Ubuntu 13.04 has been released with lost of eye-candy and performance boost. As it happens with every Ubuntu release, you install or upgrade to a newer Ubuntu version and run in to a number of problems. But then, there is always a way to overcome these big little problems. One of the most common problem faced is no sound after installing Ubuntu 14.04.
While there could be several reasons for no sound in Ubuntu 14.04, I will share the trick which worked for me. Lets see in steps how I fixed and how you can fix it.
Steps to fix no audio in Ubuntu 14.04:
First step, just to verify, check if the sound is not muted. Once you verify this, go to Sound Settings:
In the Sound Settings, you’ll find that you have practically nothing here except a dummy output. Quite frustrating. It means that your sound card is not even recognized. Puff!
No worries. The one shot solution which fixed the sound problem for me on my Intel powered Dell Inspiron N4010 is to force reload Alsa. To do that, use the following command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):
sudo alsa force-reload
The output will be like this.
You may think that it is hanged or still in processing but it takes only couple of seconds. You can simply close it afterwards by using Ctrl+C. Now, you need to reboot your computer. If at the next start up, you hear the login sound at the lock screen, you know it worked like a charm.
First Alternate method to fix no sound in Ubuntu 14.04:
If the above problem did not fix it for you, try reinstalling Alsa and Pulse audio in the following manner:
sudo apt-get remove --purge alsa-base pulseaudio
sudo apt-get install alsa-base pulseaudio
And force reload Alsa again:
sudo alsa force-reload
Restart and enjoy the world of sound, again.
Second Alternate method to fix no sound in Ubuntu 14.04:
Open the terminal and edit speech-dispatcher file by using the following command:
sudo gedit /etc/default/speech-dispatcherIn here, change RUN=yes to RUN=no
Reboot and enjoy sound.
If it fixed your sound problem, you may want to fix brightness issue as well. Fixing the sound problem is definitely one of the must to do things after installing Ubuntu 14.04. Any questions, suggestions or a world of thanks to keep me motivated can be dropped in comment section. Stay tuned for more Linux tutorials and tips.
your explanation on 14.04 is very clear. I tried it on 16.04, but it did not work.
Would you please give your explanation on 16.04? Thank you in advance.
Allen in Los Sangeles
Hi Abhishek,
I have a strange problem. After boot up, my speakers work perfectly fine. But when I plugged in my headphones the audio works for a shorter time and then suddenly stops. There will be no audio from both external speakers and headphone. I tried to force load alsa but no use. Please help.
Sir nothing worked for me...
Thanks. The second method workt for me with Skywave Linux in Ubuntu 16 and a old asus x51l laptop
Hi, my compliments for the post, I have this problem and I tried to follow the first solution.
When I put on the terminal: "sudo alsa force-reload"
Compares: "Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: (none loaded).
Loading ALSA sound driver modules: (none to reload)."
What does they mean? How I can solve this problem?
Please answer me! Thank you!
Didn't work. Tried all those commands.
Hi All.
i have an ACER Aspire E-5 473g laptop with Realtek ALC255 chipset. Sound works perfectly via speakers but line out is dead, and HDMI sound is crackling.
Do you have any solution for these issues?
Thanx in advance!
Cheers, J.
First step worked for me on Linux Mint 17.3 I now have sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa!!! Thannnnkkkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww!!!
None of the method worked for me.
Please help me out.
In Sound Setting it shows 'Speakers ' under play sound through tab.
The first method worked for me. Got the loading sound and audio worked in the browser, however audio didn't work in the brasero movie player. Checked all setting and volume was up to 100%. Finally went to VLC and reset the preferences. When I loaded it up again VLC showed to be muted. WTH? Unchecked the muted box and audio works everywhere now. Didn't realize VLC controlled that much.
¡You have saved my life my friend, many thanks!
I install to acer aspire S11 touch.. mint cinamon all perfect ..but sound is weak ..
in sound settings are 4 inner sound systems ..3 hdmi displayport a 1 analog stereo all weak.
cart: hda intel pcm
chip: realtek ALC255
Help me pleas..Thanks
Help me pleas
After tried the "FIRST ALTERNATE METHOD TO FIX NO SOUND IN UBUNTU 14.04". The sounds options disappear completely from my Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS. Any ideas?
Use `sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop` to restore system settings.
Happy to say "FIRST ALTERNATE METHOD TO FIX NO SOUND IN UBUNTU 14.04" worked perfectly. Thanks as always to all contributors to this thread.
Thanks to Abishek, Ryan and the other contributors!