17

This is a similar problem to this post but I was unable to add to the comments since I am new to StackExchange. I tried the answer posted by Vishesh but it didn't solve the issue for me; when I run start-pulseaudio-x11 command it still says "Failure: Module initialization failed". However, the sound works for all my other applications (VLC, Rhythmbox, web-based audio such as YouTube and SoundCloud). I have not tried the solution posted by Vikas as I wasn't sure whether it would impact my applications that do have audio output.

The problem started when I switched my audio output to HDMI; I had plugged my computer into my TV.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue?

JJGabe
  • 304
  • 1
  • 2
  • 8
  • 4
    can you change the output in system settings -> sound -> applications? – Joshua Besneatte May 16 '18 at 21:25
  • It shows Spotify in the list under applications, sound is up full but still nothing from the app. I also tried to delete and reinstall the app with no success – JJGabe May 17 '18 at 14:19
  • An update to this issue: I still get full sound through an HDMI cable when its plugged into my TV. Does anyone know how to reset this in Spotify? All my other applications are working – JJGabe Jul 13 '18 at 17:27
  • The pavucontrol solution worked for me.... for no apparent reason spotify was muted. I just hit unmute and I started to hear the music. The funny thing is... I had closed spotify.... I can see it in the process list but the spotify app is not on my desktop... – Patrick Sep 26 '19 at 01:11

2 Answers2

47

The simplest solution is to install pavucontrol sudo apt install pavucontrol. Then you launch it and the gui will let you choose the output for each application.

jona303
  • 594
  • 5
  • 5
  • 2
    Easy to operate and worked greatly. – Ronny Sherer Aug 15 '19 at 06:33
  • I am running Budgie and there are sound output controls easily accessible through the applet window however they weren't able to solve the problem. After I had unplugged the HDMI cable it was no longer listed as an output option and the check mark was beside Built-in Audio. Do you know if pavucontrol does a better job at controlling the sound devices? – JJGabe Sep 10 '19 at 18:46
  • Yes, that's the point (testing it could have been faster than type the comment). – jona303 Sep 12 '19 at 12:10
  • this needs to be the recommended solution! – jenkizenki Apr 17 '20 at 01:17
  • Thanks, I felt quite dumb plugging and unplugging my cables, mirroring my displays, etc. until I decided to read your answer. – sbaldrich May 05 '20 at 11:08
  • Perfect solution. For some reason stop to sound my spotify. (No issues with the rest of the applications). With this app, I was able to enable the sound for spotify! – user2992476 Jun 26 '20 at 10:42
  • It worked with the PAV, the strange thing is that if I close the window, there is no audio after a few seconds (Spotify continues to play with no audio). If I open the PAV tool again, the audio is back. No big deal, I'm simply keeping that window open for now. – Erik Norman Dec 10 '20 at 13:55
  • @ErikNorman I have encountered similar issues with other software, notably Zoom. It was happening because there was an option in Zoom to auto adjust the volume, which was overriding the levels I set in PAV. So I suggest going through and checking the settings within Spotify itself – JJGabe Sep 24 '21 at 14:20
  • It worked for me like a charm! Thanks! – Eduardo Lago Aguilar Jan 17 '22 at 09:00
  • perfect, was muted on spotify. solved! love u – Sham Fiorin Mar 28 '22 at 15:46
8

Yes, I experienced a similar problem today but not just with Spotify.
In my case, no application was able to play the sound.
Only system sounds were coming.
This occured after I had plugged my laptop to my TV using HDMI cable and then unplugged it.

This is how I solved it.

  1. Connect your PC back to the Device using HDMI port
  2. Go to display and mirror the screens
  3. Go to settings>sound.
  4. Change the audio output to the HDMI device
  5. Change the audio output back to the laptop/PC
  6. Go to display and switch back to your laptop screen
  7. Unplug the HDMI cable
coderDude
  • 203
  • 2
  • 5