How to Change the Audio Output in Batocera

If Batocera is playing sound through the wrong device—or you have no sound at all—you may need to change the Batocera audio output.

This is especially common on PCs, mini PCs, Raspberry Pi systems, handhelds, and arcade builds that have multiple audio devices installed.

For example, your Batocera system may detect:

HDMI audio from a TV or monitor
DisplayPort audio
Built-in speakers
A 3.5mm headphone jack
Analog line-out
USB speakers
USB headphones
A USB DAC or sound card
AV receivers
Multiple HDMI ports

In most cases, fixing Batocera audio is as simple as changing the Audio Profile and Audio Output settings.

Quick Answer: Change Batocera Audio Output

To change the audio device in Batocera:

Open the Main Menu.
Go to System Settings.
Find Audio Output.
Select the speaker, HDMI port, headphone jack, or USB audio device you want to use.
Return to the Batocera main screen.
Test the menu music or launch a game to check the sound.

If your preferred audio device isn't listed, change the Audio Profile first and then check the Audio Output menu again.

Where Are the Batocera Audio Settings?

Batocera's main audio settings can normally be found under:

Main Menu → System Settings

The two most important options are:

Audio Profile

The Audio Profile controls how Batocera configures your sound hardware.

Depending on your hardware, available profiles may include:

Analog Stereo
Digital Stereo
HDMI Stereo
Surround Sound
5.1 Surround
7.1 Surround

Audio Output

The Audio Output setting determines which physical device Batocera uses to play sound.

This may include:

HDMI 0
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
Analog Output
Headphones
Line Out
Built-in Audio
USB Audio
USB DAC

The exact names depend on your PC, graphics card, motherboard, and connected audio hardware.

How to Fix Batocera No Sound

If Batocera has no sound, one of the most effective fixes is to test different combinations of Audio Profile and Audio Output.

Follow these steps:

Open Main Menu → System Settings.
Select Audio Profile.
Choose an available profile.
Return to the Batocera home screen.
Open System Settings again.
Select Audio Output.
Test the available audio devices.
Repeat with another Audio Profile if necessary.

Changing the Audio Profile can cause different Audio Output devices to appear, so don't assume that the first list of devices contains every available option.

How to Switch Batocera Audio from HDMI to Speakers

A common Batocera audio problem occurs when the system automatically sends sound through HDMI.

For example, you might have Batocera installed on a mini PC connected to a television while also using external speakers connected directly to the PC.

Batocera may automatically choose the TV as the audio device.

To change it:

Main Menu → System Settings → Audio Output

Look for an output labeled something similar to:

Analog
Built-in Audio
Speakers
Line Out
Headphones
USB Audio

Select the appropriate device and return to the main menu.

If you still don't hear anything, change the Audio Profile and check the Audio Output list again.

How to Enable HDMI Audio in Batocera

If you want Batocera sound to play through your TV or monitor, you usually need to select an HDMI audio device.

Go to:

Main Menu → System Settings → Audio Profile

Select an HDMI-compatible profile if available.

Then go to:

Main Menu → System Settings → Audio Output

Look for an HDMI device.

Your system may display several options, such as:

HDMI 0
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
HDMI / DisplayPort
Digital HDMI Output

If your graphics card has multiple HDMI or DisplayPort connections, Batocera may detect each one as a separate audio output.

Try each HDMI output until you find the one connected to your TV or monitor.

Batocera HDMI Video Works but There Is No Sound

If you have a picture on your TV but no audio, the HDMI connection itself may still be working correctly.

Try the following:

Change the Batocera Audio Profile.
Test every HDMI Audio Output.
Make sure your TV isn't muted.
Increase the TV volume.
Check whether the correct HDMI input is selected.
Disconnect unnecessary monitors.
Try another HDMI port.
Try another HDMI cable.
Check whether headphones are connected to the PC.
Restart the TV or monitor.

Systems with NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics may expose several HDMI audio devices even if you're only using one display.

Testing each available output is often the easiest way to identify the correct one.

How to Use USB Speakers or a USB DAC with Batocera

Batocera can also use USB audio devices such as:

USB speakers
USB headphones
USB sound cards
USB DACs
USB-to-3.5mm audio adapters

Connect your USB audio device before opening the audio settings.

Then go to:

Main Menu → System Settings → Audio Output

Look for the name of the USB device.

