Microphone switches off speakers

Issues & Assistance Cinnamon
1 
System:
  Kernel: 6.17.2-arch1-1 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
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    base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Aspire A515-54G v: V1.24 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: CML model: Doc_WC v: V1.24 serial: <filter>
    part-nu: 0000000000000000 uuid: 037c3063-09ba-644e-866b-b4a9fc789a49
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Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel CometLake-U GT2 [UHD Graphics] vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI
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  Device-2: NVIDIA GP108M [GeForce MX250] vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI
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  Device-3: Quanta HD User Facing driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
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    class-ID: 0e02
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    loaded: modesetting alternate: fbdev,intel,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915
    display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: AU Optronics 0x61ed built: 2018 res:
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    size: 344x194mm (13.54x7.64") diag: 395mm (15.5") ratio: 16:9
    modes: 1920x1080
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel iris drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0
    drv: nvidia device: 1 drv: iris device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: iris
    surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: iris inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.2.4-arch1.2
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics (CML GT2)
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  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.328 layers: 7 device: 0 type: integrated-gpu name: Intel
    UHD Graphics (CML GT2) driver: mesa intel v: 25.2.4-arch1.2
    device-ID: 8086:9b41 surfaces: N/A device: 1 type: discrete-gpu
    name: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 driver: nvidia v: 580.95.05
    device-ID: 10de:1d13 surfaces: N/A device: 2 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
    (LLVM 20.1.8 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 25.2.4-arch1.2 (LLVM
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Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP cAVS vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs,snd_sof_pci_intel_cnl
    bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:02c8 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.17.2-arch1-1 status: kernel-api with: osspd status: off
    tools: N/A
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.9 status: n/a (root, process) with:
    1: pipewire-pulse status: active 2: wireplumber status: active
    3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:14.3 chip-ID: 8086:02f0 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp0s20f3 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 3000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Drives:
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  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Intel model: SSDPEKNW010T8
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    read-units: 60,232,531 [30.8 TB] written-units: 33,611,896 [17.2 TB]
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 719.33 GiB size: 719.33 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 423.33 GiB (58.9%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
    maj-min: 259:5
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 100 MiB size: 96 MiB (96.00%)
    used: 60.5 MiB (63.0%) fs: vfat block-size: 512 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
    maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 719.33 GiB size: 719.33 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 423.33 GiB (58.9%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
    maj-min: 259:5
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 719.33 GiB size: 719.33 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 423.33 GiB (58.9%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
    maj-min: 259:5
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 719.33 GiB size: 719.33 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 423.33 GiB (58.9%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
    maj-min: 259:5
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 7.57 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 57.0 C pch: 58.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Memory: total: 8 GiB available: 7.57 GiB used: 3.1 GiB (40.9%) igpu: 64 MiB
  Processes: 322 Power: uptime: 3m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
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    tools: pamac,paru Compilers: clang: 20.1.8 gcc: 15.2.1 Shell: Bash (sudo)
    v: 5.3.3 running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.39
Garuda (2.11.1-1):
  System install date:     2021-12-22
  Last full system update: 2025-10-16
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-utils nvidia garuda-hardware-profile-standard garuda-hardware-profile-standard-x11
  Windows dual boot:       Yes
  Failed units:

My laptop has got one audio input for both headphones and a microphone. I used to plugging in a set with both of them under one plug and it worked fine. However, now I want to plug in only a microphone. When I do it the system turns off the laptop’s internal speakers.

Is there a way to keep the speakers on? I looked on UEFI settings, but there is none related to audio :frowning:

2

Did you try to manually choose it in Audio Volume settings?

Screenshot_20251016_132959
Screenshot_20251016_1329591367Ă—584 47.8 KB

3

Yes, but as soon as I plug the microphone, the settings window removes speakers completely, giving me no option to select it on my own.

4

Does the notebook have its own microphone connection?

Or do you use the headphone connection for that?

5

There is only one connection in my notebook.

6

When you connect the mic to the combo jack, which devices and output profiles are available in the sound settings in the Output tab, and which devices are available in the Input tab?

1 Like
7

In Output it shows “Headphones, internal sound” and in Input it shows both the laptop its own embedded microphone, and “Microphone on headphones, internal sound”.

Now I got a random thought that it all happens because hardware is…hardwired to turn off speakers when somethings is plugged in, because (I’ve just tested it) it all happens also when I plug in an adapter (which has got no gram of electronics inside).

I still hope it is related to software somehow :folded_hands:

1 Like
8

Isn’t this a function more specific to how the laptop was designed?

Cause when I connect a jack or USB sound card to my PC, I have everything available.

1 Like
9

Unfortunately there are quite a few models that disconnects the internal speakers with an actual switch when 3.5mm is plugged in. So even if your outlet can handle both mic and headphones it won´t/can´t allow sound while using just the mic. How´s your sign language?

1 Like
10

I’s afraid such that answer :cry:

Now I thinking about some “bypassing” the problem: could I connect a bluetooth speakers? It sounds crazy…

Also: what do you mean by “sign language”?

11

Bluetooth speaker should work. Just set it up with the speaker facing away from your mic to avoid direct feedback loop.

Sorry, the sign language bit was an joke. Not relevant. (You can talk to people on screen but to “hear” them they need to use sign language.) nvm.

12

As already mentioned, on many laptops the combo jack is designed in such a way that the built-in speakers (and usually also the integrated microphone) are disabled as soon as headphones or an external microphone are connected. As an alternative to Bluetooth speakers, you can also try to force the built-in speakers as the output device, for example with pavucontrol (pavucontrol also works with pipewire if pipewire-pulse is installed).

13

You could also purchase an external USB to 3.5 input dongle. That will show up as a separate device in your system.

1 Like
14

This is as well honestly a superior solution vs the in build jack.

Cause not sure how about you people, but doesn’t matter what laptop I have, I always hit a terrible noise from the jacks… USB to jack usually makes a huge difference.

15

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