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To choose where Ubuntu sends new audio, open Settings → Sound → Output, select the device you want, and use Test to check it. If you prefer the terminal, use wpctl on systems with PipeWire and WirePlumber; pactl is another option when its PulseAudio-compatible interface is available.
These steps focus on Ubuntu Desktop, including Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS. Other Ubuntu flavors may use different settings panels. Connect or power on the speaker first; pair Bluetooth devices and turn on HDMI displays before selecting an output.
What Ubuntu means by “default speaker”
The default speaker is the default audio output device, also called a playback sink. It is where applications that follow the system default normally send new audio. The word “speaker” may refer to laptop speakers, wired headphones, a monitor, a USB DAC, a dock, or a Bluetooth headset.
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- Sink: The playback endpoint used by the audio server.
- Source: An input such as a microphone, not a speaker.
- Profile: A sound card mode, for example stereo output, HDMI, or headset mode.
- Port or route: A path within a profile, such as Speakers, Headphones, or Line Out.
If the output device is missing entirely, choosing a default cannot fix that detection problem. Check the connection, power, Bluetooth state, display or dock, and whether the device is recognized before troubleshooting drivers or hardware.
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Set the default speaker in Ubuntu Settings
- Connect or power on the desired speaker, headset, monitor, or dock.
- Open Settings and select Sound.
- Under Output, select the device you want Ubuntu to use.
- Check that the output is not muted and adjust its volume.
- Select Test, if shown, and confirm you hear the test sound from the intended device.
- Play audio in a browser or media player to confirm normal playback.
Ubuntu’s desktop help documents selecting a device in the Output section and using Test to check it: Ubuntu Sound help.
| Output label | What it usually refers to |
|---|---|
| Built-in Audio or Speakers | Internal laptop or motherboard audio. |
| Headphones | An analog headphone jack, sometimes a port on the same sound card as the speakers. |
| HDMI or DisplayPort | Audio routed through a monitor, television, graphics card, or dock. |
| USB Audio | A USB headset, DAC, sound card, or speaker. |
| A Bluetooth device name | A paired and connected wireless headset or speaker. |
A device may not appear if it is disconnected, powered off, not fully connected over Bluetooth, or unavailable until an HDMI display is active. A sound card may also need a different profile. The exact controls vary outside standard Ubuntu Desktop GNOME; Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, and other flavors may present different panels.
Choose an output with wpctl
On systems using PipeWire and WirePlumber, wpctl is a direct command-line way to inspect audio nodes and set the default playback target. The Ubuntu wpctl manual documents status, default selection, and the special default-sink identifier: Ubuntu wpctl manual.
-
List audio devices and their IDs:
wpctl status -nFind the intended playback node in the sinks or playback section. The status output also includes devices, sources, and streams; do not select a microphone source by mistake.
-
Set the default to the node’s current ID:
wpctl set-default IDFor example, if your output lists the desired sink as ID 42, run:
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wpctl set-default 42Use the ID shown on your own computer. It is not a universal speaker number and can change after reconnecting devices or restarting the audio session.
-
Check the current default and its volume state:
wpctl status -n wpctl get-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@The
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wpctl set-default sets the default target for new streams that use automatic connection. An application already playing through another output may stay there until it is moved or restarted.
Use pactl as an alternative
The PulseAudio-compatible pactl interface can be useful for sink names and existing scripts. On a PipeWire system, using pactl does not by itself establish that the machine is running the traditional PulseAudio server. Ubuntu documents these sink commands in its pactl manual.
-
List available output sinks:
pactl list short sinks -
Copy the exact name for the intended output and set it as default:
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pactl set-default-sink SINK_NAMEFor example, a system might show a name such as
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Check which sink is now the default:
pactl get-default-sink
Like the graphical selection, changing a default may not move an application stream that is already playing.
