When I connect my bluetooth earbuds everything works well at first, but after a couple of minutes the sound switches from the earbuds to the laptop again. Weird, not only the earbuds still appear as connected, they also can’t be disconnected at that point. I’ve re-paired the device but it doesn’t seem to help.
I have the Samsung Galaxy buds.
Any ideas of how to investigate this?
Thanks
I suggest check audio devices and sink outputs in PulseAudio/PipeWire
pactl list cards; pactl list sinks
when earbuds are first connected and working and also when they stop working
Sorry for the delay. The issue didn’t happen for a while but apparently now it’s back!
Here’s the output of pactl list cards; pactl list sinks with the earbuds working:
Card #0
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_03_00.1
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Owner Module: 6
Properties:
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xd04c8000 irq 104"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.1"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:03:00.1/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1002"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
device.product.id = "1637"
device.product.name = "Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
device.string = "0"
device.description = "Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Profiles:
HiFi: Play HiFi quality Music (sinks: 2, sources: 0, priority: 10300, available: no)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: off
Ports:
[Out] HDMI2: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 Output (type: HDMI, priority: 1200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi
[Out] HDMI1: HDMI / DisplayPort 1 Output (type: HDMI, priority: 1100, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi
Card #1
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_03_00.6
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Owner Module: 8
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xd04c0000 irq 105"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.6"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:03:00.6/sound/card1"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
device.product.id = "15e3"
device.product.name = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller"
device.string = "1"
device.description = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Profiles:
HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker): Play HiFi quality Music (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker) (sinks: 1, sources: 2, priority: 41168, available: yes)
HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2): Play HiFi quality Music (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2) (sinks: 1, sources: 2, priority: 8500, available: yes)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker)
Ports:
[Out] Speaker: Speaker (type: Speaker, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker)
[In] Mic2: Headphones Stereo Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker), HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2)
[In] Mic1: Digital Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker), HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2)
[Out] Headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2)
Card #2
Name: bluez_card.E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B
Driver: module-bluez5-device.c
Owner Module: 27
Properties:
device.description = "Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)"
device.string = "E8:7F:6B:65:E6:6B"
device.api = "bluez"
device.class = "sound"
device.bus = "bluetooth"
device.form_factor = "headset"
bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B"
bluez.class = "0x240404"
bluez.alias = "Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)"
device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
device.intended_roles = "phone"
bluetooth.codec = "sbc"
bluetooth.battery = "100%"
Profiles:
a2dp_sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 40, available: yes)
handsfree_head_unit: Handsfree Head Unit (HFP) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 30, available: yes)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: a2dp_sink
Ports:
headset-output: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): a2dp_sink, handsfree_head_unit
headset-input: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): handsfree_head_unit
Sink #0
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_03_00.6.HiFi__Speaker__sink
Description: Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller Speaker
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 8
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 52429 / 80% / -5.81 dB, front-right: 52429 / 80% / -5.81 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_03_00.6.HiFi__Speaker__sink.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "ALC285 Analog"
alsa.id = "ALC285 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xd04c0000 irq 105"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.6"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:03:00.6/sound/card1"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
device.product.id = "15e3"
device.product.name = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller"
device.string = "_ucm0003.hw:Generic_1"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "384000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "192000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "HiFi: Speaker: sink"
device.profile.description = "Speaker"
alsa.mixer_device = "_ucm0003.hw:Generic_1"
device.description = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller Speaker"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Ports:
[Out] Speaker: Speaker (type: Speaker, priority: 100, availability unknown)
Active Port: [Out] Speaker
Formats:
pcm
Sink #1
State: SUSPENDED
Name: bluez_sink.E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B.a2dp_sink
Description: Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)
Driver: module-bluez5-device.c
Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 27
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 22938 / 35% / -27.36 dB, front-right: 22938 / 35% / -27.36 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: bluez_sink.E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B.a2dp_sink.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
bluetooth.protocol = "a2dp_sink"
bluetooth.codec = "sbc"
device.description = "Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)"
device.string = "E8:7F:6B:65:E6:6B"
device.api = "bluez"
device.class = "sound"
device.bus = "bluetooth"
device.form_factor = "headset"
bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B"
bluez.class = "0x240404"
bluez.alias = "Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)"
device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
device.intended_roles = "phone"
Ports:
headset-output: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, availability unknown)
Active Port: headset-output
Formats:
pcm
And this is it after the earbuds stop working.
