Ubuntu No Sound Issue: Complete Troubleshooting Guide from Basic Checks to Advanced Fixes

1. Initial Checks

If you encounter a “no sound” issue on Ubuntu, the first things you should check are the basic settings and physical connections. Before moving on to advanced troubleshooting, it is important to verify these simple points, as many audio problems can be resolved at this stage.

Check System Volume and Mute Settings

One of the most commonly overlooked causes is the volume or mute setting. Ubuntu allows you to control both the system-wide volume and per-application volume independently, so sound will not play if any of them are muted.

1. Click the speaker icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Check whether the volume slider is set to the minimum or muted.
3. Increase the volume if necessary and click the speaker icon to disable mute.

You can also verify application-specific volume settings. Go to Settings → Sound → Applications and make sure the application is not muted.

Confirm the Correct Output Device Is Selected

Ubuntu may detect multiple audio output devices, such as built-in speakers, HDMI outputs, or Bluetooth devices. If an unintended device is selected, it may appear as if there is no sound.

1. Open Settings → Sound.
2. Select the Output tab and confirm that the intended speaker or headphones are selected.
3. If the device does not appear, the connection may not be recognized, so recheck the cable or port.

Check Physical Connections

Do not forget to check for hardware-related issues. If you are using external speakers or earphones, verify the following:

• The cable is securely connected.
• The port is free of dust or debris.
• Test the speakers or earphones with another device (such as a smartphone) to confirm they work properly.

These checks help determine whether the issue lies with Ubuntu or the hardware itself.

2. Checking and Adjusting Sound Settings

In many cases, sound issues on Ubuntu are caused by incorrect sound settings or the wrong output device being selected. This section explains how to properly configure audio output from the system settings.

Manually Switch the Output Device

Ubuntu does not always automatically select the correct output device, especially when using HDMI or Bluetooth speakers. In such cases, manual selection is required.

1. Open Settings from Activities in the bottom-left corner.
2. Select Sound from the left menu and open the Output tab.
3. Choose the speaker or headphones you are actually using from the list.

For example, if both built-in speakers and an HDMI monitor are connected, Ubuntu may prioritize HDMI. If no sound comes from the monitor, manually reselect Speakers (Built-in Audio).

Run a Sound Test

After selecting the output device, you can use Ubuntu’s built-in test feature to confirm that sound is working.

• Click the Test button in the output device selection screen.
• Check whether sound is heard from both the left and right speakers.

If sound only plays from one side or not at all, the issue may still be related to hardware or cabling.

Try Changing the Sound Profile

If the sound profile is not configured correctly, audio may not play as expected. This issue commonly occurs with Bluetooth devices or USB audio interfaces.

1. Select the device under Settings → Sound → Output.
2. Check the Profile setting. If it is not visible, installing PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol) allows more detailed adjustments.

Switching to a different profile, such as High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) or Digital Stereo Output, may restore sound.

sudo apt install pavucontrol
pavucontrol

Running these commands in the terminal allows you to use a more advanced audio configuration tool.

3. PulseAudio Troubleshooting

Ubuntu uses an audio server called PulseAudio to manage sound output for the system and applications. If PulseAudio encounters issues, you may experience a complete loss of sound. This section explains basic PulseAudio troubleshooting steps.

Restart PulseAudio

One of the simplest and most effective solutions is restarting PulseAudio. Before changing system settings, try this step first.

Run the following commands:

pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

The first command stops PulseAudio, and the second command restarts it. Although PulseAudio usually restarts automatically, manually restarting it can resolve certain issues.

Reset the Sound Service

If PulseAudio is not functioning properly, corrupted configuration files may be the cause. In that case, resetting the user configuration can help.

1. Remove the configuration directory (it will be recreated automatically):

rm -r ~/.config/pulse

2. Restart PulseAudio:

pulseaudio --start

This will remove all custom settings, but reverting to default behavior resolves many audio problems.

Check Detailed Settings with pavucontrol

To view details that are not available in the standard settings menu, PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol) is very useful.

Install and Launch:

sudo apt install pavucontrol
pavucontrol

Key Points to Check:

• Output Devices tab: Confirm the correct device is active.
• Playback tab: Ensure the application’s audio output is not muted.
• Configuration tab: Verify that the appropriate profile is selected.

This tool allows you to assign output devices on a per-application basis, which is especially useful when using multiple audio outputs.

4. ALSA Configuration and Verification

Ubuntu’s audio system is built on ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture), a low-level sound interface. PulseAudio relies on ALSA, so issues at the ALSA level cannot be resolved by adjusting PulseAudio alone.

This section explains how to verify and review ALSA-related settings.

Check Volume and Mute Status with alsamixer

You can check and adjust ALSA volume settings using the terminal-based tool alsamixer. This tool reveals mute states and channel settings that may not appear in GUI tools.

1. Launch alsamixer

alsamixer

You will see a screen with the following controls:

• Left/Right arrow keys to move between channels
• Up/Down arrow keys to adjust volume
• M key to toggle mute (if MM is displayed, the channel is muted)

Note: Headphone or speaker outputs may be muted individually. Check all channels.

2. Switch and Verify Sound Cards

Press F6 to display a list of detected sound cards. If multiple devices are present, select each one and check its volume settings.

