No Audio in Games (Steam/Proton & Lutris/Wine) After Update – PipeWire

Issues & Assistance Games & Emulators
1

:puzzle_piece: The Problem

After a recent system update, none of my games produce audio — not in:

  • :joystick: Steam games using Proton
  • :joystick: Lutris games using Wine

This issue affects all games, but not the system:

  • KDE desktop sounds work fine
  • Applications like Firefox and YouTube have audio
  • pavucontrol shows regular apps, but not the games

Has anyone else experienced a similar issue after recent updates?

garuda-inxi
System:
  Kernel: 6.14.9-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.1.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=1cdd279d-7cc1-4a96-bac9-58d48d096060 rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet splash loglevel=3 ibt=off zswap.enabled=0 zstd.compress=yes
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.5 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.14.0
    wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: MAXIMUS IX HERO v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 1301 date: 03/14/2018
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-7700K bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake
    gen: core 7 level: v3 note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6
    model-id: 0x9E (158) stepping: 9 microcode: 0xF8
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
    desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 800 min/max: 800/4500:4800 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 5: 800 6: 800 7: 800
    8: 800 bogomips: 67200
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA AD104 [GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER] vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: nvidia v: 570.153.02 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
    non-free: 550-570.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-04) arch: Lovelace
    code: AD1xx process: TSMC n4 (5nm) built: 2022+ pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s
    lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s ports: active: none
    off: DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-3 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:2783
    class-ID: 0300
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
    compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: nvidia unloaded: modesetting
    alternate: fbdev,nouveau,nv,vesa gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch
    d-rect: 5760x1080 display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: right model: BenQ ZOWIE XL LCD serial: <filter>
    built: 2019 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 92 gamma: 1.2
    size: 531x298mm (20.91x11.73") diag: 609mm (24") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  Monitor-2: DP-2 pos: primary,left model: BenQ ZOWIE XL LCD
    serial: <filter> built: 2019 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1)
    dpi: 92 gamma: 1.2 size: 531x298mm (20.91x11.73") diag: 609mm (24")
    ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  Monitor-3: HDMI-A-1 pos: center model: Samsung built: 2012 res:
    mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 55 gamma: 1.2
    size: 1060x626mm (41.73x24.65") diag: 1021mm (40.2") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 2
    drv: swrast gbm: drv: nvidia surfaceless: drv: nvidia wayland: drv: nvidia
    x11: drv: nvidia inactive: device-1
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 570.153.02
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
    SUPER/PCIe/SSE2 memory: 11.71 GiB display-ID: :1.0
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.313 layers: 10 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
    GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER driver: nvidia v: 570.153.02 device-ID: 10de:2783
    surfaces: N/A
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
    wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:a2f0 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA AD104 High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:22bc
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: SteelSeries ApS Arctis Nova 7
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s
    lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 3-1:2 chip-ID: 1038:2202 class-ID: 0300
  API: ALSA v: k6.14.9-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api
    tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.4 status: active 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 Ethernet I219-V vendor: ASUSTeK driver: e1000e v: kernel
    port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15b8 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp0s31f6 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9260 Bluetooth Adapter driver: btusb v: 0.8
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-11:9
    chip-ID: 8087:0025 class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 5.1
    lmp-v: 10 status: discoverable: no pairing: no class-ID: 6c0104
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.79 TiB used: 517.67 GiB (18.1%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:3 vendor: A-Data model: SX8200PNP
    size: 953.87 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: S0118C temp: 33.9 C
    scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Seagate
    model: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE size: 1.86 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 3.2.J.JE temp: 47.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 1.86 TiB size: 1.86 TiB (100.00%) used: 517.67 GiB (27.1%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme1n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 632 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme1n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.86 TiB size: 1.86 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 517.67 GiB (27.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme1n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.86 TiB size: 1.86 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 517.67 GiB (27.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme1n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.86 TiB size: 1.86 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 517.67 GiB (27.1%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme1n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 31.27 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 8
    dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 32.0 C mobo: 29.5 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): fan-3: 1276 fan-5: 1315
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB available: 31.27 GiB used: 5.1 GiB (16.3%)
  Processes: 318 Power: uptime: 49m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 12.43 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1595 libs: 427 tools: octopi,paru Compilers:
    clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 15.1.1 Shell: garuda-inxi default: Bash v: 5.2.37
    running-in: warp inxi: 3.3.38
Garuda (2.7.2-1):
  System install date:     2025-05-24
  Last full system update: 2025-05-31
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-dkms
  Windows dual boot:       Probably (Run as root to verify)
  Failed units:            garuda-pacman-lock.service ipp-usb.service
2

without inxi..not so simple .. pls post your inxi
Format terminal output (including your garuda-inxi) as a code block by clicking the preformatted text button (</>), or put three tildes (~) above and below the text

and if you use pavucontrol ..that’s for pulse audio but default is pipewire or ?

3

Heres Garuda-inxi and yes default is pipewire.

4

Seems that downgrading to PipeWire 1.4.2 fixed the issue.

What still puzzles me is that no one else seems to have reported this problem — it feels like I’m the only one experiencing completely broken audio in Wine/Proton games (Steam, Lutris) after upgrading to PipeWire 1.4.4.

Native audio worked fine (browser, KDE, etc.), but Wine-based applications had no sound at all until I rolled back to 1.4.2.

1 Like
5

I am having the same issue.
How do I downgrade PipeWire to 1.4.2 ?
Would you post the command line to type in ?

6

hi

here the command for dowgrade :wink:

sudo downgrade pipewire
1 Like
7

hi,

im actually on 1.4.2 too checked with pacseek. i will update and check if i got the same issue. i did yesterday update but 1.4.4 wasnt installed btw.

8

I can’t downgrade with the shown command line.