Route individual applications with PulseAudio Volume Control
If the desktop’s Sound panel does not expose the control you need, pavucontrol provides more detail. It can be used as a PulseAudio compatibility client with PipeWire setups; see WirePlumber’s testing tools documentation. Install and launch it with:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install pavucontrol
pavucontrol- Output Devices: Inspect playback devices and, where available, select an output port.
- Playback: Move an individual application’s active stream to another output.
- Configuration: Choose a sound card profile, such as stereo output or HDMI.
- Input Devices and Recording: Manage microphones and recording streams; these are not playback outputs.
Labels and available controls vary by desktop environment and package version. A profile or port change can matter when the right sound card is visible but the wrong connector is active.
If an application still plays through the old output
The system default generally applies to new streams that request automatic routing; an active stream or an application with its own device preference may continue using a different output.
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- Pause and resume playback, or quit and reopen the application.
- In
pavucontrol, open Playback and move that application’s stream to the intended output. - Check the application’s own audio settings for a device override.
- Recheck the system default with
wpctl status -norpactl get-default-sink.
Troubleshoot switching outputs and missing devices
HDMI or DisplayPort takes over
Ubuntu may route audio to a connected monitor or television. Turn the display on, confirm the cable is connected, then select the intended output in Settings → Sound → Output and use Test. If several HDMI outputs appear, test each. A monitor without speakers cannot produce audible sound; select built-in or external speakers instead.
Bluetooth device pairs but does not play
Pairing alone may not mean the device is connected as an output. Confirm its connected status, select it in Sound settings, and restart the affected application. If the device disappears, reconnect it. Where separate headset and stereo profiles are offered, the microphone-oriented headset profile may provide lower-quality playback than stereo mode.
USB audio or a dock is hard to identify
Connect the USB device before running wpctl status -n or pactl list short sinks. Names can be generic, and multiple dock outputs may look alike. Identify the correct one by testing; do not reuse an ID or name copied from another computer.
The selection changes after login or reconnecting a device
Hot-plug behavior and session policy can affect which output is chosen when HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, or a dock becomes available. A selection made while a device was unavailable may also not be the one restored later. Re-select the device in Settings, then check the default after logging in or reconnecting. WirePlumber can store and restore default targets as nodes change; its behavior is described in the WirePlumber settings documentation.
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- Re-select the desired output in Settings and verify it with Test.
- Restart the application that is playing through the wrong device.
- Log out and back in, then inspect
wpctl status -norpactl get-default-sink. - Use
pavucontrolto inspect the application stream, profile, and port. - Only if state appears stale, an advanced user can preview a WirePlumber state reset:
wpctl reset --dry-runReview the preview before deciding whether to run wpctl reset. The reset can remove WirePlumber state and user customizations; it is an escalation step, not a routine way to select speakers. Details are in the WirePlumber wpctl documentation.
No output device is listed
Compare the available sinks with both interfaces:
wpctl status -n
pactl list short sinksIf the expected device appears in neither list, this is not simply a default-selection problem. Check power and physical connections, Bluetooth connection status, and whether the monitor or dock is active; reconnect or reboot the device if appropriate. Driver, firmware, kernel, or hardware detection may require separate troubleshooting.
What not to change first
- Do not hard-code a
wpctlID from an example or another machine. - Do not start by editing
/etc/pulse/default.pa. That advice applies to some traditional PulseAudio setups, not as a general fix for modern Ubuntu desktops. - Do not delete audio configuration directories as a first step; doing so can remove saved settings.
- Do not change ALSA or kernel settings when the device is already detected and selectable.
Quick command reference
# List PipeWire/WirePlumber audio nodes
wpctl status -n
# Set default playback device using an ID from status output
wpctl set-default ID
# Check default output volume/mute state
wpctl get-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@
# List PulseAudio-compatible sinks
pactl list short sinks
# Set and check the default sink
pactl set-default-sink SINK_NAME
pactl get-default-sink
# Open detailed mixer controls
pavucontrolUbuntu’s documentation index lists documentation for 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS, but audio components and package versions can vary by release and updates: Ubuntu documentation.
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