Ubuntu 24.04: Installing AMD Drivers And Fixing Discord Crashes

Dec 3, 2025 by Admin 64 views

Hey guys! After years of smooth sailing, you've run into a bit of a snag with your AMD drivers on Ubuntu 24.04.3, specifically with Discord crashing when you're sharing your webcam. This is super frustrating, but don't worry, we'll walk through getting those drivers sorted out. This guide covers everything you need to know to get your AMD drivers playing nicely with Ubuntu 24.04, especially when Discord decides to throw a tantrum during webcam sharing. We'll tackle everything from checking your current drivers to installing the latest versions and troubleshooting common issues. By the end of this, you should have a stable system and be back to streaming without any pesky crashes. We’ll explore how to update, change, or troubleshoot your AMD drivers to resolve this issue and get back to smooth video calls and screen sharing. So, let's dive in and get those drivers behaving! We'll start by examining what might be causing the crashes and then move into practical steps to resolve them.

Understanding the Issue

When dealing with AMD drivers and issues like Discord crashing, it's essential to understand the landscape. The first thing is that drivers act as the bridge between your hardware (in this case, your AMD graphics card) and your operating system (Ubuntu). When these drivers are outdated, incompatible, or corrupted, they can lead to all sorts of problems, including system crashes, graphical glitches, and application instability. Discord, being a resource-intensive application, especially when using webcams and screen sharing, can exacerbate these issues. Discord crashing while sharing your webcam specifically points to a potential conflict between the current driver's handling of video output and Discord's requirements. This problem could arise from various sources, such as the driver not properly supporting the video codecs Discord uses, or an incompatibility with certain webcam models. Moreover, the open-source nature of Linux allows for multiple driver options, which includes the default drivers provided by Ubuntu and proprietary drivers directly from AMD. Proprietary drivers typically offer better performance and support for the latest features, but they may sometimes introduce stability issues. Therefore, knowing which driver you are currently using and whether it is up to date is critical in diagnosing the root cause of the problem. To add, keep in mind that hardware acceleration is on by default in many applications these days, including Discord. If you have problems with your drivers, you may also have to check if hardware acceleration is properly configured. To make things simple, you can also try disabling it, and see if it makes the crashing stop.

Checking Your Current AMD Drivers

First, we need to know what drivers you're currently running. Open your terminal. This is where the magic happens! Run the following command:

dpkg -l | grep amdgpu

This command lists all installed packages and filters for those containing "amdgpu", which is the name of the AMD graphics driver package. The output will give you information about the installed driver version. Something like this:

ii  libdrm-amdgpu1:amd64                      2.4.113-1ubuntu1.2                       amd64        Userspace interface to amdgpu-specific kernel DRM services
ii  xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu                 1:23.0.0-1ubuntu1                            amd64        X.Org X server -- AMD/ATI display driver wrapper

This output shows the libdrm-amdgpu1 and xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu packages are installed, indicating that you're using the AMD drivers. Note the versions of these packages. These version numbers are crucial for determining whether your drivers are up-to-date. Now that you know what you have installed, let's look into upgrading them. If these packages are not listed, it might mean you're using a generic driver or no dedicated driver at all, which could also cause issues. Another way is using lshw -c video, this will display hardware information about the video card, including the driver in use. Understanding what you have is the first step, let's move on to the next step. Remember, patience is key, and a little bit of terminal work can save you a lot of headaches!

Updating AMD Drivers

Updating your AMD drivers can often resolve compatibility issues and improve performance. Here's how to do it:

Using the Software & Updates Tool

Open Software & Updates: Search for "Software & Updates" in the applications menu and open it.
Go to the Additional Drivers Tab: This tab lists available drivers for your hardware.
Select the Appropriate Driver: Look for the AMD drivers. You might see multiple options, including the open-source drivers and the proprietary drivers.
- If you're using the open-source drivers and experiencing issues, try switching to the proprietary drivers (often labeled as "proprietary, tested").
- If you're already using the proprietary drivers, ensure you're using the latest version.
Apply Changes: Select the driver you want and click "Apply Changes". You might be prompted to enter your password.
Reboot: After the changes are applied, reboot your system to ensure the new drivers are loaded.

