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ValveSoftware
Steam Deck Audio Output Issues
Your system information
- Steam client version (build number or date): version 3.3.2, build 20221005.1
- Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): default
- Opted into Steam client beta?: No
- Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
Plugged in 3.5mm jack apple earbuds(which have a mic). Expected audio to go to the earbuds but it didn’t. Tried going to my audio output settings to manually change it, but it wouldn’t switch to “external”. I tried this while playing Skyrim and with no game running. This issue also shows up when connecting to a tv with HDMI through a JSAUX dock or Genki covert dock.
Steps for reproducing this issue:
Steps above
After some more testing, I was able to make the audio output switch between aux port and speaker, by: Going into desktop mode Plugging in earbuds Switching audio out to earbuds Then going back to SteamOs But the even though it is switching between both now, it still says it’s just outputting to speakers instead of giving me an explicit option to switch back and forth.
None of this fixed the docked issue of not outputting audio to my tv through HDMI. Looking at desktop mode while connected to my dock with my tv connected, it doesn’t seem to notice that the tv has an audio option, only that it can display to it.
I think it was the update before the recent one that caused the automatic audio switching issue. All output issues seem to be able to be solved by finding the right output in desktop mode however there doesnt appear to be a way to make the automatic switching work.
In and older preview I had the problem that after switching to another output, it would stay locked. Putting in 3.5mm jack and still getting audio over speaker, or no audio at all. In game mode going to audio output selecting the current output manually to whatever it is using currently and then selecting auto again should fix it (and in that version you have to do it again and again). Somehow selecting the thing you want to use did not work. As far as I can see: in the current preview audio out works automatically again. As a wish list, I would love to see a selection of audio output in the deck menu so I can select bluetooth(connect) on the fly while playing.
In the current stable build the Bluetooth audio selection works fine, it’s only the HDMI and 3.5 Jack that seem to be having this issue. Also, at this time, auto switching is an after thought. I would just like the option to appear and work for selecting different audio outputs.
I have this issue now as well when docked on my Steam Deck. At 70% volume it's considerably more often than at 100% within steams UI. I'm also getting this in my dmesg.
I was trying to diagnose another issue where the Steam Deck locks up when docked to the same TV with automatic resolution scaling disabled and set to 4K 30 manually. If you unplug and replug the dock it works fine, it freezes with audio from a cold boot with these settings.
This still appears to be a problem after the last couple of updates despite the audio list changing
have same problem on 3.4.4 build 20221228.1:
- after connecting bluetooth headset I am unable to get any audio to speakers or headset,
- audio settings output device does nothing, no interface sounds, no sound in games
- workaround: reboot then go desktop mode and change output via audio mixer app.
if not using bluetooth problem is not so easily reproduced: switching speakers to headphones can work for some time, but eventually system sounds stop working, then audio volume stops working, then game sound stops working.
The workaround for me was to install pulseaudio and use that to control the I/O (link in duplicate issue above).
The aforementioned solution may have worked for the headphones, but it hasn’t solved the issue of the audio going to a smart tv through a docking station.
Is there any way we can troubleshoot the cause? i would love to try and make this problem as easy as possible to fix but im unsure where to start.
I'm also still experiencing this issue.
I plug in my headphones into the 3.5 mm AUX, audio stays on the built-in speakers. I plug it into HDMI with a my USB-C to HDMI cable, audiio stays on the built-in speakers.
This used to work for me previously before the 21st June Client Update.
Tested fixes
- Manually changing audio output in desktop mode
- this fixes it just for 1 output, using other outputs does not work.
- Resetting BIOS
- No results
- Reinstalling SteamOS
- This worked temporarily, before the 21st of June Client update installed.
Info
SteamOS Version: 3.4.8 OS Build: 20230508.1 Steam Version: 1687386907
I have the same versions of software and it all works for me (with the Pulse Audio hack). I'm not sure what you mean by "just one output". Are you trying to get output on more than one channel?
