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Asked: 2024-09-26T12:08:39+05:30 In:

How can I resolve the issue of my Bluetooth headset only outputting sound in mono on Ubuntu?

Okay, so I’m having a little bit of a frustrating issue with my Bluetooth headset on Ubuntu, and I’m hoping some of you geniuses out there can help me out. So here’s the deal: I’ve been using these Bluetooth headphones that I absolutely love – they have great sound quality and are super comfy for long periods.

But lately, I’ve noticed that whenever I connect them to my laptop – you guessed it, running Ubuntu – I’m only getting sound in mono. Like, what’s up with that? It’s driving me up the wall because I’ve tried pretty much everything I can think of! I mean, I love listening to music, and it just doesn’t feel right when it’s all squashed into one channel.

I did some digging and found out that this could be related to how Ubuntu handles Bluetooth audio profiles. Apparently, there are different profiles like A2DP and HSP/HFP, and somehow, mine seems to be stuck on the phone call profile (HSP/HFP), which is lame because it cuts down the sound quality. I did switch it to the A2DP profile through the settings, but no luck. It always seems to revert back or just not hold the setting.

Also, I came across a few forums where people were talking about PulseAudio and maybe reconfiguring some settings there, but I’m not super tech-savvy when it comes to that stuff. I’m worried I might mess something up or make it worse!

Has anyone experienced this before or know what steps I can take to get my headset working in full stereo? I’d love to know if there are any safe tweaks or if there’s a specific setting I need to look out for. Or, should I just give up and stick to wired headphones? Any advice would be seriously appreciated! Thanks!

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    2 Answers



    1. Bluetooth Headset Issue in Ubuntu

      Bluetooh Headset Audio Issue

      Sounds like you’re having a rough time with your Bluetooth headphones on Ubuntu! Totally get how frustrating it must be to have your awesome headphones stuck in mono. Here’s a few things you could try that might help:

      1. Check Bluetooth Audio Profiles

      You mentioned switching to A2DP, which is good. Make sure to:

      • Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
      • Ensure your headphones are connected.
      • Click on the headphone device and check if you can select A2DP.

      If it keeps reverting back to HSP/HFP, it could be a bug, but don’t worry, we can try more stuff!

      2. PulseAudio Configuration

      For PulseAudio, you can do some tweaking without breaking stuff (hopefully!). Here’s a basic guide:

      1. Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
      2. Type pavucontrol and hit Enter. (If you don’t have it, install it with sudo apt install pavucontrol).
      3. In PulseAudio Volume Control, go to the Configuration tab.
      4. Try selecting the A2DP profile again if it’s available.

      Check the Output Devices tab too while your headset is connected – you might find something useful there!

      3. Restart Bluetooth Service

      Sometimes a simple restart can do wonders:

      1. In the terminal, try running sudo systemctl restart bluetooth.
      2. Then re-connect your headphones.

      4. Update Ubuntu

      If everything else fails, see if you need updates. Open a terminal and run:

      sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

      After updating, reboot and check your Bluetooth settings again.

      5. Last Resort: Wired Headphones

      If none of this works, you could use wired headphones for now while you figure it out. But don’t give up on your Bluetooth ones yet!

      Hope some of this helps you fix your sound issues! Good luck!


    2. To resolve the audio issue with your Bluetooth headset on Ubuntu, you need to ensure that you’re using the correct Bluetooth audio profile. You’re right that the two main profiles are A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio playback and HSP/HFP (Headset Profile/Hands-Free Profile), which is typically used for voice calls. If you’ve already attempted to switch to A2DP through the settings but it keeps reverting, it might be beneficial to check if the headset is properly paired and removed from any previous connections. Additionally, you can try connecting your Bluetooth headset via the command line, which might help maintain the A2DP connection. Use the following commands in the terminal: `pactl list cards` to identify your Bluetooth audio device, followed by `pactl set-card-profile output:a2dp`, replacing `` with the corresponding index number for your headset.

      If the issue persists, consider looking into PulseAudio configuration files to enforce the settings. You can find the default configuration file at `~/.config/pulse/default.pa`. Open it with a text editor and add or modify the following line: `load-module module-bluetooth-discover`. Restart the PulseAudio service with the command `pulseaudio -k` followed by `pulseaudio –start`. If you’re still experiencing issues, installing `pavucontrol`, a more robust audio control panel, may help you manually switch profiles and manipulate audio settings without worrying about making critical changes that could mess up your setup. At the very least, it allows you to better visualize the audio paths and potentially spend more time enjoying your Bluetooth headphones in full stereo.

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