BLE / NRF Scanner
See Bluetooth LE advertisements
What it does
SimpleBluetooth gadgets like earbuds, fitness trackers, and smart tags keep quietly saying 'hi, I'm here!' so that phones can find and connect to them. This app listens for those hellos and shows a list of the gadgets around you, along with their names.
It's a neat way to discover just how many little Bluetooth devices are broadcasting nearby — often far more than you'd guess in a home or a café.
How it works
SimpleBluetooth devices shout their hello on three special channels, taking turns so they're easy to catch. Each hello includes the device's address and often a name. The app watches those three channels and lists every hello it hears.
How to use it, step by step
Simple- Open the 'BLE RX' app.
- Look at the list of Bluetooth gadgets that appear.
- Tap one to see its details, like its name and address.
- Turn a Bluetooth device on or off nearby and watch it appear or vanish.
Examples
Find retail/proximity beacons advertising in a shop or public space.
Count the fitness bands and earbuds broadcasting in a busy room.
See which devices use rotating random addresses (for privacy) versus fixed public ones.
Tips & things to try
- Many modern devices rotate their address for privacy, so the same gadget may appear under changing MACs.
- Manufacturer-data in the advert often reveals the brand even when there's no friendly name.
- The HackRF observes adverts, not live connections — perfect for discovery, not for following a paired link.