Microphone broken by recent update

Issues & Assistance
1

Microphone is getting broken by a system update. First tried the update April 10th or 11th, when I rebooted Discord would not recognize the motherboard’s audio chipset and said there was no microphone. I also tried Recorder but no audio picked up there either. Tried the update again today and same issue.

Microphone is part of a headset with both speakers and mic 3.5mm jacks that runs through an adapter to make it one 3.5mm jack.

This problem is fixed when I roll back to a snapshot pre update so it’s definitely the update that’s causing it. Seeing some people with similar issues here/on Reddit but no fixes provided.

pacman -Syu outputs this as packages to be updated:

Packages (221) aardvark-dns-1.17.1-1.1  accounts-qml-module-0.7-7.1  accountsservice-26.13.3-1.1
               alsa-card-profiles-1:1.6.3-1.1  archlinux-keyring-20260409-2
               at-spi2-core-2.60.1-1.1  atkmm-2.28.4-2.1  attica-6.25.0-1.1  baloo-6.25.0-1.1
               bluez-qt-6.25.0-1.1  bpf-6.19.12-1  breeze-icons-6.25.0-1.1
               cachyos-ananicy-rules-1:1.1.33-1  cachyos-hello-0.23.1-1  cachyos-mirrorlist-27-1
               cachyos-rate-mirrors-23-1  cachyos-v3-mirrorlist-27-1  cachyos-v4-mirrorlist-27-1
               chwd-1.20.1-2  clang-22.1.3-2  compiler-rt-22.1.3-1.1  confuse-3.3-5.1
               containers-common-1:0.67.1-1  cpupower-6.19.12-1  ding-libs-0.7.0-1.1
               flatpak-1:1.16.6-1.1  frameworkintegration-6.25.0-1.1  fwupd-2.1.1-4.1
               gdk-pixbuf2-2.44.6-2.1  glib2-2.88.0-1.1  glib2-devel-2.88.0-1.1
               glibmm-2.68-2.88.0-1.1  glycin-2.1.1-1.1  gssproxy-0.9.2-3.1  gst-libav-1.28.2-1
               gst-plugin-pipewire-1:1.6.3-1.1  gst-plugin-va-1.28.2-1  gst-plugins-bad-1.28.2-1
               gst-plugins-bad-libs-1.28.2-1  gst-plugins-base-1.28.2-1
               gst-plugins-base-libs-1.28.2-1  gst-plugins-ugly-1.28.2-1  gstreamer-1.28.2-1
               gtk-update-icon-cache-1:4.22.2-1.1  gtk4-1:4.22.2-1.1  gtkmm-4.0-4.22.0-1.1
               harfbuzz-14.1.0-1.1  harfbuzz-icu-14.1.0-1.1  hwdata-0.406-1  iana-etc-20260409-1
               ijs-0.35-7.1  imagemagick-7.1.2.19-1.1  iptables-1:1.8.13-1.1  jbig2dec-0.20-2.1
               karchive-6.25.0-1.1  kauth-6.25.0-1.1  kbookmarks-6.25.0-1.1
               kcalendarcore-6.25.0-1.1  kcmutils-6.25.0-1.1  kcodecs-6.25.0-1.1
               kcolorscheme-6.25.0-1.1  kcompletion-6.25.0-1.1  kconfig-6.25.0-1.1
               kconfigwidgets-6.25.0-1.1  kcontacts-1:6.25.0-1.1  kcoreaddons-6.25.0-1.1
               kcrash-6.25.0-1.1  kdav-1:6.25.0-1.1  kdbusaddons-6.25.0-1.1
               kdeclarative-6.25.0-1.1  kded-6.25.0-1.1  kdesu-6.25.0-1.1  kdnssd-6.25.0-1.1
               kfilemetadata-6.25.0-1.1  kglobalaccel-6.25.0-1.1  kguiaddons-6.25.0-1.1
               kholidays-1:6.25.0-1.1  ki18n-6.25.0-1.1  kiconthemes-6.25.0-1.1
               kidletime-6.25.0-1.1  kimageformats-6.25.0-1.1  kio-6.25.0-1.1  kirigami-6.25.0-1.1
               kitemmodels-6.25.0-1.1  kitemviews-6.25.0-1.1  kjobwidgets-6.25.0-1.1
               knewstuff-6.25.0-1.1  knotifications-6.25.0-1.1  knotifyconfig-6.25.0-1.1
               kpackage-6.25.0-1.1  kparts-6.25.0-1.1  kpeople-6.25.0-1.1  kpty-6.25.0-1.1
               kquickcharts-6.25.0-1.1  krita-6.0.1-3.1  krunner-6.25.0-1.1  kservice-6.25.0-1.1
               kstatusnotifieritem-6.25.0-1.1  ksvg-6.25.0-1.1  ktexteditor-6.25.0-1.1
