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AC3 extension for audio

Ravi Roy 20 Reputation points
2025-12-01T15:49:30.4933333+00:00

I am unable listen to audio on my older movies. The reason is that Windows 11 has removed the extension AC3. I tried to add the HVEC extension, and it did not work. Any suggestions.

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Lucus-V 8,255 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2025-12-04T06:25:30.8333333+00:00

Hi Ravi Roy,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Microsoft does not include AC-3 codec anymore. The only solution is installing 3rd-party codecs or 3rd-party media player.

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  1. AI answer

    2025-12-01T15:49:37.4133333+00:00

    Windows 11, starting with version 24H2, no longer includes the AC-3 codec by default. However, many device manufacturers may pre-install an AC-3 codec, which could allow you to play audio from older movies that use this format. If your device does not have the AC-3 codec installed, you might consider the following options:

    1. Install a Third-Party Codec Pack: Look for codec packs such as K-Lite Codec Pack or similar, which often include support for AC-3 and other audio formats.
    2. Use Media Players with Built-in Support: Some media players, like VLC or MPC-HC, come with their own codecs and can play AC-3 audio without needing additional installations.
    3. Check for Device Manufacturer Support: If your device is from a specific manufacturer, check their support site for any available AC-3 codec downloads or updates.

    If you have already tried adding the HEVC extension, note that HEVC is primarily for video and will not resolve audio codec issues.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-12-01T21:13:38.1333333+00:00

    Hi Ravi Roy, I can understand how frustrating this is paying for movies and then finding out the audio doesn’t work because Windows removed a codec feels like an unnecessary headache.

    If you want AC-3 audio back on Windows 11 you can reinstall the Dolby AC-3 extension using PowerShell add system wide decoding with AC3Filter convert audio tracks to AAC with FFmpeg for built in playback run a script to restore AC3 and Dolby codecs automatically or simply use a player like PotPlayer or MPCHC that supports AC3 out of the box.

    Do you want a quick fix that works immediately like using PotPlayer or MPC-HC or would you prefer restoring full AC-3 support system wide with PowerShell and codec installation?

    Best regards

    Lucky Charm

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