Fix: Brave Browser No Audio On Ubuntu 20.04

Nov 14, 2025 by Admin 44 views

Having audio issues with Brave Browser on Ubuntu 20.04 can be super frustrating, especially when everything else seems to be working fine. You're jamming to your favorite tunes on Firefox, but Brave decides to stay silent? That's a buzzkill! Let's dive into some common causes and troubleshooting steps to get your audio back up and running in Brave. Whether you're a long-time Linux user or relatively new to Ubuntu, this guide aims to provide clear, actionable solutions. We'll cover everything from basic checks to more advanced configurations, ensuring you've got all bases covered. So, let’s get started and bring the sound back to your Brave Browser!

Understanding the Problem: Brave Browser Audio Silence

First, let's understand why you might be experiencing this audio silence in Brave. Sometimes, it’s not Brave itself but rather the underlying system configurations or conflicts with other audio applications. For example, if Firefox is working perfectly with audio but Brave isn't, it indicates the problem is likely isolated to Brave’s settings or how it interacts with Ubuntu’s audio system. Other Chromium-based browsers might also face similar issues, which gives us a clue that the core problem might be in the Chromium engine's audio handling on Linux.

Common Culprits

Volume Mixer Issues: The volume mixer might have Brave muted or set to an extremely low volume. This is a common oversight, especially if you've recently installed or updated Brave.
PulseAudio Configuration: PulseAudio is the sound server for most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. Misconfigurations or conflicts within PulseAudio can prevent Brave from outputting audio.
Browser Settings: Brave has its own set of audio settings that might override the system defaults. If these are incorrectly configured, you might not hear any sound.
Conflicting Applications: Other applications might be hogging the audio output, preventing Brave from accessing it. This is especially common with applications that handle audio and video.
Outdated Browser or System: An outdated Brave browser or an older version of Ubuntu might have bugs that affect audio playback. Keeping everything updated is crucial.

Now that we have a general idea of what could be causing the problem, let's move on to some practical steps to diagnose and fix the issue. Remember, the goal is to systematically rule out each potential cause until you find the one that's affecting your system. So, grab your favorite beverage, and let's get started!

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Alright, let's get our hands dirty and start fixing this audio problem! Follow these steps one by one, and hopefully, we'll have your Brave browser singing in no time.

Step 1: Check the Obvious – Volume Levels

It might sound silly, but you'd be surprised how often the simplest things are the cause. First, make sure your system volume is not muted and is set to a reasonable level. You can usually find the volume control in the system tray at the top right of your screen. Click on it and ensure the volume slider is up.

Next, check the volume mixer. Ubuntu comes with a built-in sound settings panel that allows you to adjust the volume for individual applications. To access it:

Go to Settings. You can find it by clicking on the system menu (usually at the top right).
Click on Sound. This will open the sound settings panel.
Look for the Volume Levels section. Here, you should see a list of applications that are currently producing sound. Make sure Brave is listed and that it's not muted or set to a very low volume.

If you don't see Brave listed, try playing some audio in the browser. This should make it appear in the list. If Brave is muted or set too low, simply adjust the slider to an audible level.

Step 2: Dive into Brave's Internal Volume Control

Brave has its own internal volume control that can sometimes override your system settings. It's worth checking to ensure that Brave isn't muting itself.

Open Brave and go to a website with audio content, like YouTube.
Right-click on the tab where the audio is playing. You should see an option like "Mute Site" or "Unmute Site." Make sure it says "Unmute Site."
Also, check the video player itself. Most video players have their own volume control. Ensure it's not muted or set too low.

Step 3: Restart Brave Browser

This might sound like a cliché, but restarting Brave can often resolve minor glitches. Close all Brave windows and then reopen the browser. Sometimes, the audio system just needs a fresh start to recognize Brave properly.

Step 4: PulseAudio Configuration Check

PulseAudio is the backbone of audio on Ubuntu. If something is amiss with its configuration, it can cause audio issues across multiple applications, including Brave. Let's check and potentially reset PulseAudio.

