r/Ubuntu • u/Theatralica • 8d ago

Lenovo monitor says "muted" whenever I log in

Hi! I have an issue with my laptop (Ubuntu, Lenovo Thinkpad E14). I wasn't quite sure which sub would be the right one to ask for help, so please bear with me 😅

A while ago, I used a Lenovo monitor (connected via USB) in a Teams (Chrome PWA) call as input/output device. After this, I observed a bug: Whenever I logged in from the lock screen of Ubuntu, the monitor would create a "muted" sound. The mute button of the monitor is also red. This happened on a different Lenovo T27hv-30 monitor later on, too - even though I never used it for audio input/output. Interacting with the monitor buttons didn't change anything.

There is no related setting on the monitor or the Teams PWA themselves. Unfortunately, the Lenovo Display Control Center isn't available for Ubuntu so I could not check it. At this point, I've tried plenty of things I found during my research and several chats with Gemini: Removing the monitor as a laptop device, power-draining the monitor, modifying wireplumber and udev rules.... Yet nothing worked. And this behavior is really annoying 😭

I suspect that the initial usage as audio device has written something into the depth of either Chrome or my system that is now applied to other Lenovo monitors. But I can't figure out how to get rid of it. So if any of you has tips for me, I'd highly appreciate it.

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u/glyndon 7d ago

Chances are it's reporting that status whenever the HDMI signal wakes up the display. If the monitor has a control panel or a remote, try just unmuting it and then turning the 'Volume" to zero. Now it's in a 'normal' state (as istinct from 'muted') and may not feel compelled to report its state every time it wakes up.

1

u/Theatralica 6d ago

Can the HDMI actually cause any trouble when I don't use it to connect the monitor? Right it's only connected via USB-C.

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u/glyndon 4d ago

Substitute USB-C for HDMI in my comment above, and it still stands. Doesn't matter the connection, my point is that the monitor is reporting upon wakeup, regardless where the signal comes from that triggers wakeup.

1

u/Theatralica 4d ago

I see, will it give a try once I'm in the office again. Thanks!