How to specify device capabilities for Bluetooth

Article
02/09/2021

Note For Windows 10, see What's different in Windows 10.

The package manifest is an XML document that contains the info the system needs to deploy, display, or update a Windows Runtime apps app. This info includes package identity, package dependencies, required capabilities, visual elements, and extensibility points. Every app package must include one package manifest.

For detailed information about the package manifest, see How to create a package manifest manually.

A Windows Runtime app that accesses a Bluetooth device (via the Rfcomm or Gatt APIs) must include specific DeviceCapability data in the Capabilities node of its manifest. This data identifies the device and its purpose (or function). Note that some devices may have multiple functions.

The Device Id element corresponds to the device identifier. This element may specify a combination Vendor Id (vid) and Product Id (pid); or, it may specify a combination of Manufacturer and Model; or, it may specify a generic string ("any"). In addition, if the Device Id specifies a Vendor Id (vid) and Product Id (pid) then it may contain an optional provider string of "usb" or "bluetooth".

The Function Type element specifies the device function. This element may specify a Bluetooth Service Name (name) or Service Id (serviceId).

Bluetooth DeviceCapability Usage

Your Bluetooth app must include certain device capabilities in its App package manifest to specify key information about the device. Here are the required elements in hierarchical order:

<DeviceCapability>: The Name attribute must be "bluetooth.rfcomm" for accessing a Bluetooth RFCOMM device or "bluetooth.genericAttributeProfile" for accessing a Bluetooth GATT device.

<Device>: The Id attribute must specify the vendor/product Id, or the manufacturer/model, or can be "any" to allow access to any device that matches the function type.

<Function>: The Type attribute can specify the service name or the service Id.

Note You cannot modify the Bluetooth device capability in Microsoft Visual Studio. You must right-click the Package.appxmanifest file in Solution Explorer and select Open With..., and then XML (Text) Editor. The file opens in plain XML.

Defining Rfcomm DeviceCapabilities

Use the following layout to describe your app's Bluetooth RFCOMM capabilities:

<m2:DeviceCapability Name="bluetooth.rfcomm">
  <m2:Device Id="vidpid:xxxx xxxx bluetooth">
    <m2:Function Type="serviceId:xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx"/>
    <m2:Function Type="name:xxxxx"/>
  </m2:Device>
<m2:/DeviceCapability>

Defining GenericAttributeProfile DeviceCapabilities

Use the following layout to describe your app's Bluetooth GATT capabilities:

<m2:DeviceCapability Name="bluetooth.genericAttributeProfile">
  <m2:Device Id="model:xxxx;xxxx">
    <m2:Function Type="serviceId:xxxxxxxx"/>
    <m2:Function Type="name:xxxxx"/>
  <m2:/Device>
<m2:/DeviceCapability>

How to Specify DeviceCapabilities Examples

The following entries illustrate different methods for defining DeviceCapabilities for a Bluetooth device.

The following snippet identifies the DeviceCapabilities for a Bluetooth RFCOMM device using the Vendor Id and Product Id combination, along with the optional provider:

<m2:DeviceCapability Name="bluetooth.rfcomm">
  <m2:Device Id="vidpid:0006 0001 bluetooth">
    <m2:Function Type="name:obexObjectPush"/>
  </m2:Device>
</m2:DeviceCapability>

Alternately, the following snippet identifies the DeviceCapabilities for a Bluetooth RFCOMM device using its full Id.

<m2:DeviceCapability Name="bluetooth.rfcomm">
  <m2:Device Id="any">
    <m2:Function Type="name:AAAAAAAA-BBBB-CCCC-DDDD-EEEEEEEEEEEE" />
  </m2:Device>
</m2:DeviceCapability>

The following snippet identifies the DeviceCapabilities for a Bluetooth GATT device using the Manufacturer and Model combination:

<m2:DeviceCapability Name="bluetooth.genericAttributeProfile">
  <m2:Device Id="any">
    <m2:Function Type="name:heartRate" />
  </m2:Device>
</m2:DeviceCapability>

Support for Bluetooth RFCOMM services

The following RFCOMM services are supported via the name value:

name:serialPort
name:obexObjectPush
name:obexFileTransfer
name:phoneBookAccessPce
name:phoneBookAccessPse
name:genericFileTransfer

The following RFCOMM services are not supported:

Service Discovery (0x1000)
Browse Group Descriptor (0x1001)
LAN Access Using PPP (0x1102)
Headset (0x1108, 0x1112)
Cordless Telephony (0x1109)
Audio Source (0x110A) and Sink (0x110B)
Intercom (0x1110)
Fax (0x1111)
WAP (0x1113, 0x1114)
NAP (0x1116)
GN (0x1117)
HCR Print (0x1126) and Scan (0x1127)
Common ISDN Access (0x1128)
SIM Access (0x112D)
Headset – HS (0x1131)
GNSS Server (0x1136)
PnP Information (0x1200)
Generic Networking (0x1201)
Generic Audio (0x1203)
Generic Telephony (0x1204)
UPnP (0x1205, 0x1206)
ESDP UPnP IP (0x1300, 0x1301, 0x1302)
Video Source (0x1303) and Sink (0x1304)
HDP Source (0x1401) and Sink (0x1402)

Support for Bluetooth GATT services

The following GATT services are supported via the name value:

name:battery
name:bloodPressure
name:cyclingSpeedAndCadence
name:genericAccess
name:genericAttribute
name:glucose
name:healthThermometer
name:heartRate
name:runningSpeedAndCadence

The following GATT service is not supported:

Human Interface Device (0x1812)

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