Verify Sound Card Recognition

If Ubuntu does not recognize the sound card, audio output will not work. Use the following command to check detection:

lspci | grep -i audio

For USB audio devices, use:

lsusb

If no sound device appears, the hardware may not be recognized. In that case, BIOS settings or driver installation may be required.

Reset ALSA to Default Settings

If ALSA is not functioning correctly due to configuration changes, resetting it may help.

sudo alsa force-reload

This command reloads ALSA modules and resets basic settings. Rebooting afterward is recommended.

5. Checking and Updating Drivers

Audio issues on Ubuntu may be caused by missing or malfunctioning audio drivers. This is especially common after upgrading Ubuntu or installing it on new hardware.

This section explains how to check driver status and update them if necessary.

Check Available Drivers

Ubuntu can automatically detect recommended drivers for your hardware. Run the following command:

sudo ubuntu-drivers devices

The output shows installed drivers and recommended ones. If no audio-related device appears, Ubuntu may not be recognizing the hardware.

Automatically Install Recommended Drivers

If recommended drivers are listed, you can install them automatically:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

After installation, reboot the system:

sudo reboot

If sound works after rebooting, the issue was driver-related.

Cases Requiring Vendor-Specific Drivers

Some audio chips, especially certain Realtek models, may not work correctly with default Ubuntu drivers. In such cases, additional steps may be required:

• Download and manually build Linux drivers from the Realtek official website.
• Use patched drivers shared on Ubuntu forums or Launchpad.

These steps are intended for intermediate to advanced users. Always try standard driver installation first.

6. Other Possible Solutions

If sound still does not work after checking settings and drivers, deeper system-level or environment-specific factors may be involved.

Check BIOS Settings

If audio is disabled at the hardware level, no software configuration in Ubuntu will restore sound. This can occur on some desktop PCs.

BIOS Settings to Check:

• Ensure Onboard Audio or HD Audio is set to Enabled.
• If set to Auto, try explicitly changing it to Enabled.

Accessing the BIOS usually requires pressing F2 or Delete during startup. Save changes and reboot after making adjustments.

Try a Different Kernel Version

In rare cases, specific Linux kernel versions introduce audio-related bugs. Switching to a different kernel can resolve the issue.

1. Check the current kernel version:

uname -r

2. Install and manage other kernels:

Ubuntu allows installing alternative kernels from the mainline repository. For easier management, the mainline tool is recommended.

sudo apt install mainline
mainline

After launching the GUI, install a stable older version (for example, the 5.15 series), reboot, and check whether sound is restored.

Reinstalling Ubuntu as a Last Resort

If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling Ubuntu may be considered as a final option. Although time-consuming, it can resolve issues caused by corrupted configuration files or driver conflicts.

7. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Audio issues on Ubuntu can have various causes depending on the environment and hardware. This section summarizes common questions and solutions.

Q1. Sound stopped working after upgrading Ubuntu. What should I do?

A.
Common causes include driver incompatibility or corrupted configuration files. Try the following steps in order:

1. Restart PulseAudio using pulseaudio -k.
2. Install pavucontrol and confirm the correct output device.
3. Reinstall drivers using sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall.
4. Reset ALSA if necessary with sudo alsa force-reload.

If the issue persists, consider switching kernels.

Q2. There is no sound from an HDMI-connected monitor. How can I fix this?

A.
Ubuntu may not correctly select the HDMI output device.

Try the following:

1. Select HDMI or Digital Output (HDMI) under Settings → Sound → Output.
2. Run an audio test.
3. Use pavucontrol to assign HDMI as the output for specific applications.

If sound still does not work, try a different HDMI port or check kernel compatibility.

Q3. External speakers produce no sound, but headphones work. Why?

A.
The output device may be fixed to headphones, or the speaker may not be properly recognized.

Solutions:

• Explicitly select Speakers (Built-in Audio) under Settings → Sound → Output.
• Use alsamixer to check speaker volume and mute status.
• Test with different speakers to rule out hardware failure.

Q4. Sound stops working after every reboot. Do I need to reconfigure it each time?

A.
This usually means settings are not being saved. Select the correct output device in pavucontrol, then log out and log back in to confirm persistence.

If settings keep resetting, try rebuilding PulseAudio configuration:

rm -r ~/.config/pulse
pulseaudio --start

8. Summary

The “no sound” problem on Ubuntu is a common issue that affects users of all experience levels. Causes range from simple configuration mistakes to driver or hardware problems. By addressing the issue step by step, most cases can be resolved.

This article covered the following troubleshooting steps:

• 1. Initial checks: Volume, mute, and connection verification
• 2. Sound settings adjustment: Output devices and profiles
• 3. PulseAudio troubleshooting: Restarting and configuration checks
• 4. ALSA verification: Low-level audio configuration
• 5. Driver updates: Applying the correct audio drivers
• 6. Additional solutions: BIOS settings and kernel changes
• 7. FAQ: Common scenarios and solutions

While some audio issues cannot be resolved through graphical settings alone, terminal-based tools such as pulseaudio, alsamixer, and pavucontrol are extremely powerful for diagnosing and fixing sound problems.

If the issue still persists, searching Ubuntu forums or Q&A sites (such as Ask Ubuntu) for similar hardware configurations can be helpful, as related cases may already be documented.