SkieCan Skie disable Bluetooth on managed devices?
Yes. Disabling Bluetooth is an optional Skie protection using Android's Bluetooth restriction, and it is off by default. Students cannot switch it on, so file sharing and pairing with phones or earbuds is closed. It suits exam rooms and shared devices, but not classes that use Bluetooth accessories.
Bluetooth is how a tablet pairs with headphones, keyboards and nearby phones. It is also a way to move files and share a connection with another device without going through the school network. Hostel and exam staff sometimes worry about both.
With the switch on, Skie sets DISALLOW_BLUETOOTH as the device owner. Android turns off the radio and prevents it being switched back on from the quick panel or Settings. Nearby devices cannot pair with the tablet, and it cannot pair with them.
It is optional because Bluetooth is useful. A music class needs wireless headphones. A student who uses assistive technology may depend on a paired keyboard. Wired keyboards, on the other hand, work through USB if USB data is not disabled.
Look at the related switches for the other short-range routes: Wi-Fi Direct, NFC and tethering each have their own entry. The Bluetooth switch controls the Bluetooth radio only. The admin sees one toggle in the hardening section, with the state read back from Android after each apply and included in the compliance score.
Practical tip: if only exam time matters, make an exam group and turn Bluetooth off for that group, together with the camera and screenshot switches. Move devices in and out as needed.