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Linux, Intel HDA, VIA codec and headphones

June 15, 2014

Yesterday, I finally got around to setting up Debian 7 on my main system (with Intel High Definition Audio and a VIA VT1705 codec), but I ran into an issue where headphone jack detection didn’t work: audio comes out of the rear output normally, but as soon as anything is plugged into the front panel output, both outputs are disabled.

All solutions I could find relate to systems with Realtek codecs, which is not my case. Here’s what solved it on mine:

  1. Start alsamixer
  2. Scroll all the way to the right
  3. Select the "Smart 5.1" option
  4. Press . (period) to unmute it
hda_alsamixer

Despite this option being (oddly) named “Smart 5.1”, enabling it will make headphone jack detection work.

Last update: Sep 19, 2023