Restart PulseAudio: Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T. Then, type the following command and press Enter:
```
pulseaudio -k
```
This command kills the PulseAudio server. It will automatically restart, which can sometimes resolve temporary issues.
Check PulseAudio Volume Control: Install pavucontrol if you don't have it already. In the terminal, type:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install pavucontrol
```
Once installed, run pavucontrol. This will open the PulseAudio Volume Control panel. Here, you can check the volume levels for different applications, including Brave. Ensure that Brave is not muted and that the output device is correctly set.
Set Correct Output Device: In pavucontrol, go to the Output Devices tab. Make sure the correct output device (e.g., your speakers or headphones) is selected and not muted. Also, check the Configuration tab to ensure your sound card is properly configured.

Step 5: Check for Conflicting Applications

Sometimes, other applications can interfere with Brave's audio output. This is especially common with apps that handle audio or video, like media players or conferencing software.

Close Unnecessary Applications: Close any applications that might be using audio. This includes media players, video editors, and conferencing apps like Zoom or Skype.
Test Brave Again: After closing these applications, restart Brave and check if the audio is working now.

Step 6: Update Brave Browser

Using an outdated version of Brave can cause various issues, including audio problems. Make sure you're running the latest version.

Check for Updates: Open Brave and go to brave://settings/help. Brave will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
Restart Brave: After updating, restart the browser to apply the changes.

Step 7: Update Ubuntu System

An outdated operating system can also cause compatibility issues. Make sure your Ubuntu system is up to date.

Update System: Open a terminal and run the following commands:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
```
This will update your system to the latest packages.
Restart Your Computer: After updating, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Step 8: Reinstall Brave Browser

If none of the above steps work, it might be worth reinstalling Brave. This will ensure that you have a clean installation without any corrupted files.

Uninstall Brave: Open a terminal and run the following command:
```
sudo apt remove brave-browser
```
Remove Configuration Files: To ensure a completely clean install, remove the configuration files as well:
```
rm -rf ~/.config/BraveSoftware
```
Reinstall Brave: Download the latest version of Brave from the official website and install it.

Step 9: Check ALSA Mixer

ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) is a low-level sound system in Linux. Sometimes, the ALSA mixer settings can affect audio output.

Open ALSA Mixer: In the terminal, type alsamixer and press Enter.
Adjust Volume Levels: Use the arrow keys to navigate and adjust the volume levels for different channels. Make sure nothing is muted and that the levels are set appropriately.
Select Sound Card: Press F6 to select your sound card if you have multiple cards. Ensure the correct card is selected.

Advanced Troubleshooting Tips

If you've tried all the above steps and still have no audio in Brave, here are some more advanced tips that might help.

1. Check Brave Flags

Brave, like Chrome, has a flags page where you can enable or disable experimental features. Sometimes, these flags can affect audio output. To access the flags page, type brave://flags in the address bar.

Reset Flags: Try resetting all flags to their default values. Click the "Reset all" button at the top of the page.
Experiment with Audio Flags: Look for flags related to audio and experiment with enabling or disabling them. For example, try disabling the #enable-webaudio-input flag.

2. Use a Different Profile

Sometimes, your Brave profile can become corrupted, causing various issues. Try creating a new profile to see if that resolves the audio problem.

Create a New Profile: Click on the profile icon in the top right corner of Brave and select "Add Person."
Test Audio: Switch to the new profile and check if the audio is working.

3. Check for Driver Issues

Although less common, driver issues can sometimes cause audio problems. Ensure that your sound card drivers are properly installed and up to date. You might need to consult your motherboard or sound card manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.

4. Look into Snap or APT Installation Issues

How you installed Brave can sometimes make a difference. If you installed it via Snap, there might be sandboxing issues affecting audio. Try installing it via APT instead, or vice versa.

Snap: Snap packages are containerized and can sometimes have permission issues. If you used Snap, try the APT method.
APT: APT packages are more traditional and might integrate better with your system.

Conclusion: Regaining Audio Bliss in Brave

Alright, folks! We've covered a ton of ground in this guide. From checking the simplest volume settings to diving deep into PulseAudio and ALSA configurations, you should now have a comprehensive toolkit to tackle audio issues in Brave Browser on Ubuntu 20.04. Remember to go through each step systematically, and don't be afraid to experiment. Tech issues can be persistent, but with a bit of patience and the right guidance, you can almost always find a solution.

Key Takeaways:

Always start with the basics: Check volume levels and browser settings.
PulseAudio is your friend: Learn how to configure it.
Keep everything updated: Brave and Ubuntu.
Don't rule out conflicting applications.
When in doubt, reinstall Brave.

By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and fix most audio problems in Brave. Happy browsing and, more importantly, happy listening!