Arch Linux

warpoverload

Member

Registered: 2026-07-22

Posts: 1

Audio in Minecraft suddenly quit working

Howdy-ho,

A couple days ago, I loaded up the latest version of Minecraft to find that the audio had quit working. I checked the kernel buffer, journal, and Minecraft logs. I found the following error in the Minecraft logs (nothing in the rest):

[20:29:17] [Render thread/ERROR]: Error starting SoundSystem. Turning off sounds & music
java.lang.IllegalStateException: Failed to open OpenAL device
	at com.mojang.blaze3d.audio.Library.openDeviceOrFallback(Library.java:275)
	at com.mojang.blaze3d.audio.Library.init(Library.java:150)
	at net.minecraft.client.sounds.SoundEngine.loadLibrary(SoundEngine.java:120)
	at net.minecraft.client.sounds.SoundEngine.reload(SoundEngine.java:109)
	at net.minecraft.client.sounds.SoundManager.apply(SoundManager.java:122)
	at net.minecraft.client.sounds.SoundManager.apply(SoundManager.java:41)
	at net.minecraft.server.packs.resources.SimplePreparableReloadListener.lambda$reload$1(SimplePreparableReloadListener.java:15)
	at java.base/java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture$UniAccept.tryFire(CompletableFuture.java:739)
	at java.base/java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture$Completion.run(CompletableFuture.java:503)
	at net.minecraft.server.packs.resources.SimpleReloadInstance.lambda$prepareTasks$3(SimpleReloadInstance.java:59)
	at net.minecraft.util.thread.BlockableEventLoop.doRunTask(BlockableEventLoop.java:173)
	at net.minecraft.util.thread.ReentrantBlockableEventLoop.doRunTask(ReentrantBlockableEventLoop.java:23)
	at net.minecraft.util.thread.BlockableEventLoop.pollTask(BlockableEventLoop.java:147)
	at net.minecraft.util.thread.BlockableEventLoop.runAllTasks(BlockableEventLoop.java:127)
	at net.minecraft.client.Minecraft.runTick(Minecraft.java:1235)
	at net.minecraft.client.Minecraft.run(Minecraft.java:959)
	at net.minecraft.client.main.Main.main(Main.java:292)
	at org.prismlauncher.launcher.impl.StandardLauncher.launch(StandardLauncher.java:115)
	at org.prismlauncher.EntryPoint.listen(EntryPoint.java:129)
	at org.prismlauncher.EntryPoint.main(EntryPoint.java:70)

I have OpenAL installed, and this recently just started happening on my machine despite over 1 and a half years of spotless service. As is protocol, I did everything under the Arch Wiki that pertains to audio issues in Minecraft to no avail. FYI, I use Pipewire. If you need more context, please let me know and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks in advance

Last edited by warpoverload (2026-07-22 03:13:21)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,290

Re: Audio in Minecraft suddenly quit working

I'm assuming it tries to default to jack and you not having pipewire-jack installed or so... FWIW to prevent surprises here, I suggest you configure openal to default to the pulse backend: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 1#p2126721

However modern OpenAL should™ have direct pipewire support and maybe even default to that, do you not have any other message other than this stack which might show the actual error openal produces?

Last edited by V1del (Yesterday 18:21:12)

globoplox

Member

Registered: 2026-07-24

Posts: 1

Re: Audio in Minecraft suddenly quit working

I have a similar issue, since this evening minecraft (through curseforge) has either no sound or has sound exclusively (when started while nothing else is playing).
I did a full system upgrade yesterday. I had not played minecraft in a while before today, so the upgrade may be unrelated.

If something is playing when starting minecraft, I get the same log as you:

Error starting SoundSystem. Turning off sounds & music

If nothing is playing, I get a

[22:05:55] [Render thread/INFO]:OpenAL initialized on device ALSA Default

then, if I start playing something else on the side, it stays silent and

systemctl --user status pipewire

show:

juil. 24 22:08:52 Glob-O-Matic pipewire[99913]: spa.alsa: 'front:0': playback open failed: Device or resource busy
juil. 24 22:08:52 Glob-O-Matic pipewire[99913]: spa.alsa: 'front:0': playback open failed: Device or resource busy
juil. 24 22:08:52 Glob-O-Matic pipewire[99913]: spa.alsa: 'front:0': playback open failed: Device or resource busy
juil. 24 22:08:52 Glob-O-Matic pipewire[99913]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-SteelSeries_Arctis_7P_-00.analog-stereo-58) suspended -> error (Start error: Device or resource busy)
juil. 24 22:08:53 Glob-O-Matic pipewire[99913]: spa.alsa: 'front:0': playback open failed: Device or resource busy
juil. 24 22:08:53 Glob-O-Matic pipewire[99913]: mod.adapter: 0x5646113b2e20: can't get format: Device or resource busy

Edit:

I found out a speaker-test from alsa-utils has the same issue.

And more importantly, creating ~/.asoundrc with

pcm.!default {
    type pipewire
}

ctl.!default {
    type pipewire
}

fixed the issue.

Last edited by globoplox (2026-07-25 11:07:03)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,290

Re: Audio in Minecraft suddenly quit working

if you have any custom asoundrc or /etc/asound.conf you probably want to replace those with the defaults from pipewire-alsa, but your file should lead to the same logical end goal

Last edited by V1del (Yesterday 10:27:57)

gr1moire

Member

Registered: 2024-10-07

Posts: 6

Re: Audio in Minecraft suddenly quit working

Previously, to fix the audio on minecraft you might have needed to create a .alsoftrc file in your home directory. This is seemingly no longer needed, and will cause the error shown in your log. If you still have it, delete it and .asoundrc if you created it. The audio should then work again.

Last edited by gr1moire (Today 18:57:41)