Volume Stuck on Mute (XFCE Desktop)

Overview

The inability to toggle the volume mute particulary affects users of the XFCE desktop environment. This is due to an incompatability between xfce4-volumed - the volume daemon used by this desktop environment- and PulseAudio, which is responsible for recording and playback. The result is that once muted, the volume cannot be restored by un-checking the mute button; it is instead necessary to open the Volume Control Settings to do so.

The are two solutions available. The first is to remove PulseAudio completely, allowing for the Alsa sound server to take over instead. The second is to create a sound configuration file. New users may find the first solution easier to implement.

Solution 1: Removing PulseAudio

The first step is to remove all PulseAudio packages by entering the following command in the terminal:

sudo pacman -R pavucontrol pulseaudio pulseaudio-alsa

Once completed, the second step is to install xfce4-mixer, which is a volume control applet specifically designed for the XFCE desktop environment. The command below has also listed xfce4-volumed for re-installation:

sudo pacman -S xfce4-mixer xfce4-volumed

Once installed, close the terminal and reboot your system for the changes to take effect. Alsa will automatically take over from the now-deleted PulseAudio.

Solution 2: Creating a Sound Configuration File

An alternative solution is to create a configuration file - asound.conf - to act as a workaround by altering the default sound configuration settings. In order to work, it is absolutely essential that this file be created within the etc folder, which itself also contains a number of other system configuration files.

Create the Sound Configuration File

The syntax of the command to create a sound configuration file within the etc folder is:

sudo [text editor] /etc/asound.conf

For example, if you wish to create and edit the file within the terminal using nano (a standard terminal-based text editor) then enter:

sudo nano /etc/asound.conf

Otherwise - if you have installed the full version of Manjaro (i.e. not the NET-Edition) - you may find it easier to use the pre-installed gedit text editor instead. This will create and open the configuration file up as a document, making it easier to read and edit. To use gedit instead, enter:

sudo gedit /etc/asound.conf

Edit the Sound Configuration File

Once created, a blank screen or document should be presented. Enter (or copy and paste) the following code into this file, exactly as it is shown below:

pcm.pulse {
   type pulse
}
ctl.pulse {
   type pulse
}
pcm.!default {
   type pulse
}
ctl.!default {
   type pulse
}

Once you have completed the code, save and close the file by:

• nano: Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
• gedit: Select the 'save' option and then close the window.

Prior to rebooting for the changes to take effect, it is also possible to optionally add a keyboard shortcut to toggle volume muting.

Optional: Add a Keyboard Shortcut to Toggle Volume Muting

To set a keyboard shortcut:

1. Open the Menu, select Settings, and then Keyboard

2. Select the Application Shortcuts tab

3. Select the + Add Button

4. Enter amixer set Master toggle as the command, and select OK

5. Press the appropriate key or key combination desired to toggle muting

Once complete, close the Keyboard Settings window, and reboot the system for the changes to take effect.