I have the same versions of software and it all works for me (with the Pulse Audio hack). I'm not sure what you mean by "just one output". Are you trying to get output on more than one channel?
By just one output, I mean, that the specific output, (Headphones or HDMI for an example), will Auto-switch after doing that process, but any other audio output will not be automatically switched to, and requires the process to be done again, making the former audio output not automatically switch anymore.
Indeed so, having to quit whatever software I'm running to switch to desktop, then select the right audio output there.
The real curious thing is that the output doesn't appear in game mode under audio settings, but it's visible on the desktop.
I'm still having this same issue with latest update from stable
Have you fixed it? I have the same problem. :(
I ended up just reinstalling SteamOS completely, this seemed to have fixed it.
My best guess is missing or messed up packages causing issues.
I ended up just reinstalling SteamOS completely, this seemed to have fixed it.
My best guess is missing or messed up packages causing issues.
This seems to be only a temporary fix
Switching to headphones in desktop mode worked but didn't stay once I was back in game mode.
Switching the manual selection in game mode didn't help either.
Disabling developer mode, then plugging the earbuds in, then manually switching the selector did immediately make the headphones get picked up properly.
Switching to headphones in desktop mode worked but didn't stay once I was back in game mode.
Switching the manual selection in game mode didn't help either.
Disabling developer mode, then plugging the earbuds in, then manually switching the selector did immediately make the headphones get picked up properly.
was that fix for desktop or game mode? i dont have dev mode enabled but manual switching doesnt work in game mode either.
Still an issue today for me. It's pretty irritating that this kind of stuff isn't fixed more than a year after the issue was opened.
Even if it cant be fixed right now, could we at least be given an option to choose the same audio outputs that appear on desktop mode in gaming mode as well so we dont have to stop any game/program we are in to swap audio
Hey guys experiencing the same issue, didn't realize it has been persistent for as long as it has, I only recently stumbled upon this issue, and my only working solution was described earlier, by switching to desktop and manually switching to headphones, it still displays as speakers in gaming mode and behaves inconsistently. Hoping Valve eventually finds a way to remedy things, but progress doesn't always happen overnight.
This issue was fixed for me in a patch last year, but now another patch broke it again.
It seems whenever I see filter chain source in the audio devices in desktop mode, the audio in game mode doesn't work at all.
The problem with people suggesting I change my settings via anything besides Pulse Audio is that it immediately reverts the moment any audio plays. Even some settings in Pulse Audio get reverted by itself too.
I really wish Valve would just let us see the real device names in gaming mode so that it's consistent with desktop mode.
A workaround for me was to add pavucontrol (AKA pulseaudio volume control) as a non-steam game, so I can switch audio from gaming mode
This would work for the audio jack but not while using a docking station's hdmi port.
On Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 8:32 AM Adam Howard @.***> wrote:
A workaround for me was to add pavucontrol (AKA pulseaudio volume control) as a non-steam game, so I can switch audio from gaming mode
— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/873#issuecomment-1874030799, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA47T4FVUDCXFOTHQKSM57LYMQD6TAVCNFSM6AAAAAARAXRAQGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTQNZUGAZTANZZHE . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: @.***>
After the last update on the stable release I am having sound output issue when I am plugged into an external monitor in game mode only. After this lastest update which I installed 1/10/2024 I am not longer able to get audio in game mode because it will default to the external driver (my monitor which doesn't have speakers). I try to change the output to speakers but that does nothing. If I unplug my USB C Hub that the HDMI is plugged into, I will get sound back but as soon as I plug back into the monitor it will try again to default to the monitor.
When I unplug the screen it will go to Default(Speakers) and work fine but any time it is at Default(external Device) it won't work and as stated before, changing it to speakers does not resolve the issue.
This does happen in Desktop Mode until I select the speaker option which then allow the audio to play. The desktop appears to default to nothing.
How do you know which of the 24 options to select when configuring it manually? I feel like I'm back in the 90s configuring interrupts for my sound card and just praying I can at least play without sound.
