I had exactly the same problem (ubuntu 16.04 latest). Just started happenning, no apparent cause or changes beforehand.
Tried all the usual suggestions: eg:
a) rm -r ~/.config/pulse; pulseaudio -k - reboot
b) Open VLC,Go to Preferences,then to Sound,click in the reset preferences button,Close VLC
c) sudo alsa force-reload
d) alsamixer - auto-mute - disable
- worked for a little while,but then came back again.
Just done Anthony's workaround above (#18) - & so far it has worked (thanks Anthony). just have to remember how to re-enable it agan whenever i want to use headphones in future.
Seem to recall this same/similar problem plagued users on Ubuntu 12.04 for a while.
We seem to be going backwards a little with 16.04. Looking forward to a fix.
I had exactly the same problem (ubuntu 16.04 latest). Just started happenning, no apparent cause or changes beforehand.
Tried all the usual suggestions: eg:
a) rm -r ~/.config/pulse; pulseaudio -k - reboot
b) Open VLC,Go to Preferences,then to Sound,click in the reset preferences button,Close VLC
c) sudo alsa force-reload
d) alsamixer - auto-mute - disable
- worked for a little while,but then came back again.
Just done Anthony's workaround above (#18) - & so far it has worked (thanks Anthony). just have to remember how to re-enable it agan whenever i want to use headphones in future.
Seem to recall this same/similar problem plagued users on Ubuntu 12.04 for a while.
We seem to be going backwards a little with 16.04. Looking forward to a fix.