[SOLVED] After latest kubuntu updates no sound on firefox

[Watermann]

After installing some kubuntu updates this morning I discovered this afternoon that the firefox sound does not work anymore.
Checked everything possible on kubuntu settings, the firefox settings, the hardware (changed from headphone to lsp and back) but everything looked o.k.
Started a video using VLC media player : O.K. there is sound.
Got a little desperate over here and installed at last Falkon browser. Got to the Youtube website after the install and there was sound!
I also wanted to do a re-install of firefox but to my surprise I cannot find it anymore in the software center.
Is this already confirmed by other members?

[oshunluvr]

If you're using Firefox as a snap, you would need to update the snap. Seems possible the snap hasn't been updated to the newer Plasma version yet.

You could try entering sudo snap refresh in a konsole terminal

[Watermann]

If you're using Firefox as a snap, you would need to update the snap. Seems possible the snap hasn't been updated to the newer Plasma version yet.

You could try entering sudo snap refresh in a konsole terminal

running that command :
"error: unable to contact snap store"

[Watermann]

I hope this forum isn't letting me down here on this subject.
If snap is important how can I install it?
My plasma version, if I take a look at System Settings > About this System is 5.27.12
KDE frameworks version 5.115.0

[claydoh]

I hope this forum isn't letting me down here on this subject.

We try our best, but we are regular people, just like you

If snap is important how can I install it?

Snap is installed by default on a normal installation. Else you'd have seen a message saying it wasn't found.

"error: unable to contact snap store"

This is probably relevant. A networking issue somewhere between you and the store.
Using any proxy or vpn or similar tools? Try without to test.

Firefox should be at version 147.x.x, but that really doesn't matter.

One non-software/non-techie thing to check is to see if FF has been muted inadvertently.

There are some places to check.

[vanadiumboy]

I also have
My plasma version, if I take a look at System Settings > About this System is 5.27.12
KDE frameworks version 5.115.0

I don't use the snap verson of Firefox since I find that it has a longer startup time, too much HDD activity at startup.


May I recommend the DEB version?

Instructions are here
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux?as=u&utm_source=inproduct#w_install-firefox-deb-package-for-debian-based-distributions

Note: there might be a bug that causes a stratup issue with the DEB version.


//EDIT: I tried it on clean install, on a VM, on Kubuntu 24.04
I think something about Kubuntu is broken since a few days.

jake@jakejake:~$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install firefox
Ign:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble InRelease
Ign:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates InRelease                                                
Ign:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports InRelease                                              
Err:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates Release                                                  
 Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (185.125.190.81). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archiv
e.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.91.83). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.91.82). - connect (1
01: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.91.81). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate
the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (185.125.190.82). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (9
1.189.92.22). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.92.24). - connect (101: Network is unr
eachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (185.125.190.83). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection t
o archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.92.23). - connect (101: Network is unreachable)
Err:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports Release                                                
 Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (185.125.190.81). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archiv
e.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.91.83). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.91.82). - connect (1
01: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.91.81). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate
the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (185.125.190.82). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (9
1.189.92.22). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.92.24). - connect (101: Network is unr
eachable) Cannot initiate the connection to archive.ubuntu.com:80 (185.125.190.83). - connect (101: Network is unreachable) Cannot initiate the connection t
o archive.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.92.23). - connect (101: Network is unreachable)
Hit:6 https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian stable InRelease                                                      
Hit:7 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-security InRelease                                              
Get:8 https://packages.mozilla.org/apt mozilla InRelease [1,522 B]
Err:8 https://packages.mozilla.org/apt mozilla InRelease
 GPG: add_keyblock_resource 33587281  GPG: keydb_search 33554445  GPG: keydb_search 33554445
Hit:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble InRelease
Reading package lists... Done
E: The repository 'http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates Release' no longer has a Release file.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
E: The repository 'http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports Release' no longer has a Release file.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
W: GPG error: https://packages.mozilla.org/apt mozilla InRelease: GPG: add_keyblock_resource 33587281  GPG: keydb_search 33554445  GPG: keydb_search 3355444
5
E: The repository 'https://packages.mozilla.org/apt mozilla InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.

​

[Watermann]

We try our best, but we are regular people, just like you


Snap is installed by default on a normal installation. Else you'd have seen a message saying it wasn't found.


This is probably relevant. A networking issue somewhere between you and the store.
Using any proxy or vpn or similar tools? Try without to test.

Firefox should be at version 147.x.x, but that really doesn't matter.

One non-software/non-techie thing to check is to see if FF has been muted inadvertently.

There are some places to check.

