Well, I have been testing this end (with edited code) and interestingly on Android 10 BLE 5.0, the BLE scan never starts! Android 10 should not need permission to scan or connect. I'm looking into it tonight (UK time).
HI Chris. It seems Android10 BLE 5 needs the location permission to allow scan.
It has got location in my code - Android 10 should not require any permissions.
What I have discovered is that the scan works if the App is run by the Companion. Also, the scan takes much longer than before, measured in minutes rather than seconds.
Hi Gerard
BLE_connect_edit.aia (227.6 KB)
Try this on Android 10. Try it in the Companion (v2.72) and afterwards download and install as an APK. In each case, exit the App via it's exit button so that the log file is appended with everything reported in the Status Label. The Companion will moan about this as you can't close the App within the Companion.
To access the log file, you may need a File Manager. I use:
HI ChrisWard. Thanks gor your time and effort to help me.
I tried your modified app.
1st) I am unsure what you mean "ensure BT and location are on". OK for BT, but I do not find any place where to configure "location".
2nd) On first execution of app, I am ask for finelocation permission (I accept), but scan does not start (nothing shows up in the list and I get an error if I hit stop button key stating scan is not started)
I stop the app with the red exit button.
3rd) on next execution I am ask for permission on picture, multimedia content and files I accept). Scan works and BLE devices appears very quickly in list. I stop scan, pick the device I am interested in (ESP32 with Arduino latest BLE lib -upgraded to 3.0.4 yesterday) and try connect => unfortunately get this error 133. See attached log file.
BLE_log.txt (279 Bytes)
It's on the settings panel, along with things like Bluetooth on-off, Data on-off, Torch, Aircraft Mode, WiFi, Screenshot etc. However, it should be triggered by the location sensor component that is in the designer, and switched on if you give location permission. So sounds like that worked OK.
BLE error 133 is "too many connections". If you used nRF to connect before and it did not cleanly disconnect (no easy way of knowing), that would be the cause of the App failure. So would hitting the App connect button twice, which could happen inadvertently, so I have made a few modifications to the App. However, there could be a bug in the BLE extension code that records a connection even if connection failed, in which case we would also get a 133 error. So between tests, always clear the App from the phone's memory (tiny square button at bottom of phone's screen).
Question - how did you test the App? Only via Connect Companion or also by installing an APK? In my tests here, Companion shows greater success. Not sure if that's a blip, my environment, or a bug in the App's Manifest (which is produced automatically by App Inventor).
Patience required with this modified App as I have given it a whole minute to try to connect, though it takes less than that to fail:
BLE_connect_edit2.aia (228.1 KB)
OK. location is activated (was already at time of connection trial). The BLE connect app shows in the list off app ehich recently ask for acees to localisation.
I'm going to be away from my office for 10 days, so if you could perform the test with the Samsung now, that would be good 
By the way, you might get error code 257. I have read that it means "too many attempts to connect" or "connected too many times". Either way, switching off Bluetooth is the recommended fix.
Hi ChrisWard
I did the test on both (Samsung and Xiaomi), bpth get error 133. I added some "comments"in your modified app. Elapse time between seek connection and connection failure is about 6 seconds.
Gerard
Good idea about the "to many attempt to connect". At some point in time I had the impression that there was "some accumulation of data" or better wording "ageing of the app".
Unfortunately, stopping/starting BLE does not help.
I also stop BLE, power off android, start android, enable BLE. Still no success.
Gerard,
Ooops, I overlooked the "edit2" version. I tried it both with ai companion and directly from "apk", deleting the app in between trials.
Sorru, no sucess.
Gerard
An d no need for patience. The connection fails within a few seconds.
How do you power your esp32?
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esp32 powered from a PC usb port (tried from PC tower and portable). BLE connect sucessfully using nrf
What is nrf?
nrf connect is an app from Nordic Semiconductor for mobile. it allows to see devices advertissment, and allows to connect to these devices and to issue read/write/notify.
available from google app sore https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.nordicsemi.android.mcp&hl=en
To complement previous answer on powering ESP32, I am using an ESP32 development module that generates the ESP 3.3V with on-board voltage regulator.
Hi. I had the opportunity to access a Samsung with android 14. the app, installed with Ai companion , works as expected (connection successful). Anyhow I did not had a chance to repeat the connection request to check if it would fail after many connection requests.
Still have the problem with my Android 10,
Gerard
I discovered something interesting whilst on holiday in another country - BLE 'found' and listed my BLE Devices, even though none of them were with me except the Android 10 I ran the App on.....
Good cache!
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