ALVR has no sound in latest SteamVR beta after Steam Link

[Patola]

Description

SteamVR Beta 2.13.2 -- we're already in 2.13.3 at this time -- finally introduced Steam Link for Linux and now games are runnable under it.

However, this also made ALVR behave differently, it seems. Its sound is not working. ALVR creates the input and output sink in the PC as expected, but sounds don't work in the headset. It's not volume or muted sound, it doesn't really work, or at least to reports from other users, does not work like 90% of times.

The sound doesn't work in the VR interface, in any games, in the desktop view, etc.

Obviously I can't do a bisect because SteamVR/Steam Link is not open source. This is a regression but from the SteamVR side.

General Troubleshooting

• I carefully followed the instructions in the README and successfully completed the setup wizard
• I read the ALVR GitHub Wiki

Environment

Archlinux, kernel 6.16.7-273-tkg-eevdf, mesa 25.2.2, pipewire 1.4.8

Hardware

Note: for Linux, an upload to the hw-probe database is preferred: hw-probe -all -upload
https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=f244c18f66

CPU:
Ryzen 7 7800 X3D

GPU:
RX 7900 XTX

GPU Driver Version:
mesa 25.2.2, kernel 6.16.7

Audio:
pipewire 1.4.8

Installation

ALVR Version:
v20.14.1, launched from alvr-launcher

ALVR Settings File:
session.json

SteamVR Version:
v2.13.3

Install Type:

• Packaged (exe, deb, rpm, etc)
• Portable (zip)
• Source

OS Name and Version (winver on Windows or grep PRETTY_NAME /etc/os-release on most Linux distributions):
"Arch Linux"

[reedlove]

I'm having the same issue on Linux Mint 22.2, with everything being up to date on 9/14/2025 @ 12:25 PST

[ArchivistKitsune]

Same on Manjaro (XFCE) - wholly up to date as well. Previously used the bundled script at one point to set up the sinks and sources as well - had been thinking that had something to do with it but seeing this ... Yep, it's the Beta messing with it. Both Output and Input get set to "Unknown Output" or "Unknown Input".

[aureliensoria]

Hello, same issue with Fedora 42 KDE Spin on my side

[RonnieTiger]

Same problem on Mint 22.2, Looking at helvm it seems to try to connect the audio 'pipes' in pipewire but something fails. flicking it back and fourth between audio devices will result in a few frames of 'stuck' audio getting through before all the pipes are broken again.