Set Default Speaker in Ubuntu Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to choose the default speaker in Ubuntu Linux

Setting a default speaker in Ubuntu Linux makes your computer send audio to your preferred headphones or speakers by default. It also stops a plugged-in TV or monitor from taking over your sound.

Ubuntu often picks the first audio device it finds when you start your PC, and that is rarely the one you want. Recent versions, such as Ubuntu 23.10, let you choose your main audio output in the system settings with a few clicks, so you don’t have to switch devices by hand.

Changing the default speaker takes only a few clicks, and the same steps cover all system sounds.

1. Open Settings. The Settings⚙️ window opens.
2. Select Sound in the sidebar. The audio panel opens on the right.
3. Under Output, pick your preferred playback device from the list of available output hardware. The device you picked is now the active output.

From then on, Ubuntu sends new audio to that device until you pick another one. If the device is unplugged or switched off, Ubuntu falls back to whatever else is available. You may need to pick it again once it is reconnected.

Ubuntu assigns a primary output device automatically when it starts. You can change the volume from the system menu in the top-right corner of the screen.

1. Click the system menu in the top-right corner of the top bar. The menu opens with the volume slider.
2. Look at the Volume section. On recent GNOME versions it has an arrow or a device name next to the slider. Click it to expand the list of output devices.
3. Click the device you want. Sound moves to it straight away.

The Settings app, also called System Settings, is where you manage system configuration, user accounts and updates. The audio options are in the same app, so open it first. You can reach it in two ways, described below.

The quickest route is the system menu, which sits at the right end of the top bar.

1. Click the System menu in the top-right corner of the desktop bar. The menu opens with the volume slider, network and power controls.

1. Select Settings from the drop-down menu, as shown below. The Settings⚙️ window opens.

If you don’t see Settings in the menu, open the app grid and search for “Settings” instead.

1. In the Settings⚙️ application, find the Sound entry in the list of settings categories.
2. Click Sound. The audio panel opens on the right, with output, input and volume controls.

If your window is narrow, the list of categories may be hidden. Widen the window or use the menu button at the top left to bring it back.

1. Find the Output section inside the Sound settings.
2. Click the playback device you want to use as your default. Depending on your Ubuntu version, the devices appear as a list or in an Output Device drop-down.

The device you picked is now the active output, and sound from your applications moves to it. If your speakers or headphones are not listed, check that they are plugged in, powered on and, for Bluetooth, connected.

The default may not stick. Ubuntu can switch output on its own when a new device appears, for example when you connect a monitor over HDMI or DisplayPort, or when a Bluetooth headset connects. If that keeps happening, you can set the default more firmly with a few other tools:

• pavucontrol (PulseAudio Volume Control) is a small graphical mixer. Install it from the Ubuntu software repositories. It also works on current Ubuntu versions that use PipeWire. On its Output Devices tab, select your device and click Set as fallback to make it the default.
• In pavucontrol, the Configuration tab lets you set the profile of an unwanted device, such as a monitor’s HDMI audio, to Off. Ubuntu then can’t switch to it.
• To route one app only, open the Playback tab in pavucontrol while the app is playing sound. Use the drop-down next to that app to choose its output device. This leaves the system default alone.
• If you prefer the terminal, wpctl (PipeWire) and pactl (which has a set-default-sink option) can set the default output device. These are handy in a startup script.

The Sound panel and the system menu both change the default for the current session. If you find yourself picking the device again after every reconnect, use one of the methods above.

1. Click the Test button in the Output section. A test window or sound sequence starts.
2. Listen to each speaker as it plays. Every speaker should fire, and each one should come from the port or device you expect.

If a speaker stays silent, check the cable and the port it is plugged into. Also check that the volume is not muted. If the sound comes from the wrong device, go back and choose a different output.

If your microphone is missing from the Input section, Ubuntu usually has not detected the hardware properly. Check these things first:

• Make sure the microphone is plugged into the correct port, or paired if it is a Bluetooth device.
• Unplug it and plug it back in, then look at the Sound panel again.
• Try a different USB port or a different cable if the microphone connects by USB.

If it still does not appear, restart the PC and check again. A device that never shows up may point to a driver or hardware problem.

You can adjust volume levels and mute inputs directly in the Sound panel. Use the volume sliders to set the level for your output and input devices, and use the mute controls to silence them. You don’t need to go into deeper system menus.

When you are done, close the Settings app. Ubuntu applies sound changes as you make them, so you don’t need to click Save or restart the PC.

To undo the change, open Settings › Sound again and pick a different output device. You can also pick a different device from the Volume section of the system menu on recent versions.

Choosing one default output in a single place stops your sound from leaking to the wrong hardware. These are the main points:

• Setting the default speaker or headphones in Ubuntu Linux ensures the desired audio output for different applications.
• Ubuntu Linux provides a centralized location for adjusting sound settings, allowing users to select and test their preferred output devices.
• Users can access and customize sound settings through the System Settings panel, which makes managing audio output in Ubuntu Linux straightforward.