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Witek
Asked: 2018-01-03 04:03:36 +0800 CST

How to prevent automatic change of the audio device?

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My Ubuntu 17.10 is connected via HDMI with my TV. HDMI ist the audio device I want always to use. Sometimes when the TV is turned off, Ubuntu switches the audio device tho semething else. When I turn on the TV again, I have to switch it back manually. How to prevent this automatic switching and set the audio device once and forever?

gnome

3 Answers

  1. In /etc/pulse/default.pa comment out module-switch-on-port-available:

    # load-module module-switch-on-port-available

    Then restart.

    • 13

  2. You must deactivate all modules that start with module-switch-on-* in pulse audio service if you want to disable this behavior also with bluetooth and USB devices.

    Ubuntu 18.04 and 20.04 LTS, for example:

    • module-switch-on-port-available
    • module-switch-on-connect

    In a single instruction:

    sudo sed -ri 's/^(load-module module-switch-on-.*$)/# \1/' /etc/pulse/default.pa

    Then kill pulse audio or reboot:

    pulseaudio -k
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  3. Yes, Witek's answer worked for me. I am new to Ubuntu (Xubuntu) so I didn't even know how to even comment out a line. So for people like me, here's a more detailed answer:

    Go to your file manager and click "file system". Then find /etc/pulse/default.pa

    Open that file using any text editor.

    Putting a hash symbol # in front of a line of code is how you comment out a line. Put a hash in front of the line that reads:

    load-module module-switch-on-port-available

    When you click save, it will ask for your admin password. Enter it, restart and you're done.

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