Headphone jack and bluetooth earbuds not working

[vaptin]

The deck isnt detecting either in the settings menu when connected. I tried restarting the deck and reconnecting my earbuds multiple times and that hasnt worked.

Edit:
I think I figured it out. Sometimes the audio output will switch to "Echo-Cancel Sink", I think this happens when you switch to desktop mode. You just have to go to settings while in desktop mode and switch the audio output back to the steam deck speakers.
Though you might run into another issue where when you switch audio outputs it selects both options, when closing and reopening settings only echo-cancel sink is selected.
Just select the output you want and then "test" its audio, and then the previous output selected will deselect.

Edit 2:
Echo-Cancel Sink isn't even an option in settings anymore (at least on desktop mode) and I haven't had this issue since.

[Jaketin]

Same issue here - a workaround for wired headphones is going to desktop mode and switching the output device to headphones, but that in turn makes "echo sink" the default device in gaming mode without headphones plugged in.

My BT headphones that the deck does not recognize are Jabra Evolve 65t.

[The Alaskan Dragon]

I'm having this issue with my new Arctis Nova 7. Works fine for my phone and xbox, but for some reason steam deck is not recognize it via Bluetooth and when jacked in, only the left side plays sound, not the right side.

[Aged_Gamer]

I have no sound at all whether wired or Bluetooth. It happens on all games. Headphones sound as if they are connected but no sound.

[Geoff witha J]

Having the same issue. I get a little crackle when I plug in the headphones, but I can't switch the output to headphones. If I switch the output and close settings then go back it's reset itself to the default.

[Geoff witha J]

Ok, I just had some luck:

I had been plugged into a hub a few days ago, and had switched the audio from usb audio to speakers because I didn't want to wear my hub headphones at the time. I'd been having the problems since then.

Today I plugged back into the hub and switched the audio back to usb audio and that seems to have made everything go back to normal. Headphones activate as expected when plugged in.

I hope that helps.

[vaptin]

Originally posted by vaptin:

The deck isnt detecting either in the settings menu when connected. I tried restarting the deck and reconnecting my earbuds multiple times and that hasnt worked.

I think I figured it out. Sometimes the audio output will switch to "Echo-Cancel Sink", I think this happens when you switch to desktop mode. You just have to go to settings while in desktop mode and switch the audio output back to the steam deck speakers.
Though you might run into another issue where when you switch audio outputs it selects both options, when closing and reopening settings only echo-cancel sink is selected.
Just select the output you want and then "test" its audio, and then the previous output selected will deselect.

[puffcarty]

Boys it's because your steam deck is trying to send the audio through a monitor. Or another device. Hdmi trumps the headphones.

[[KAMI] RedWyvern]

Try adding PulseAudio Volume Control as a non-Steam game and use this program to switch to the output.
This is a workaround for an issue that should be fixed in Gamescope/SteamOS, but this software is very useful in Game Mode as it lets you redirect individual programs their sound to different outputs too.

[sffortytwo]

Originally posted by KAMI RedWyvern:

Try adding PulseAudio Volume Control as a non-Steam game and use this program to switch to the output.
This is a workaround for an issue that should be fixed in Gamescope/SteamOS, but this software is very useful in Game Mode as it lets you redirect individual programs their sound to different outputs too.

This totally fixed my issues with automatic sound switching.

[LbCYa562]

Originally posted by puffcarty:

Boys it's because your steam deck is trying to send the audio through a monitor. Or another device. Hdmi trumps the headphones.

Anyway to remedy this bro? I was just using bluetooth headphones a few days ago. I was docked to a portable monitor recently too but don't remember messing with any audio settings as I had no reason to. 🤔

[LbCYa562]

Originally posted by puffcarty:

Boys it's because your steam deck is trying to send the audio through a monitor. Or another device. Hdmi trumps the headphones.

Hooked it back up to monitor, went into desktop and settings. When I clicked "HDMI/DisplayPort3" etc. It started working through the monitor itself. I'll try the bluetooth headphones now.

Edit: Nope, bluetooth still not working.

Edit Edit: Somehow "output device" was set to "default audio" 🤦‍♂️
It does make me connect my bluetooth headphones manually now though instead of connecting automatically.

[DrLegit]

Any proper solution found?

[FartingToast]

Originally posted by LaMDA 9000:

Any proper solution found?

I am wondering the same thing. Having this issue myself

[FartingToast]

Originally posted by LaMDA 9000:

Any proper solution found?

I just tried switching to desktop- going to audio in settings- and clicking on the button next to the device activate it.( it should be on speakers as default ) Then switch back to gaming mode. This works if the headset or Bluetooth is already connected

[Ollimus Prime]

Did this ever get resolved? The mic on wired and BT headphones has just stopped working