Getting Started

Getting Started

1. Pair the earbuds

Use the Bluetooth panel provided by GNOME, KDE, or your desktop environment. EarA controls an already paired device; it does not replace the system pairing dialog.

For the most reliable first connection:

1. Take both earbuds out of the case.
2. Temporarily disable Bluetooth on a phone that is also paired with them.
3. Pair and connect the earbuds in Linux Bluetooth settings.

2. Open EarA

Start Nothing X; Nothing Ears from the application menu, or run:

eara gui

Select the earbuds and press Connect. EarA connects the normal A2DP audio path and opens the separate RFCOMM control channel used for battery, ANC, EQ, and other device controls.

3. Choose an audio mode

• Music / A2DP keeps high-quality stereo playback.
• Calls / HFP enables the earbud microphone but lowers playback quality because of the Bluetooth headset profile.
• Mic keeps A2DP and uses the system's existing microphone selection.

CLI equivalents:

eara audio music
eara audio hfp

4. Check the device

eara status
eara --json status

Bluetooth: connected confirms the host connection. Protocol: ok confirms that the Nothing/CMF control channel is available.

Closing EarA

By default, closing EarA releases only its control channel and leaves Bluetooth audio connected. Power off Bluetooth on exit is opt-in because turning off the adapter can also disconnect keyboards, mice, and other Bluetooth devices.

If something does not connect, continue with Troubleshooting.