               ktexttemplate-6.25.0-1.1  ktextwidgets-6.25.0-1.1  kunitconversion-6.25.0-1.1
               kuserfeedback-6.25.0-1.1  kwallet-6.25.0-1.1  kwidgetsaddons-6.25.0-1.1
               kwindowsystem-6.25.0-1.1  kxmlgui-6.25.0-1.1  leancrypto-1.7.2-1.1
               lib32-at-spi2-core-2.60.1-1  lib32-clang-22.1.3-1  lib32-gdk-pixbuf2-2.44.6-2
               lib32-harfbuzz-14.1.0-1  lib32-libcap-2.78-1  lib32-libpipewire-1:1.6.3-1
               lib32-libpng-1.6.57-1  lib32-llvm-libs-1:22.1.3-1  lib32-pipewire-1:1.6.3-1
               lib32-sqlite-3.53.0-2  libadwaita-1:1.9.0-1.1  libass-0.17.4-2.1  libcap-2.78-1.1
               libcap-ng-0.9.3-1.1  libcbor-0.14.0-1.1  libclc-22.1.3-1  libdvbpsi-1:1.3.3-4
               libebml-1.4.5-2.1  libexttextcat-3.4.7-2.1  libfdk-aac-2.0.3-2.1
               libmalcontent-0.14.0-4  libmspack-1:1.11-2.1  libpgm-5.3.128-4.1
               libphonenumber-1:9.0.28-1.1  libpipewire-1:1.6.3-1.1  libpng-1.6.57-1.1
               libqaccessibilityclient-qt6-0.6.0-3  libraqm-0.10.5-1.1  librsvg-2:2.62.1-1.1
               libsodium-1.0.22-1.1  libspng-0.7.4-4.1  libsysprof-capture-50.0-1.1
               libtiff-4.7.1-2.1  libunibreak-7.0-1.1  libverto-0.3.2-6.1  libxaw-1.0.16-2.1
               libxdmcp-1.1.5-2.1  limine-11.3.1-1  linux-cachyos-6.19.12-1
               linux-cachyos-headers-6.19.12-1  linux-cachyos-lts-6.18.22-1
               linux-cachyos-lts-headers-6.18.22-1  lld-22.1.3-1.1  llvm-22.1.3-2
               llvm-libs-22.1.3-2  make-4.4.1-3.1  md4c-0.5.2-2.1  modemmanager-qt-6.25.0-1.1
               nano-9.0-1.1  netavark-1.17.2-2.1  netpbm-10.86.49-2.1  networkmanager-qt-6.25.0-1.1
               nfs-utils-2.9.1-1.1  nfsidmap-2.9.1-1.1  nilfs-utils-2.3.0-1.1  opencv-4.13.0-5.1
               pacman-mirrorlist-20260406-1  pangomm-2.46.4-2.1  parted-3.7-1.1  pciutils-3.15.0-1
               perl-5.42.2-1.1  perl-xml-parser-2.54-1.1  pipewire-1:1.6.3-1.1
               pipewire-alsa-1:1.6.3-1.1  pipewire-audio-1:1.6.3-1.1  pipewire-pulse-1:1.6.3-1.1
               polkit-qt6-0.201.1-1  prison-6.25.0-1.1  proton-cachyos-1:10.0.20260407-3
               proton-cachyos-slr-1:10.0.20260407-1  purpose-6.25.0-1.1  python-3.14.4-2
               python-cryptography-46.0.7-1.1  python-filelock-3.26.0-1
               python-jaraco.context-6.1.2-1  python-kiwisolver-1.5.0-1.1  python-lxml-6.0.4-1.1
               python-more-itertools-11.0.2-1  python-platformdirs-4.9.6-1
               python-pycryptodomex-3.23.0-3.1  qemu-common-10.2.2-3  qemu-system-x86-10.2.2-3
               qemu-system-x86-firmware-10.2.2-3  qqc2-desktop-style-6.25.0-1.1
               qt6-tools-6.11.0-3.1  qt6-webengine-6.11.0-4  rasqal-1:0.9.33-8.1
               redland-1:1.0.17-10.1  signal-desktop-8.6.1-1  signon-plugin-oauth2-0.25-4
               signond-8.61-4.1  solid-6.25.0-1.1  sonnet-6.25.0-1.1  sqlite-3.53.0-2
               svt-hevc-1.5.1-4.1  syndication-6.25.0-1.1  syntax-highlighting-6.25.0-1.1
               the_silver_searcher-2.2.0-4.1  topgrade-17.3.0-1  ttf-dejavu-2.37+18+g9b5d1b2f-8
               ttf-fira-sans-1:4.301-3  vim-9.2.0316-1.1  vim-runtime-9.2.0316-1.1
               webkit2gtk-4.1-2.52.2-1  wolfssl-5.9.1-1  xdg-dbus-proxy-0.1.7-1.1
               xdg-desktop-portal-1.20.4-1.1  xdg-user-dirs-0.20-1.1  xorg-fonts-encodings-1.1.0-2
               xorg-xmessage-1.0.7-2.1  yajl-2.1.0-7.1  zsh-syntax-highlighting-0.8.0-2

