After upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04, you may encounter an issue with your audio output. Instead of displaying your regular audio options, the system only shows “Dummy Output” and fails the audio test. This article provides a detailed guide on how to fix this issue.
Understanding the Issue
The “Dummy Output” issue is a common problem that users face after upgrading to a new version of Ubuntu. This issue arises due to the system’s inability to recognize the audio hardware, resulting in no sound output. It’s crucial to note that this issue is not related to the hardware itself but rather the software’s interaction with the hardware.
Solution 1: Using PipeWire
PipeWire is a server for handling audio and video streams on Linux. It serves as a drop-in replacement for PulseAudio and can solve the “Dummy Output” issue.
- Open a terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+Tand run the following commands:
sudo touch /usr/share/pipewire/media-session.d/with-pulseaudio
systemctl --user restart pipewire-session-managerThe sudo touch command creates a new file in the specified directory. The systemctl --user restart command restarts the PipeWire session manager.
Solution 2: Using snd_hda_intel
The snd_hda_intel module is a sound driver for Intel HD Audio. If your hardware uses this module, you can fix the issue by modifying the ALSA configuration file.
- Kill PulseAudio by running
pulseaudio -kin the terminal. - Check if your hardware uses
snd_hda_intelby runninglsmod | grep snd_hda_intel. - If it does, run the following command:
echo "options snd-hda-intel model=generic" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.confThis command appends the line options snd-hda-intel model=generic to the ALSA configuration file. The model=generic option forces the driver to use a generic mode, which can solve the “Dummy Output” issue.
- Restart your laptop.
Solution 3: Restarting PulseAudio
Sometimes, simply restarting PulseAudio can fix the issue.
- Run both
pulseaudio --killandpulseaudio --startin the terminal. - Restart any applications that need to pick up the new PulseAudio, such as VLC.
The pulseaudio --kill command stops the PulseAudio service, and the pulseaudio --start command starts it again.
Solution 4: Updating PipeWire
If the issue persists, you may need to update PipeWire.
- Update the preinstalled PipeWire to the PPA version by following the installation instructions at https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-pipewire-on-ubuntu-linux.
- If the issue persists, check if the
/run/user/1000folder is owned by root. If it is, remove the folder and reboot the system.
Solution 5: Editing the GRUB Configuration File
The GRUB configuration file can be modified to solve the “Dummy Output” issue.
- Edit the
/etc/default/grubfile using the commandsudo nano /etc/default/grub. - Find the line
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""and addsnd_hda_intel.dmic_detect=0at the end. - Save the file by pressing Ctrl+X, then “y” for yes, and Enter.
- Run
sudo update-grubin the terminal. - Reboot your system.
The snd_hda_intel.dmic_detect=0 option disables the digital microphone (DMIC) detection for the snd_hda_intel driver, which can solve the “Dummy Output” issue.
Conclusion
The “Dummy Output” issue in Ubuntu 22.04 can be frustrating, but it’s usually not difficult to solve. The solutions provided in this article have worked for many users, but there’s no guarantee they will work for everyone. If you’re still experiencing problems, consider seeking help from the Ubuntu community or a professional.
To open a terminal in Ubuntu 22.04, you can press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut will open a new terminal window.
PipeWire is a server for handling audio and video streams on Linux. It can serve as a replacement for PulseAudio and helps in resolving the "Dummy Output" issue in Ubuntu 22.04.
To check if your hardware uses snd_hda_intel, you can open a terminal and run the command lsmod | grep snd_hda_intel. If the command returns any output, it means that your hardware uses the snd_hda_intel module.
You can edit the GRUB configuration file by opening a terminal and running the command sudo nano /etc/default/grub. This will open the file in the nano text editor. Make the necessary changes, save the file, and then run sudo update-grub to apply the changes.
To restart PulseAudio, you can open a terminal and run the commands pulseaudio --kill followed by pulseaudio --start. The first command stops the PulseAudio service, and the second command starts it again.
To update PipeWire, you can follow the installation instructions provided at https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-pipewire-on-ubuntu-linux. The instructions will guide you on how to update the preinstalled PipeWire to the PPA version.
To remove the /run/user/1000 folder, you can open a terminal and run the command sudo rm -r /run/user/1000. This command will remove the folder and its contents. Please exercise caution when using the rm command, as it permanently deletes files or directories.
To edit the ALSA configuration file, you can open a terminal and run the command sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf. This will open the file in the nano text editor. Make the necessary changes, save the file, and then restart your laptop to apply the changes.
To save a file in nano text editor, you can press Ctrl+X on your keyboard. This will prompt you to save the modified buffer. Press "y" for yes, and then press Enter to confirm the filename.
