My volume is either max volume or muted, no middle ground

Question

Asus Zenbook UX550, running Ubuntu Gnome 17.04.

Like the title says, my volume is either max or muted. I tried following this, but nothing helped. In fact, prior to applying that fix, I could hear the volume indicator noises, now I can't even hear those. (By indicator noises, I mean those beeps that are made when adjusting the volume via keyboard).

Solution 1

I have the same laptop and couldn't get volume control work well for a long time. Any level of volume was at the highest volume of the laptop speakers so I used it always on mute. This issue only affected speakers and not headphones (from plug or bluetooth).

I found a working solution based on this answer:

1. Edit the file /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common (with sudo):

sudo vi /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common

2. Add the following lines before the [Element PCM] block:

[Element Master] switch = mute volume = ignore

3. Kill the running daemon:

pulseaudio -k

After this steps I got the volume level working for my speakers. I assume a new daemon started automatically after killing the runnig daemon. If the daemon does not start, try to start it manually with:

pulseaudio -D

Hope this helps!

Solution 2

I had the same issue on my UX550 until I activated two bottom speakers.

apt install alsa-tools-gui

hdajackretask

Select a codec: Realtek ALC295

Click Show unconnected pins

Then you need to override Pin ID: 0x1b and Pin ID: 0x1e and select Internal speaker (Back) or Internal speaker (LFE) - I didn't noticed any difference between them.

Next click Apply now and Install boot override.

Comments

[Pavlin]

This fixed my issue as well! However, whenever I plug in headphones, all I hear is a repeating popping sound. Did you experience anything similar? Any idea how to fix that?

[Optiman]

No, I didn't have such issue with my headphones. But I'm using Linux Mint 18.3, maybe that's the reason.

[Giorgos Gaganis]

This recommendation has also worked on my ASUS Zenbook UM-431 laptop. Thanks @manuelmatas! It was helpfull!

[Admin]

Also confirmed for Zenbook UX490UA using Mint 20

[Anis R.]

Works on my Asus Zenbook UX430 as well. Thank you so much!!

[tenta4]

Works perfect on Asus ROG Strix G17 G712LW. Many thanks

[rustyx]

How did you come up with these settings? I get no sound with these settings on UX550VD.

[Optiman]

@rustyx I noticed, that only 2 out of 4 speakers were active. So I launched the hdajackretask and activated all other "Internal speakers" that the GUI showed. That's it.

[Vimieiro]

Does not work on Asus rog strix