The GUI method is often simpler, especially for those new to Linux. If that still does not work we will look at the next section to update through the terminal.

Using the Terminal

Update the Package List: Open a terminal and run:
```
sudo apt update
```
This command updates the list of available packages from the repositories.
Upgrade the System:
```
sudo apt upgrade
```
This command upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions. This might include updated AMD drivers.
Check for Distribution Upgrades:
```
sudo apt dist-upgrade
```
This command performs a more thorough upgrade, handling dependencies and potentially removing obsolete packages.
Reboot: After upgrading, reboot your system:
```
sudo reboot
```

Adding the AMDGPU-PRO Repository (If Necessary)

For some users, especially those with newer AMD GPUs or those needing specific features, the drivers in the standard Ubuntu repositories might not be sufficient. In this case, you might need to add the AMDGPU-PRO repository.

Disclaimer: The AMDGPU-PRO drivers are proprietary and might not always be as stable as the open-source drivers. Use them with caution.

Download the Drivers: Go to the AMD support website and download the AMDGPU-PRO drivers for Ubuntu 24.04.
Extract the Downloaded Package:
```
tar -xzf amdgpu-pro-xxxxxx-ubuntu-24.04.tar.xz
cd amdgpu-pro-xxxxxx-ubuntu-24.04
```
Replace amdgpu-pro-xxxxxx-ubuntu-24.04.tar.xz with the actual name of the downloaded file.
Install the Drivers:
```
sudo ./amdgpu-pro-install -y
```
The -y option automatically answers "yes" to any prompts during the installation. Be sure to read the output for any errors.
Reboot: After installation, reboot your system:
```
sudo reboot
```

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even after updating, you might still encounter issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Discord Still Crashing

Disable Hardware Acceleration in Discord: Go to Discord's settings -> Voice & Video and disable "Hardware Acceleration." This can sometimes resolve conflicts between Discord and the graphics drivers.
Try a Different Kernel: Sometimes, the issue might be related to the kernel version. Try booting into an older kernel version from the GRUB menu.
Check Discord's Compatibility: Ensure your Discord version is compatible with your system and drivers. Reinstalling Discord might help.

Graphical Glitches or Artifacts

Check Cable Connections: Ensure your monitor cable (HDMI, DisplayPort) is securely connected.
Monitor Compatibility: Test with a different monitor to rule out monitor-specific issues.
Reinstall Drivers: Sometimes, a clean reinstall of the drivers can fix corrupted installations.

System Freezes or Instability

Check System Logs: Use the journalctl command to view system logs and identify potential error messages related to the graphics drivers.
Test Memory: Use a memory testing tool like Memtest86+ to check for memory issues.
Overheating: Ensure your GPU is not overheating. Clean the cooling vents and consider reapplying thermal paste.

Reverting to Open-Source Drivers

If the proprietary drivers cause more issues than they solve, reverting to the open-source drivers might be a good option. Here's how to do it:

Purge the Proprietary Drivers:

sudo apt purge amdgpu-pro
sudo apt autoremove

Reinstall the Open-Source Drivers:

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu

Reboot:
```
sudo reboot
```

Conclusion

Alright, we've covered a lot! From checking your current AMD drivers to updating, troubleshooting, and even reverting to open-source drivers, you should now have a solid understanding of how to manage your AMD graphics setup on Ubuntu 24.04. Remember, dealing with drivers can sometimes be a bit of trial and error, so don't get discouraged if you don't get it right on the first try. Just take it step by step, and you'll get there! Resolving driver issues, especially those causing crashes with applications like Discord, can be a bit tricky. But by following these steps, you should be able to identify, update, or troubleshoot your AMD drivers effectively. And that is all guys, enjoy a stable system and seamless webcam sharing on Discord once again. If you have more questions, feel free to ask! Good luck!