If it doesn't appear:

Connect the USB audio device.
Restart Batocera if necessary.
Change the Audio Profile.
Check the Audio Output menu again.
Try another USB port.

USB audio can be particularly useful for mini PCs and arcade builds that don't have a convenient analog audio output.

Batocera Audio Output Keeps Going to the Wrong HDMI Port

Some PCs and graphics cards expose several HDMI or DisplayPort audio interfaces.

Batocera may therefore show multiple outputs that appear almost identical.

For example:

HDMI 0

HDMI 1

HDMI 2

Unfortunately, the device names don't always make it obvious which physical HDMI port they correspond to.

The easiest solution is usually to test them individually.

Select an HDMI output, return to the main menu, and check whether you hear Batocera's menu music.

Repeat until you identify the correct HDMI device.

Manually Configure Batocera Audio Output

Advanced users can manually change Batocera's audio configuration through the configuration file:

/userdata/system/batocera.conf

Batocera stores many system-wide options in this file.

The audio device can be controlled using the:

audio.device

setting.

For example, an HDMI configuration may use:

audio.device=hdmi

Manual configuration can be helpful if Batocera isn't correctly remembering your audio device or if the output isn't behaving as expected through the normal menu.

However, most users should configure audio through:

Main Menu → System Settings

before manually editing batocera.conf.

Does Batocera Use PipeWire?

Modern versions of Batocera use PipeWire for audio management.

Batocera moved to PipeWire beginning with version 32.

This improved the way audio devices and profiles are handled and allows users to change audio outputs more easily through EmulationStation.

If you're following an older Batocera tutorial, the instructions may be different because versions prior to Batocera 32 used an older audio system.

Batocera Audio Works in Games but Not in Kodi

If games have sound but Kodi doesn't, the problem may be Kodi's own audio configuration rather than Batocera.

Kodi has separate audio settings.

Launch Kodi and open:

Settings → System → Audio

Check the:

Audio output device
Number of channels
Passthrough settings
Speaker configuration

For surround-sound systems, Kodi may also need to be configured for the correct number of audio channels.

Batocera and Kodi audio settings aren't always identical, so sound working in one doesn't guarantee that the other is configured correctly.

Can You Change the Microphone Input in Batocera?

The main Batocera Audio Output menu controls playback devices, not microphones.

Audio output means:

Batocera → TV, speakers, headphones, or receiver

Audio input means:

Microphone or capture device → Batocera

If you're trying to configure:

A microphone
USB microphone
Karaoke microphone
Line-in connection
Audio capture device

the configuration may depend on the specific emulator, game, or application you're running.

Changing System Settings → Audio Output will not normally change your microphone input device.

Batocera Audio Troubleshooting Checklist

If Batocera still has no sound, work through this checklist:

Check Audio Profile.
Check Audio Output.
Test every HDMI device.
Test analog audio if available.
Check TV or speaker volume.
Make sure the device isn't muted.
Disconnect headphones.
Reconnect USB audio devices.
Try another USB port.
Try another HDMI cable.
Try another HDMI port.
Restart the display.
Reboot Batocera.
Check Kodi separately if the issue only happens in Kodi.
Verify that you're following instructions for your version of Batocera.

In many cases, simply testing different combinations of Audio Profile and Audio Output solves the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions About Batocera Audio

How do I change the audio output in Batocera?

Open:

Main Menu → System Settings → Audio Output

Then select the HDMI, analog, headphone, speaker, or USB audio device you want Batocera to use.

Why does Batocera have no sound?

Batocera may have selected the wrong audio device or Audio Profile. Check both Audio Profile and Audio Output under System Settings and test the available combinations.

How do I get HDMI sound working in Batocera?

Choose an HDMI-compatible Audio Profile and then select the correct HDMI device under System Settings → Audio Output. If several HDMI outputs appear, test each one.

Why are there multiple HDMI audio outputs in Batocera?

Graphics cards and integrated GPUs often expose multiple HDMI or DisplayPort audio interfaces. Each physical or logical display connection may appear as a separate audio device.

Can Batocera use USB speakers?

Yes. Connect the USB speakers, USB headphones, DAC, or sound card and check System Settings → Audio Output for the device.

Do I need to reboot Batocera after changing audio output?

On modern Batocera versions, audio changes can generally be tested without rebooting. If a newly connected USB or HDMI device doesn't appear, however, restarting Batocera may help.