If you’ve recently upgraded your Ubuntu operating system from 18.04 LTS to 20.04 LTS and you’re experiencing audio issues, you’re not alone. Many users have reported similar problems. In this article, we’ll explore several solutions to help you get your sound back.
If you’re experiencing audio issues on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS after upgrading from 18.04 LTS, there are several solutions you can try. These include modifying Access Control Lists (ACLs), using PulseAudio Volume Control, force reloading ALSA, uninstalling the timidity-daemon package, using external speakers, installing a patch, or installing missing drivers. Try these solutions one by one to see which one resolves your audio issues.
Understanding the Problem
The audio issues in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS after upgrading from Ubuntu 18.04 LTS can manifest in different ways. You might find that your internal speaker is not working, or you might have trouble with the audio output when headphones are connected.
Solution 1: Modify Access Control Lists (ACLs)
One solution involves modifying the Access Control Lists (ACLs) for your sound devices. Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo setfacl -m u:$USER:rw /dev/snd/*This command modifies the ACLs for all sound devices (/dev/snd/*), granting read and write permissions (rw) to the current user (u:$USER). After running this command, reboot your computer and check if the audio issues have been resolved.
Solution 2: Use PulseAudio Volume Control
Another solution is to install and use the PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol). Run the following command in the terminal to install it:
sudo apt install pavucontrolAfter installing, run pavucontrol and navigate to the Configuration tab. Here, select “Analogue Stereo Output (unplugged) (unavailable)” under the Profile section. This action can temporarily fix the issue, but it may reset when headphones are unplugged or the system is rebooted.
Solution 3: Force Reload ALSA
The Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) can also be force reloaded to solve the audio issues. Run the following command in the terminal:
sudo alsa force-reloadThis command stops and restarts the ALSA driver, potentially resolving any issues. However, this change may not survive a reboot, so further steps might be needed to make the change persistent.
Solution 4: Uninstall Timidity Daemon
If the timidity-daemon package is causing the audio issues, it can be uninstalled using the following command:
sudo apt purge timidity-daemonThis command removes the timidity-daemon package, which is a MIDI to WAVE converter and player. After running this command, reboot your computer and check if the audio issues persist.
Solution 5: Use External Speakers
While it’s not an ideal solution, using external speakers can be a temporary workaround if your internal sound card is not detected due to a bug in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or kernel 5.4.
Solution 6: Install a Patch
A patch provided by developer Greg has been reported to fix the sound issue for some users. To install the patch, run the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kaihengfeng/fix-lp1869819
sudo apt-get upgradeThese commands add a new repository to your system and upgrade all packages, including the kernel, which might resolve the audio issues.
Solution 7: Install Missing Drivers
If the audio issues are due to a missing driver, you can install it using the following command:
sudo apt-get install linux-modules-extra-`uname -r`This command installs extra modules for the current kernel (uname -r returns the current kernel version), which might include the missing audio driver.
Conclusion
These are some of the most common solutions to fix audio issues on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS after upgrading from 18.04 LTS. Remember to try them one by one and see which one works for your specific situation. If none of these solutions work, consider reaching out to the Ubuntu community or the support team for further assistance.
To open a terminal in Ubuntu, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T or search for "Terminal" in the applications menu and click on it.
If modifying ACLs doesn’t solve the audio issues, you can try the other solutions mentioned in this article, such as using PulseAudio Volume Control, force reloading ALSA, uninstalling the timidity-daemon package, using external speakers, installing a patch, or installing missing drivers.
You can check your current kernel version in Ubuntu by opening a terminal and running the command uname -r. This will display the kernel version in the terminal.
Uninstalling the timidity-daemon package will only affect MIDI-related functionalities. If you don’t use MIDI devices or applications that rely on the timidity-daemon, it should not have any impact on your system.
These solutions are specifically aimed at resolving audio issues on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS after upgrading from 18.04 LTS. While some solutions might work on other Ubuntu versions or Linux distributions, it’s recommended to consult the documentation or support channels for specific instructions tailored to your operating system.
