Streaming and Communication: Setting Up Discord with Audio Screensharing on Ubuntu
If you’ve installed Discord on Ubuntu, you might have noticed a frustrating limitation: when you share your screen, your friends can see your gameplay, but they can’t hear it. In 2026, this remains a common hurdle because the official Discord Linux app still struggles with the modern audio systems (PipeWire) used by Ubuntu.
Here is how to fix the "No Audio" issue and optimize Discord for a seamless streaming experience.
1. Why the Default Discord App Fails
The standard Discord app (from the website or Snap store) uses an older technology called X11 for screen capture and has outdated audio hooks. Most modern Ubuntu versions (22.04 and later) use Wayland and PipeWire. This mismatch is why your audio doesn't "hook" into the stream.
2. The Best Solution: Vesktop or Vencord
To get screenshare audio working reliably, the community developed Vesktop. It is a custom Discord client that includes the PipeWire code necessary to capture system audio directly.
How to Install Vesktop (Recommended):
The easiest way is via Flatpak, as it handles the audio permissions automatically:
- Install Flatpak (if you haven't already):
sudo apt install flatpak - Install Vesktop:
flatpak install flathub org.vencord.Vesktop - Launch it from your app menu. Log in, and when you go to screenshare, you will see a toggle for "Capture Audio."
3. The "Official App" Workaround: Webcord
If you prefer not to use Vesktop, Webcord is another excellent alternative. It is essentially a "web wrapper" that uses your browser's ability to share audio. Since browsers like Firefox and Chrome have already solved the "Linux audio" problem, Webcord inherits that fix.
- Install via Flatpak:
flatpak install flathub io.github.spacingbat3.webcord
4. Configuring PipeWire for Pro Audio
Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 use PipeWire by default. To manage how audio flows from your game into Discord, you can use a visual tool called Helvum or qpwgraph.
- Install qpwgraph:
sudo apt install qpwgraph - The Visual Map: This app shows you "nodes." You can literally click and drag a virtual cable from your Game Output to your Discord Input. This ensures that even if Discord is being stubborn, you are forcing the audio through the "pipe."
5. Noise Cancellation (Krisp Alternative)
The Linux version of Discord often lacks the "Krisp" noise suppression found on Windows. To keep your fans or mechanical keyboard from drowning out your voice, use NoiseTorch or RNNoise.
- NoiseTorch: This creates a "Virtual Microphone" that filters out background noise before the audio even reaches Discord.
- Installation: You can download the latest release from GitHub. Once running, you just select "NoiseTorch Microphone" inside Discord’s Voice settings.
6. Fixing the "Update Loop" Bug
One of the most annoying things about Discord on Ubuntu is the "Update Available" loop that prevents the app from opening.
The Quick Fix: If Discord tells you there is an update and won't open, run this command to tell Discord it's already updated:
sudo sed -i 's/"version": "0.0.x"/"version": "0.0.y"/g' /opt/discord/resources/build_info.json
(Replace 'x' and 'y' with the version numbers requested in the pop-up).
Comparison of Discord Options
| Feature | Official Snap/Deb | Vesktop (Flatpak) | Discord in Browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshare Audio | No (Usually) | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Suppression | Limited | High (Plugins) | Browser-based |
| System Integration | High | Medium | Low |
| Wayland Support | Poor | Excellent | Good |