╰─λ sudo downgrade pipewire
loading packages...
warning: downgrading package pipewire (1:1.4.4-1 => 1:1.4.3-1)
resolving dependencies...
warning: cannot resolve "libpipewire=1:1.4.3-1", a dependency of "pipewire"
:: The following package cannot be upgraded due to unresolvable dependencies:
pipewire

:: Do you want to skip the above package for this upgrade? [y/N] N
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: unable to satisfy dependency 'libpipewire=1:1.4.3-1' required by pipewire

╭─isao@isao in ~ as 🧙 took 15s
[🔴] × sudo downgrade pipewire
loading packages...
warning: downgrading package pipewire (1:1.4.4-1 => 1:1.4.3-1)
resolving dependencies...
warning: cannot resolve "libpipewire=1:1.4.3-1", a dependency of "pipewire"
:: The following package cannot be upgraded due to unresolvable dependencies:
pipewire

:: Do you want to skip the above package for this upgrade? [y/N] n
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: unable to satisfy dependency 'libpipewire=1:1.4.3-1' required by pipewire

If I answer ‘y’ to the question, I get the following

╰─λ sudo downgrade pipewire
loading packages...
warning: downgrading package pipewire (1:1.4.4-1 => 1:1.4.3-1)
resolving dependencies...
warning: cannot resolve "libpipewire=1:1.4.3-1", a dependency of "pipewire"
:: The following package cannot be upgraded due to unresolvable dependencies:
pipewire

:: Do you want to skip the above package for this upgrade? [y/N] y
looking for conflicting packages...
there is nothing to do
add pipewire to IgnorePkg? [y/N] N

I just don’t want it to ignore in the next update…

What should I do now ?

9

i have to check on my Computer if i have the issue or not . you can try to restore also a snapshot before the update with pipewire. I did download now the update and will reboot and check my games if there any sound issues happening.

1 Like
10

Actually i tested Lutris and Heroic Games and they are working with Sound no issues at all. Steam need to update Game so cant test with Steam now.

I can test it when update ready but so far i have no issues .

Try to restore the last snapshot before Pipewire update. Ive seen on my update it was more packages updated not only pipewire. After restoring try update again.

11

After reading your comment, I reinstalled the PipeWire update to test it again — and unfortunately, the issue returned: no audio in video games.

If you have time, please also check whether your Steam games work when using the Steam compatibility layer (Proton). That would help confirm if this issue is more widespread.

I was able to get audio working in Lutris by setting the Audio Driver to ALSA instead of Auto, which makes me suspect the problem lies with the recent update to PipeWire-Pulse. However, I’m not entirely sure, because I also tried launching a Steam game with this launch option: SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa %command% but it did not work.

12

Hi ,

so i tested now Metro with Steam and no sound issues here too. I didnt changed any settings somewhere. I used Lutris with Proton too. On Heroic Launcher i have a game running with Proton 9.4 also working.

Did you restored the snapshot ? Did the sound work again ? Not only a pipewire reinstall?

image
image436×523 24.7 KB

on my journal i can see this updates :

extra/alsa-card-profiles          1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.03 MiB
extra/gst-plugin-pipewire         1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.06 MiB
multilib/lib32-libpipewire        1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.01 MiB       0.29 MiB
multilib/lib32-pipewire           1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1      -0.05 MiB       1.32 MiB
multilib/lib32-pipewire-jack      1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.10 MiB
extra/libpipewire                 1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.01 MiB       0.45 MiB
extra/pipewire                    1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1      -0.01 MiB       0.64 MiB
extra/pipewire-alsa               1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.00 MiB
extra/pipewire-audio              1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1      -0.05 MiB       1.54 MiB
extra/pipewire-jack               1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.16 MiB
extra/pipewire-pulse              1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.20 MiB
extra/pipewire-v4l2               1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.04 MiB
extra/pipewire-x11-bell           1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.01 MiB
extra/pipewire-zeroconf           1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.11 MiB
extra/pulse-native-provider       1:1.4.2-1     1:1.4.4-1       0.00 MiB       0.00 MiB
13

I see the same on my Pc too. I listed the updated Packages but to downgrade it again its a manually work to uninstall the packages and install the older packages i would not recommend to do this. Please try to restore a snapshot before the updates from pipewire and it should work again hopefully.

Im not a pro please wait for more responds from other Users/Helpers before you start to break the System or stability. You also can open a Topic with it with your garuda-inxi details because you have a other System please.

14

Well, I found out what the issue is — it affects people with 5.1 or 7.1 audio setups.

:link: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/-/issues/4722

4 Likes
15

Looks like this issue caused many distros having the same issue.

I fixed it by using Snapper Tool to revert to 1.4.2, but also I had to revert my Kernel to 6.14.7 and some other packages…

Looks like they are working on it, but also looks like it is going to take a while.

1 Like
16

My sound got worse in basic Garuda XFCE (more static/crackle during certain cpu-heavy tasks), and my sound in DotA 2 got immeasurably worse with half the time the sound cutting off completely at random after between 30 seconds and 10 minutes of launching the game,
or having what appears to be a pipewire-related complete game freeze/crash [often associated with some new sound starting, such as voice comm].

17

I just got hit by this one as well, my 5.1 speakers wont work but audio works fine on my headphones which run stereo.
Adding pipewire, libpipewire, lib32-pipewire and lib32-libpipewire to the pacman naughty list lets you at least update the rest until this is fixed on their end. Hopefully soon.

18

Setting your audio to stereo instead of 5.1 or 7.1 resolve the issue if you can’t rollback while waiting for the patch.

19

Hello, do you have a date for when the update to fix this problem will be released?

20

You should ask that question in here.

pipewire 1.4.4 still no audio when using 5.1 or 7.1 on some games. master is working though.

2 Likes