Card #0
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_03_00.1
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Owner Module: 6
Properties:
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xd04c8000 irq 104"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.1"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:03:00.1/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1002"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
device.product.id = "1637"
device.product.name = "Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
device.string = "0"
device.description = "Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Profiles:
HiFi: Play HiFi quality Music (sinks: 2, sources: 0, priority: 10300, available: no)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: off
Ports:
[Out] HDMI2: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 Output (type: HDMI, priority: 1200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi
[Out] HDMI1: HDMI / DisplayPort 1 Output (type: HDMI, priority: 1100, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi
Card #1
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_03_00.6
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Owner Module: 8
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xd04c0000 irq 105"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.6"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:03:00.6/sound/card1"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
device.product.id = "15e3"
device.product.name = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller"
device.string = "1"
device.description = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Profiles:
HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker): Play HiFi quality Music (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker) (sinks: 1, sources: 2, priority: 41168, available: yes)
HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2): Play HiFi quality Music (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2) (sinks: 1, sources: 2, priority: 8500, available: yes)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker)
Ports:
[Out] Speaker: Speaker (type: Speaker, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker)
[In] Mic2: Headphones Stereo Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker), HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2)
[In] Mic1: Digital Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Mic1, Mic2, Speaker), HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2)
[Out] Headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): HiFi (Headphones, Mic1, Mic2)
Card #2
Name: bluez_card.E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B
Driver: module-bluez5-device.c
Owner Module: 27
Properties:
device.description = "Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)"
device.string = "E8:7F:6B:65:E6:6B"
device.api = "bluez"
device.class = "sound"
device.bus = "bluetooth"
device.form_factor = "headset"
bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B"
bluez.class = "0x240404"
bluez.alias = "Galaxy Buds+ (E66B)"
device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
device.intended_roles = "phone"
bluetooth.battery = "93%"
Profiles:
a2dp_sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 40, available: no)
handsfree_head_unit: Handsfree Head Unit (HFP) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 30, available: yes)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: off
Ports:
headset-output: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): a2dp_sink, handsfree_head_unit
headset-input: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Part of profile(s): handsfree_head_unit
Sink #0
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_03_00.6.HiFi__Speaker__sink
Description: Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller Speaker
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 8
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 29491 / 45% / -20.81 dB, front-right: 29491 / 45% / -20.81 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_03_00.6.HiFi__Speaker__sink.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "ALC285 Analog"
alsa.id = "ALC285 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xd04c0000 irq 105"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.6"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:03:00.6/sound/card1"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
device.product.id = "15e3"
device.product.name = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller"
device.string = "_ucm0003.hw:Generic_1"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "384000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "192000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "HiFi: Speaker: sink"
device.profile.description = "Speaker"
alsa.mixer_device = "_ucm0003.hw:Generic_1"
device.description = "Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller Speaker"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Ports:
[Out] Speaker: Speaker (type: Speaker, priority: 100, availability unknown)
Active Port: [Out] Speaker
Formats:
pcm
The only difference I see is that sink #1 disappears. I have no idea how to interpret that though 
@nikgnomic do you have any ideas?
Responses from pactl list cards show Bluetooth card bluez_card.E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B
is using Active Profile; a2dp_sink when earbuds are working
and Active Profile; off when earbuds are not working
Use this command to change the card profile
pactl set-card-profile bluez_card.E8_7F_6B_65_E6_6B a2dp_sink
If the profile changes to ‘off’ again in future, use Configuration tab in Pulseaudio Volume Control to change the card profile to High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) and click the padlock icon to lock the card profile
