5

When I connect an external monitor via HDMI I cannot switch audio output to built-in or headphones. I change output in Sound settings but audio still goes through the HDMI output.

I am using Ubuntu 20.04 and Gnome.

Yuri
  • 346

2 Answers2

7

I have, since posting the below, come across this answer referring to a similar problem in 18.04: Headphones not detected if plugged in before boot Ubuntu 18.04

The suggested fix: "Solution: Remove any configuration files auto-generated at ~/.config/pulse" works in my case, and persists across logouts, suspensions, and reboots.

I have a similar problem since upgrading to 20.04 and Gnome from 18.04 and Gnome >(where my HDMI connected monitor speakers and my laptop speakers/headphones >would switch via Settings>Sound>Output Device.) Now I have had to install Pulse Audio Volume Control to use headphones:

  1. On the Configuration tab I can set anything but Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output >or Off, and the headphones will work and all normal volume controls work. (And I >can watch video on the external monitor.)
  2. On the Output Devices tab Built-in Analog Stereo is active, Built-in Audio >Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) is inactive.

If I use the Sound control in Settings>Sound>Output Device to change to >HDMI/Display Port - Built-in Audio:

  1. The settings in PAVU immediately change to (Configuration) Digital Stereo(HDMI) Output and (Output Devices) both Speakers and HDMI show as active, but I only get sound from HDMI.
  2. Switching the Output Device to Speakers or Headphone via Settings>Sound>Output Device makes no change to PAVU, and the sound continues to come from the HDMI connected monitor, where both Speakers and HDMI show as active.

From this behaviour, I imagine that in 18.04 the switch in Settings>Sound>Output >Device was changing the Configuration in PAVU to Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) Output, >and that in 20.04 that is not happening. For now, I will simply ignore >Settings>Sound and head straight for PAVU.

Community
  • 1
Bwucie
  • 71
  • 1
    After upgrading from 19.10 to 20.04 I could not switch audio output. It always stayed at the internal speakers of the laptop. Deleting all files in ~/.config/pulse and rebooting did the trick! – Wu Wei May 14 '20 at 14:36
  • This worked for me, thanks. – lara Jan 06 '21 at 14:53
  • Ubuntu 21.04 here, deleting /.config/pulse and rebooting also worked for me! – ConnerWithAnE Nov 03 '21 at 03:59
0

I found a solution - if I switch to Digital Stereo 5.1 (HDMI) Output in Settings->Sound->Output -> Configuration then Settings->Sound->Output->Output Device can be used to switch Output Device to Built-in or headphones.

On the other hand, if Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output is selected in Settings->Sound->Output->Configuration then switching Output Device in Settings->Sound->Output->Output Device does not do anything.

Yuri
  • 346