Where Does BlueZ Store Bluetooth Pairings?
BlueZ keeps Bluetooth pairings in /var/lib/bluetooth, one folder per adapter and device with link keys inside.
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BlueZ stores pairings on disk under /var/lib/bluetooth. Each adapter gets a folder named by its MAC address, and each paired device gets a subfolder with an info file holding the link key and profiles. Caches for attributes sit beside them.
That layout makes terminal fixes straightforward. A stale device folder explains phantom entries that the GUI cannot remove. Pull the device folder with the daemon stopped and let discovery rebuild it cleanly on next pair.
Where BlueZ stores this, by platform
/var/lib/bluetooth
Adapter folders by MAC, device folders inside with info files holding link keys. Edit only with bluetoothd stopped. GUI tools manage these same files.
Frequently asked questions
How do I unpair a Bluetooth device from the terminal?
Remove the device folder under its adapter directory with bluetoothd stopped, then restart. The controller folder stays. Re pair from your desktop Bluetooth settings to generate fresh keys.
Can I copy pairings to another machine?
Copying sometimes works between identical adapters but usually breaks. Link keys bind to the controller address, so moved keys fail auth. Re pairing on the new machine takes less time than debugging.
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