Hello! New to Linux, Zorin is only my second distro but I really like it and I think I'll be using it for a long while
However, I've been experiencing some issues with my bluetooth devices that I haven't had when I was still using Windows.
My bluetooth earbuds can pair and connect just fine, except for some reason I don't think they register as an input device? Like, it works just fine as an output device, but it does not show up as an input device at all. The only microphone that shows up, both in Sound Settings and PulseAudio, is my laptop's internal mic.
EDIT: Managed to get mic detected through Pipewire. Still working on audio input quality.
For my keyboard, my problem is that it doesn't work on boot. I have to log in first and manually do some disconnecting/re-pairing/connecting dance for a bit before I can get it to work. Bluetooth settings will report my keyboard as "connected" but it's not working. Sometimes it even says "connected" even when I switch my keyboard off.
I'm not sure what information will help, but here's some info about my system:
Is there a way to change function lock at boot? On Windows, I could use my alternate function keys by default. Now I have to press fn+esc all the time at boot.
Sometimes my system freezes (nothing works--sometimes the cursor moves but clicks and key presses do nothing and I'm forced to hard reboot ) and I can't figure out why. It only started today though, so I'm almost certain I can figure this out, but any tips on where to start looking?
Monitoring for now...
The shortcut to copy screenshots to clipboard only seems to work after I make a screenshot to be saved to directory. What gives?
SOLVED: Just had to make Screenshot an autostart application.
This is OS independent. The settings for it should be in your BIOS / EFI Settings. You might check for this on your next reboot, going into your motherboard settings prior to booting.
You might check fans and temps - if using notebook computer, you can install TLP
sudo apt install tlp
This may be a graphics card issue. Can you relay the terminal output of
sudo lshw -C video
Gnome and freezing along with Bluetooth - I am not surprised. It is why I use Zorin OS Lite.
Have you tried using Flameshot screenshot application?
Thank you for all the other tips! I'll look into the BIOS settings and maybe Flameshot :> Hopefully I figure this stuff out before having to switch to Lite lol.
edit: Also I already had TLP installed.
This worked!...sorta. My mic is now detected, but the quality/volume is so low that it's kind of useless now? My voice fades in and out, and for Discord it eventually stops working altogether. I'll take it as a win for now though lol.
Will monitor the freezing problem, thanks!
(Also, figured out the screenshot problem: just had to make Screenshot an autostart application.)
In alsamixer
Hit [F6] to show all soundcards and check correct one is set.
Hit [F5] to showe all sound channels.
Check any mic channels are shown muted [MM], unmute by pointing to that channel and hit "M"key. Increase the volume sliders to max.
If [Auto-Mute] is set Enabled, try toggling that to Disabled.
You can have a play around with other line input settings to see if any change or improvement is made. Sometimes some alsamixer channel setting unrelated to mic can have a (illogical) impact.
If all fails, post a screenshot of your alsamixer screen and we will see if we can find anything else we can try there.
) and I can't figure out why. It only started today though, so I'm almost certain I can figure this out, but any tips on where to start looking?