Installing Linux on older MacBook models, particularly those with Intel processors, can lead to audio issues, such as experiencing only "dummy output" with no sound. This guide outlines the steps to resolve this problem, based on a personal experience with a MacBook Pro 13-inch 2017 model, which featured the MacBookPro14,1 model identifier.
Upon trying several Linux distributions, including Ubuntu 25.04, Ubuntu 24.04.2, Fedora Linux 42, and openSUSE Tumbleweed, all presented the same audio issue: the sound card was unrecognized. After extensive troubleshooting, it became clear that many commonly suggested fixes were outdated. The actual problem stemmed from a missing driver for the audio codec, specifically the Cirrus Logic CS8409 for this model.
To identify your sound codec, run the following command in the Terminal:
cat /proc/asound/card*/codec* | grep CodecFor the MacBookPro14,1, the output will confirm the Cirrus Logic CS8409 codec. Unfortunately, it appears that recent Linux kernel releases do not include a driver for this codec. However, a solution exists thanks to Alexander Egorenkov, who has created a driver available on GitHub.
Follow these steps to install the necessary driver:
Open a Terminal in your Home directory and run the following commands:
git clone https://github.com/egorenar/snd-hda-codec-cs8409.gitcd snd-hda-codec-cs8409makesudo make installAfter completing these commands, reboot your computer.
Once your system restarts, the audio should be functional. You can verify this by checking if your internal microphone is detected and if output options can be configured. It’s hoped that future versions of the Linux kernel will integrate this driver officially, preventing others from experiencing the same issue.
For additional details on installing Linux distributions that might help with similar issues, check the following resources:
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