I notice alsa-card-profiles and gst-plugin-pipewire in there, not sure if related. (Edit: and quite a few other pipewire packages)

Motherboard is a Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX with Realtek audio.

Anybody else experiencing this or have a fix? Falling behind on updates now so would like to solve this asap.

2

No fix yet but some more info I’ve dug up that’s likely the source of the problem.

Relevant output of pactl list cards in working configuration:

Profiles:
		off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
		pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 1, sources: 2, priority: 1, available: yes)
	Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
	Ports:
		analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8500, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "0"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo

Notice this line in particular:

analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8500, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, available)

After the update this line says not available

If I change the profile to pro-audio Discord picks up the sources but the mic still doesn’t work.

Also, if I plug into the motherboard jack at the back, the mic works.

So this front input is not available after the update for some reason.

After the update the not working output looks like this:

	Profiles:
		off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
		output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1265, available: yes)
		output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1200, available: yes)
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: no)
		pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 1, sources: 2, priority: 1, available: yes)
	Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
	Ports:
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "0"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo
3

So turns out it was the new kernel linux-cachyos 6.19.12-1

I tried ignoring all pipewire packages but the problem persisted so that pointed me to the kernel and sure enough, ignoring the kernel update worked.

I did it by editing /etc/pacman.conf

IgnorePkg = linux-cachyos linux-cachyos-headers

Can somebody confirm if this is the best approach? I tried using CachyOS Kernel Manager but after doing the pacman update only the new kernel was available, though I did see the old and new before that. The version looked like ^6.19.12-1 which I assume means it can be upgraded.

Marking this solved since this is a “good enough” solution but would appreciate any guidance on best practices for downgrading/freezing a kernel version.

Thanks!

4

More solution info. The new kernel linux-cachyos 7.0.0-1 does not seem to cause this problem. After updating to this kernel I got a message on boot RDSEED2 is broken. Please update your firmware. This didn’t seem to have an effect on anything but I updated my BIOS anyway since it was out of date and now the message is gone.

5

Yep, still broken on a Gigabyte A610i AX (Ryzen 9600X with latest BIOS [F41b from 4/26/2026]). I don’t think this should be marked as “Solved” since it’s clearly not and everyone has just come up with their own workaround.

For my workaround, I ended up buying a new USB->3.5mm (ab13x) adapter for my Windows machine and moved my headset’s USB dongle (Logitech G432) from my work computer to my CachyOS box (since it works better than the cheap ab13x dongle I bought on Amazon).