Did a conversion of a mature leap 15.6 (>7000 packages) to tumbleweed by altering repos, i.e., online. Took hours. Went mostly well but there are issues. I was worried about graphics. But first issue is no audio on youtube or vlc on the tumbleweed system.
I can get sound by:
speaker-test -Dplug:front -c2 -l5 -twav
so card must be working.
On leap I was successfully using alsa, pipewire, wireplumber, and bluez. On tumbleweed system, I did reinstall all modules of each of those to no effect. My wireless headphones worked reasonable well. Need some guidance and pointers to a diagnostics path.
Is there any basic difference in audio settings between leap 15.6 and tumbleweed? I suspect not but if there is, perhaps, the online repo change upgrade method missed something converting to tumbleweed.
Could someone cite a detailed step-by-step checkout procedure of audio for tumbleweed?
Anyone have a silverbulllet experience for a solution?
thanks, tom kosvic
Some diagnostics is a good start.
Show the output from the following commands (run as user)…
pactl info
systemctl --user status pipewire.socket pipewire-pulse.socket wireplumber.service
If the above checks out, check installed codecs…
zypper search -si gstreamer ffmpeg libav
See below. Failed to start Multimedia Service Session Manager looks important.
(base) tom@mydesktop: ~ $ pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 92
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: tom
Host Name: mydesktop
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.5.84)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: @DEFAULT_SINK@
Default Source: @DEFAULT_SOURCE@
Cookie: 007b:452f
(base) tom@mydesktop: ~ $ systemctl --user status pipewire.socket pipewire-pulse.socket wireplumber.service
● pipewire.socket - PipeWire Multimedia System Sockets
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire.socket; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Thu 2026-01-15 18:07:56 CST; 1h 43min ago
Invocation: 04ac86a0bb4a4310b446998c112e71b2
Triggers: ● pipewire.service
Listen: /run/user/1000/pipewire-0 (Stream)
/run/user/1000/pipewire-0-manager (Stream)
CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/pipewire.socket
Jan 15 18:07:56 mydesktop systemd[2133]: Listening on PipeWire Multimedia System Sockets.
● pipewire-pulse.socket - PipeWire PulseAudio
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire-pulse.socket; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Thu 2026-01-15 18:07:56 CST; 1h 43min ago
Invocation: 658a6ae48b4f4ebab6ab1f9e772ba8bb
Triggers: ● pipewire-pulse.service
Listen: /run/user/1000/pulse/native (Stream)
CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/pipewire-pulse.socket
Jan 15 18:07:56 mydesktop systemd[2133]: Listening on PipeWire PulseAudio.
× wireplumber.service - Multimedia Service Session Manager
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/wireplumber.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2026-01-15 18:25:43 CST; 1h 25min ago
Duration: 27ms
Invocation: 82aab58d1db7432486e86a181726d8d2
Process: 18911 ExecStart=/usr/bin/wireplumber -p $WIREPLUMBER_PROFILE (code=exited, status=78)
Main PID: 18911 (code=exited, status=78)
Jan 15 18:25:43 mydesktop systemd[2133]: wireplumber.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 4.
Jan 15 18:25:43 mydesktop systemd[2133]: wireplumber.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Jan 15 18:25:43 mydesktop systemd[2133]: wireplumber.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Jan 15 18:25:43 mydesktop systemd[2133]: Failed to start Multimedia Service Session Manager.
