How to troubleshoot sound problems

This page helps you identify and correct issues with sound on your system, and helps you report problems so they can be prevented in the future.

Use the list below to identify the component at fault and to help you provide the debugging information when you file a bug report. Please add output of relevant commands to the report:

1. Add shorter texts, such as  output or fact that   did not play sound as comments 1. Attach longer outputs, such as  log as attachments

Feel free to improve this text to reflect your experience, or mail suggestions to lkundrak@redhat.com. Thanks!

ALSA

 * Relevant packages:, ,
 * Permissions on device files are managed by HAL
 * Relevant packages: ,
 * See what ACLs are set with
 * Users with active sessions should have write privilege
 * Relevant packages: ,
 * Check which sessions are active with
 * Pulseaudio backend is in package
 * Volume settings are adjusted with
 * You can play sound with
 * When pulseaudio is running, use

PulseAudio daemon

 * Relevant packages:
 * Starts with the session
 * In GNOME see System->Preferences->Personal->Sessions
 * In KDE, you should have
 * to see if it had any problems
 * Audio devices are discovered by HAL
 * Relevant packages: ,
 * Use  to list them
 * Run verbose pulseaudio on foreground to see detailed messages
 * Kill running pulseaudio  or
 * Clean up the leftover temporary files
 * Run
 * You can play sound with

GStreamer

 * Relevant packages: ,
 * Default sound devices is set by
 * Either ALSA or pulse should work. Also default.
 * Check the values with
 * You can play sound with
 * Also try  instead

Firefox / Flash / Amazon.com Preview Issues in x86_64

 * This pertains to Firefox / Amazon.com music previews that sound horrible, or mixed with 'Pac-Man' noise:
 * The problem may be that your flash player is old or not installed properly (as was my case).
 * Open firefox and navigate to Adobe's flash download site for Linux:
 * Download the latest flashplayer for your installation
 * Close firefox and all of its Download / Properties windows.
 * Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal
 * Enter the following commands:
 * Enter the following commands:
 * Restart firefox