Thanks for your response! As I wrote at start: This no-sound problem started after some system update. Before the update I had no firefox sound issue.
I do not use any proxy or vpn or similar.
Those pictures you showed: All that I have checked and everything looks o.k.
Is there a way to uninstall firefox and then re-install it?
This because I cannot find firefox in the Software Center to uninstall/install

[Watermann]

I also have
My plasma version, if I take a look at System Settings > About this System is 5.27.12
KDE frameworks version 5.115.0

I don't use the snap verson of Firefox since I find that it has a longer startup time, too much HDD activity at startup.


May I recommend the DEB version?

Instructions are here
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux?as=u&utm_source=inproduct#w_install-firefox-deb-package-for-debian-based-distributions

Note: there might be a bug that causes a stratup issue with the DEB version.


//EDIT: I tried it on clean install, on a VM, on Kubuntu 24.04
I think something about Kubuntu is broken since a few days.

Thanks for your response!. So, I have to wait for members who know this ubuntu distro and have acted on the problem?
It puzzles me that no other person has experienced this problem.

[vanadiumboy]

Thanks for your response! As I wrote at start: This no-sound problem started after some system update. Before the update I had no firefox sound issue.
I do not use any proxy or vpn or similar.
Those pictures you showed: All that I have checked and everything looks o.k.
Is there a way to uninstall firefox and then re-install it?
This because I cannot find firefox in the Software Center to uninstall/install

I would still set the mute for Firefox, and then unmute. Increase the volume, take it down to 0, set it back to 50, set it back to 100%.
I have seen this sort of bug on Windows many times, when the GUI doesn't show the true setting. I have not experienced that sort of thing on Kubuntu.

I would first rename the local profile folder. It is in
/home/yourname/snap/firefox and rename that to
/home/yourname/snap/firefox.old

and then open Firefox.

I don't know if it was suggested before, try to delete the history stored by Firefox.

If that doesn't help, to unnstall Firefox with the Konsole
sudo snap remove firefox

I assume to install, the command is
sudo snap install firefox

[claydoh]

So, I have to wait for members who know this ubuntu distro and have acted on the problem?

Any Ubuntu based distro, really. Or ones on other distros using the Snap version of FF (rare), perhaps.

It puzzles me that no other person has experienced this problem.

This is not at all unusual. There are many variables, let alone ones that can trigger a bug on yours but not everyone else's.




My next suggestion is to try a clean Firefox profile for testing, as maybe it is something in your specific FF config doing this.

Enter about:profiles in Firefox, and click the "create new profile" button. Then click the "launch profile in new browser" and see if things work there.

Or try creating a new user account, and see if it is working there or not. To narrow it down to being a user-settings/config breakage or a general FF one.

One can also try switching the Snap for something else.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/04/...t-ubuntu-22-04

Or by our very own (and MIA ) Schwarzer Kater
https://www.kubuntuforums.net/forum/...tional-firefox

This uses Mozilla's self-contained, self-updating binary, not debs, similar to a portable app.

[Watermann]

Update here:

This morning, after booting the system, I (in despair) again went through all possible switches off/on, mutes off/on, volume slides off/on-min/max (as if those slides are hardware hahaaaa!!) where "sound" on the system
is involved. Then I did switched the desktop's power off and waited a few minutes, then switched the desktop on again.
Then, I could not believe my ears: there was sound again!! Do not know what was the magical "switch" but anyway, sound is back on the system.
But, for how long I do not have the foggiest idea and time will tell.

[Snowhog]

This morning, after booting the system,

How are you doing updates to your system? How often do you reboot?

There are times when an update requires a system reboot to 'complete' certain package updates. If you miss that cue, and don't reboot after such an update, certain things may not function correctly.

[Watermann]

How are you doing updates to your system? How often do you reboot?

There are times when an update requires a system reboot to 'complete' certain package updates. If you miss that cue, and don't reboot after such an update, certain things may not function correctly.

Well, I cannot recall if I did a reboot after those updates. Is it good custom to do that after every update? Anyway, I indeed let sometime my desktop running till the next day or so.
The problem is solved (what a relief!) and I am now aware about the amount one can fiddling around on the system .

[claydoh]

Is it good custom to do that after every update?

It depends. Software updates, no, but desktop libraries, like Plasma updates warrant a logout, or a reloading of plasmashell.

Kernels, which include drivers, and things like Mesa or Nvidia updates do want a reboot for things to take effect. But these usually are supposed to prompt for a reboot.

Overall, though, it is what works for you. My desktop usually gets shut down at the end of the day (as opposed to suspending) partly because I now live in a place with high electricity costs, and too many computers, but also so I don't have to think about rebooting on my somewhat custom system setup. My laptop often goes for a week without a reboot.