Bluetooth always on

[Dreamarco]

We are a school where every student has an ipad. we use apple classroom to control the use of ipads during lessons. however, it is enough for the student to disable bluetooth to no longer be viewable in apple classroom.
Is it possible that on jamf there is no possibility to insert in the profile the possibility to always leave the bluetooth active? the lack of this feature is very limiting. is it expected in the next updates? I saw from the forum that it has been talked about since 2016

[Dreamarco]

Thank you

[jcarr]

It's actually a combination of a configuration payload and a remote command.

1.  Set the restriction to disable modification of bluetooth settings (Restrictions > Functionality):

2.  Send the remote command to Enable bluetooth:

[jcarr]

My apologies.  The screenshots I posted are for Jamf Pro, not Jamf School.  The process is the same however.

[Dreamarco]

the problem is that by disabling the ability to change bluetooth settings, it is no longer even possible to pair new bluetooth devices.

at present there is no setting that leaves bluetooth always on, allowing the possibility of pairing new devices.

Why? Can we hope it will arrive soon?

[Dreamarco]

the lack of an option that allows you to always keep bluetooth active while also allowing you to manage the various devices, makes this setting too limiting for students and therefore unusable.
activating the current option does not even allow students to connect airpods or any other device.
this as a school makes it impossible for us to use this feature.

what is needed for bluetooth is the same function present for wifi. an option that leaves bluetooth always active but allows device management.
how is it possible that apple and jamf still don't think about this after all these years?
this choice actually opens a bug too big for the use of apple classroom in schools

[jcarr]

This is certainly worth submitting feedback to Apple via the Feedback Assistant app.

In the meantime, it may be an option to treat this as a discipline issue and not a technical issue.  Leave BT unrestricted for all, and address those students who abuse the privilege on a case by case basis.  If they violate your AUP, they loose the ability to use their BT headphones.  Seems fair.

Just a thought.

[iNick]

@Dreamarco unfortunately this has been an issue for a few years and Apple doesn't really seem to care after multiple people asking for this. 

However... It might just not be worth it since the forced bluetooth on is more or less a worthless option when you can easily turn on airplane mode and turn on WiFi. No more bluetooth but full functioning iPad. 

Students know this workaround pretty fast.