(base) tom@mydesktop: ~ $ zypper search -si gstreamer ffmpeg libav
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
S | Name | Type | Version | Arch | Repository
---+---------------------------------+---------+---------------------+--------+-------------------
i | audaspace-plugin-ffmpeg | package | 1.8.0-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | ffmpeg-4 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libavcodec-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libavdevice-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libavfilter-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libavformat-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libavresample-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libavutil-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libpostproc-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libswresample-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | ffmpeg-4-libswscale-devel | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | ffmpegthumbnailer | package | 2.2.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-32bit | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-lang | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | noarch | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-libnice | package | 0.1.22+7-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugin-cluttergst3 | package | 3.0.27-2.8 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | gstreamer-plugin-pipewire | package | 1.5.84-2.2 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | gstreamer-plugins-bad | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-bad-lang | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | noarch | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-base | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-base-lang | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | noarch | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-farstream | package | 0.2.9+5-2.9 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-good | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | gstreamer-plugins-good-extra | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-good-gtk | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-good-lang | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | noarch | repo-oss
i+ | gstreamer-plugins-libav | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-plugins-rs | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | gstreamer-plugins-ugly | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | gstreamer-plugins-vaapi | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | gstreamer-utils | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-client3 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-client3-32bit | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-common3 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-common3-32bit | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-core7 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-devel | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-glib1 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-gobject0 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-libevent1 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavahi-ui-gtk3-0 | package | 0.8-40.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavc1394-0 | package | 0.5.4-20.4 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavc1394-0-32bit | package | 0.5.4-20.4 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | libavcodec57 | package | 3.4.14-1699.2.pm.22 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavcodec58_134 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavcodec60 | package | 6.1.3-1699.2.pm.12 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavcodec61 | package | 7.1.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavcodec62 | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavcodec62-32bit | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | libavdevice57 | package | 3.4.14-1699.2.pm.22 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavdevice58_13 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavdevice61 | package | 7.1.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavdevice62 | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | libavfilter6 | package | 3.4.14-1699.2.pm.22 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavfilter7_110 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavfilter10 | package | 7.1.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavfilter11 | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavfilter11-32bit | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | libavformat57 | package | 3.4.14-1699.2.pm.22 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavformat58_76 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavformat60 | package | 6.1.3-1699.2.pm.12 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavformat61 | package | 7.1.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavformat62 | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavformat62-32bit | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavif16 | package | 1.3.0-4.2 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavif16-32bit | package | 1.3.0-4.2 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | libavresample3 | package | 3.4.14-1699.2.pm.22 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | libavresample4_0 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavtp0 | package | 0.2.0-2.6 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i+ | libavutil55 | package | 3.4.14-1699.2.pm.22 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavutil56_70 | package | 4.4.6-10.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavutil58 | package | 6.1.3-1699.2.pm.12 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i | libavutil59 | package | 7.1.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavutil60 | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libavutil60-32bit | package | 8.0.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libffmpegthumbnailer4 | package | 2.2.3-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libgstreamer-1_0-0 | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libgstreamer-1_0-0-32bit | package | 1.26.10-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libgupnp-dlna-backend-gstreamer | package | 0.12.0-1.18 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | libheif-ffmpeg | package | 1.21.1-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin | package | 1.2.8-7.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
i | python313-imageio-ffmpeg | package | 0.6.0-1.1 | noarch | repo-oss
i | vlc-codec-gstreamer | package | 3.0.23-1.1 | x86_64 | repo-oss
(base) tom@mydesktop: ~ $
Ok, so wireplumber is the problem here. Because this system was converted online from Leap 15.6 to Tumbleweed, you may have stale user configs. Check for the existence of ~/.config/pipewire ~/.config/wireplumber, and even ~/.config/pulse perhaps.
If you create a new user, and login as that user, sound will probably be working.
/.config/pipewire --yes, nothing changed since 1/2025
I will try the new user test.
What can I do to repair configs for current user?
Back it up with mv ~/.config/pipewire ~/.config/pipewire.bak then retsart the user stack
systemctl --user daemon-reexec
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
Test sound again.
Also, if necessary check no stale user-session cache/state as well eg ~/.local/state/wireplumber. No need to keep ~/.cache either. Then log out and back in. Any different?
Did you mean to delete; ~/.local/state/wireplumber ?? There are files dated today in there.
Also delete cache?
thanks
Yes, safe to delete. The directories will be recreated upon next login.
I saw several additional problems beyond the lack of sound such as qemu vms not starting and several others. Looked like a lot of mystery/work for me.
Therefore, I used “timeshift” restore and reverted my system back to leap 15.6 from a previous snapshot. It is noteworthy that “timeshift” restored over 1.1 million command lines to revert my system back. All worked apparently perfectly. I have sound again and I am back on leap15.6
For the future I will just move to leap 16.0 and will use distrobox for apps I can’t get going in leap.
thanks, tom kosvic
Yep, sometimes the rabbit hole is deeper than it’s worth. Sounds like restoring via Timeshift was the safest choice for your situation. The diagnostic steps I gave you for sound were appropriate based on the initial description you gave, but a broken install it seems. Anyway, that’s how you learn.
system
February 15, 2026, 4:34am
11
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