# \[SOLVED\] ESP32S3 BLE UART gives 'gatt status 133'

**URL:** <https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-esp32s3-ble-uart-gives-gatt-status-133/1453010>\
**Category:** Networking, Protocols, and Devices\
**Created:** [July 23, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-esp32s3-ble-uart-gives-gatt-status-133/1453010 "2026-07-23T13:30:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![horace](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/horace/32/1014299_2.png) [@horace](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/horace)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-esp32s3-ble-uart-gives-gatt-status-133/1453010/1 "2026-07-23T13:30:55Z")

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using Arduino IDE 2.3.20 ESP32 core 3.3.10  
File\>Examples\>BLE\>UART works OK on an ESP32 connecting to Android Terminal

running on ESP32S3 gives "Connection failed: gatt status 133"

I seem to remember this working in the past on the ESP32S3 so tried with ESP32 core 3.1.0 same result

any ideas?

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**Author:** ![cattledog](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/cattledog/32/217816_2.png) [@cattledog](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/cattledog)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-esp32s3-ble-uart-gives-gatt-status-133/1453010/2 "2026-07-23T23:36:32Z")

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> [@horace](#):
>
> any ideas?

I can not confirm your findings with IDE 2.3.10(latest version, 2.3.20 must be a typo) and esp32 core 3.3.10

With Board Selection ESP32S3 Dev Module I can load the UART example sketch and connect to the esp32S3 with Light Blue, nrfConnect, and Serial Bluetooth Terminal(Morich App) running on a Samsung A54 phone with Android 16.

What is the "Android Terminal" you are trying to connect?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![horace](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/horace/32/1014299_2.png) [@horace](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/horace)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-esp32s3-ble-uart-gives-gatt-status-133/1453010/3 "2026-07-24T08:39:51Z")

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using Light Blue tracked down problem - it indicated it could not access my location even though I had enabled access location for the app

somehow in Android settings I had the global "Access my location" switched off

switched it on and BLE Terminal worked OK with ESP32S3

strange thing is BLE Terminal worked OK with a ESP32 even with "Access my location" switched off

thanks for you help!

EDIT: noted that the ESP32 supports BLE 4.2 the ESP32-S3 BLE 5.0  
see [Comparison table for ESP8266/ESP32/ESP32-S2/ESP32-S3/ESP32-C3/ESP32-C6](https://gist.github.com/mattytrentini/e6817c2aced6e2878636a44d20f7cf90)  
may explain why the ESP32 worked OK and the ESP32-S3 failed?  
e.g. [Bluetooth 5.0 vs. 4.2: Key Differences and Improvements](https://www.rfwireless-world.com/terminology/bluetooth-5-vs-4-2-differences)