight forward:

- open notebooks case
- locate the PCIE adapter
- remove protection sticker
- remove antenna connectors
- unscrew the fixation screw
- remove the old adapter
- insert the new adapter
- fix the screw
- attach antenna cables
- attach protection sticker
- close notebook case

Let me know if you need to know anything else.

[Caguicla_Intel]

Hi kapa,

Thanks for your swift reply.

I want to point out once more that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) typically have unique customizations for these types of modifications, and they might provide further instructions. For your convenience, we're providing our article on  Regulatory Information Regarding Wireless Hardware Installation or Upgrade. Our support in this area might be restricted, but you can be certain that we will consult with our engineers for additional insights.

Best regards,

Caguicla C.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[kapa]

Hi,

Thank you for the article, I checked it last time already and do not believe in an OEM limitation, I am located in the EU, not US.

Also the AX200 Bluetooth works under Windows, but does not under Linux. So it lacks proper drivers for Linux rather than it is limited by hardware.

Also there are numerous articles in the internet about AX200 Bluetooth not working under Linux, just without a solution.


The missing solution was mainly the reason contacting you, hoping to find a way to fix this technical problem.


I suspect the AX200 won’t work on any hardware, notebook or PC with a recent kernel (6.8+)

So what do you think, shall we give it a try to fix this technical challenge for the community or just “declare” the AX200 as not supported by Linux?


The latter would be sad, but would be at least a clear statement.

[Caguicla_Intel]

Hi kapa,

Appreciate your patience on this matter.

After a thorough review of the computer's system specifications, I understand that the computer is primarily designed to support the Windows operating system. Given this, it is advisable to consult with the computer's manufacturer to verify whether the integration of a new wireless card is compatible and will function as expected with the system. This is particularly important as the manufacturer may have made modifications to the software or hardware that are not immediately apparent.

Furthermore, according to the system requirements, it supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and the MediaTek MT7922A22M wireless card in is indeed Wi-Fi 6E capable. However, it's worth noting that Wi-Fi 6E represents an enhancement over the standard Wi-Fi 6, utilizing an expanded version of the 802.11ax protocol.

We value your experience and aim to ensure that any hardware upgrades align with the system's design and capabilities. Should you wish to continue troubleshooting, our Linux* Support for Intel® Wireless Adapters is available for reference. Nonetheless, for a definitive confirmation of the compatibility and functionality of your new wireless card, reaching out to the computer's manufacturer is recommended.

Best regards,

Caguicla C.

Intel® Customer Support Technician