You can enable Spatial Sound in Windows 11, which is also known as "3D Audio." It provides a better experience by creating more immersive sound. When you turn on Spatial Audio on a compatible device, it feels like the sound comes from around you, not directly in front of you. Spatial Sound makes watching movies more immersive and can also improve your gaming skills by letting you feel the direction of the sound.
Before you activate Spatial Sound in Windows 11, note that for a proper immersive sound experience, you need a compatible output device that supports Spatial Sound in Windows 10 and 11. Although Windows can simulate 3D audio on any headphones, you get the best results when using a compatible sound system or headset.
Enable Spatial Sound in Windows 11 using Settings
- Press Win + I to open Windows Settings. You can also use the Start menu, Windows Search, or a shortcut next to the power menu.
- Go to System > Sound.
- Select the output device for which you want to turn on Spatial Audio.
- Next, find the Spatial Audio section.
- Click on the drop-down menu and select Windows Sonic for Headphones.
It is important to note that different audio devices (headphones, soundbars, sound systems, home theaters) may require other 3D audio apps available in Microsoft Store. A set of headphones, for example, may need Dolby Access to enable spatial audio.
If your device does not work with Windows Sonic for Headphones, click the Get more spatial sound apps link next to the drop-down menu. Download a corresponding app, then select it from the drop-down menu in the spatial audio settings.
Enable Spatial Sound in Windows 11 Control Panel
If you like changing Windows settings using the classic Control Panel, here is how to enable Spatial Sound in Windows 11 with Control Panel.
- Open Control Panel in Windows 11 using the Win + R shortcut and the
controlcommand. - Go to Hardware and Sound > Sound. If you use the Large Icons or Small Icons view, click Sound.
- On the Playback tab, find your sound output device and right-click it. Select Properties.
- Next, click the Spatial Sound tab.
- In the Spatial Sound Format section, click the drop-down menu and select one of the available apps from 3D Sound.
- Click OK.
That is it.
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It did not need to be removed from sound icon on taskbar. It was perfect there to right click and enable or disable. Tired of them changing easy to get settings to where you have to do up to 10 steps to do it now. Stupid F’s. I sent a feedback in the hub about this stupid decision. How is making more time to do things a better decision. So what if it is just about 20 more seconds they would say but that is something I have to change because they forced it on me and others. Those are bad decisions that ticks us consumers off that Microsoft does.
Just found it in the taskbar. Right click sound icon, then click on Sound Settings, then select device on choose where to play sound, and it gives those options. So not too bad I guess still there but more hidden.
Windows 11 just feels like new lipstick on the old windows 10 pig. More clicks to get to the same old UI in some cases
konstigt man var tvungen att välja hedset när det fans för hemabio. men på hemabio fungerade inte instälningarna på appen dolby access. annars underbar app.
it is strange with settings dolby home cinema so it does not work to go to settings on dolby access .. but if you set them on dolby hedset then it is possible to go to dolby access settings. orels grayt app
So Micro$soft have decided the best way to do this is now requiring going through multiple dialogues, which takes considerably longer than the older way which was <2 seconds?
Seriously?
Based on just this one stupid thing I'm regretting I upgraded my laptop now to W11, and will leave my desktop in W10 as long as I can!
you can still just rright click the bottom right speaker, also ive been doimg this new windows 11 feature i took time to read just now way before windows 11 was thought about. Windows sonic sounds like 2 solo cups with yarn between them for spatial compared to Dolby and DTS!
Leaving my desktop on Windows 10 for the moment simply because of the unnecessary changes I’d have to deal with in Windows 11. I regret as it is updating my laptop to W11.
By no means does this new version make life easier, as others have said why take something that worked and then make it more difficult to use?
It’s not letting me turn on the spatial sound.. the option is also untouchable. I can’t enable it.
it says that “get more spatial sound from microsoft store ” and now how to get that sound ?
Please help !