protonscr

[BUG] SteamVR audio settings missing

steamvropen bug
ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux#279 · opened 2019-12-07 by Zamundaaa · updated 2026-06-16 · 10 comments · github
ZZamundaaa 2019-12-07 github

System Information (please complete the following information):

  • Distribution: [Arch/Manjaro/Ubuntu/etc.] Manjaro KDE
  • SteamVR version: [E.g. 1.7.2] 1.9.7
  • Steam client version: [build number or date] 1575605714
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] yes
  • Graphics driver version: Mesa 20.0.0-devel (git-3b3494174d) (LLVM 10.0.0)
  • Gist for SteamVR System Information: https://gist.github.com/Zamundaaa/ff84cb04aaad99a2ad376fe0f240553d

Once I try to use the audio tab the settings crash. In the dashboard this means the tab completely disappears and on the desktop the window just displays white. Closing the window and opening the settings again doesn't change anything. If it crashes in VR though then I can still use the settings on the desktop and vice versa - at least until I select the audio tab there, too.

Note: Commenters who are also experiencing this issue are encouraged to include the "System Information" section in their replies.

EE3FxGaming 2019-12-08 github

System Information (please complete the following information):

* Distribution: [Arch/Manjaro/Ubuntu/etc.] Manjaro XFCE

* SteamVR version: [E.g. 1.7.2] 1.9.7

* Steam client version: [build number or date] 1575605714

* Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] yes

* Graphics driver version:  Nvidia 440.31

I'm able to reproduce the problem.

Made a video of it here:

https://youtu.be/68zSDTHquCU

Quite sad this settings menu doesn't work anymore. I had an original HTC Vive and I switched the audio settings so that it wouldn't change my audio device, because I used headphones connected to my PC by other means than the HMD pass-through (they are wireless headphones).

Now I have a Valve Index and I would like to switch the audio settings back to the HMD to make use of their built in speakers, but I can't do that because the settings menu is broken.

Maybe I should add that the Valve Index doesn't show up in my audio output devices, so that I could switch to it that way. Is the problem a missing udev rule? There is an audio input device called "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic Mono", but no output device.

Could the settings menu freeze because the Valve Index is not recognized as an audio output device in the first place? Maybe the problem isn't directly the settings menu (although it should handle exceptions better by displaying a warning "HMD not recognized as audio output device" instead of freezing), but instead the Index needs to be recognized as an audio output device first?

ZZamundaaa 2019-12-08 github

The Valve index is one of the HDMI outputs. It only appears once SteamVR is running.

EE3FxGaming 2019-12-08 github

Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction (and also somewhat encouraging me to invest more time, by telling me that it does work).

My monitor is also connected through Display Port, and it has a 3.5 mm connector which I never ever use (soundbar is connected to the motherboard with an optical link cable and headset is a USB headset).

I've always had a "GP102 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)", even before I got my Index, in my output devices. Therefore your comment really made me wonder why your HDMI output only shows up when you start SteamVR. Turns out that always existing HDMI output device talked to my monitor 3.5 mm jack, into which no headphones were plugged in. I was able to switch the profile of that HDMI output device by using pavucontrol. Now I have sound while playing with my Index.

Sorry for this off-topic comment, I just really felt the need to thank you.

Back to the topic: I hope Valve can fix the audio page in the SteamVR setting.

SSlickMcRunFast 2019-12-10 github

1.9.8 notes: "Removed sidebar link to Audio page on Linux, since it was for Windows-only audio settings."

Guess settings have always been a low priority.

GGoofybud16 2019-12-10 github

Can confirm Audio tab is gone.

The Settings tab is no longer appearing in the headset for me.

I restarted SteamVR a few times, nothing.

System Report: https://gist.github.com/Goofybud16/013b5cfaf85144cb4e6f10b85a39f9ae

ZZamundaaa 2019-12-10 github

@Goofybud16 that's a feature, not a bug.
It's not quite the intended fix but I guess it's better this way until we get working audio settings...

GGoofybud16 2019-12-10 github

Restarted my PC and now the Settings menu (sometimes) shows up.

Audio tab within Settings never does (as intended).

ZZamundaaa 2019-12-11 github

Hmm just had the Settings tab not appear once as well. That should deserve its own bug report though.

Sslushieuwu 2025-11-16 github

until this gets fixed, is there a way to prevent steamvr from routing audio back to the headset whenever i route it to my headphones? its a pretty minor issue that i cant switch audio devices in-app, but not being able to set it to other devices even externally is very annoying

VVantheBat 2026-06-16 github

Adding my own voice to this bug report.

Spent a good deal of my evening trying to get audio to play through my headphones instead of my HMD when playing via Steam Link on Quest 2, with no success.

I had a dig into the SteamVR files and found the settings files, located and tweaked some audio settings in there regarding mirroring and was still unable to get any VR audio to play through my headphones instead of (or along with) the HMD.

As far as I can tell, the only way I'll be able to do this is if the audio settings are reintroduced, or I find some niche third party program to reroute the audio lol.

Nothing extracted yet.