Windows 11 no longer has Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound!

Question

I have been enjoying 5.1 surround sound from my home computer through a home theater receiver for years. I mainly stream from HBO (now MAX) and Netflix, as well as watch movies through Windows Media Player (Windows Movie & TV). However, ten days ago (on 07.10.2024), all the surround sound suddenly disappeared, and now I can only hear in stereo. My operating system is Windows 11 with all available updates, and I use the Edge browser for streaming. I have not made any changes to the software or hardware I am using. I have read that the Dolby Access plug-in from the Microsoft Store might solve similar problems. If anyone has experienced this issue, please share your experience.

Answer 1

Same issue on new computer with Windows 11 Pro 23H2.

Media Player, Movies and TV, and Photos will play Dolby Digital and DTS source files properly without any special configuration.

VLC needs to have Preferences-Audio tab-HDMI/SPDIF Audio Passthrough enabled in order to play Dolby Digital or DTS.

Sound Control Panel in Windows:

It will display the receiver properties correctly, including all supported formats.

The Speaker Setup configuration Test button will play to the discreet channels properly if you set the receiver sound mode to Multi Ch In (PCM uncompressed). With any other sound mode selected on the receiver, the Test button plays audio with some approximation of surround from a stereo signal.

Sound properties for receiver in Windows Settings:

It does not play discreet channels when you click Test.

The latest Edge browser does not play DD or DTS (for example, when playing Dolby Digital 5.1 test videos on YouTube).

Is there some trick to getting DD or DTS via Edge?

Answer 2

I have tryed this I am trying to get the sound system to work in 5.1 suround but it only shows sterio in the configuration

Answer 3

I finally updated from Windows 10 to 11. (Only because Microsoft is no longer supporting 10 at end of year). All was going well, until I went to ensure my sound system hooked up via HDMI/ARC was outputting in 5.1 surround, as I have been doing on Windows 10 for years, and yeah, the option is just no longer there. I can only select between Stereo or Dolby Atmos. (My speakers don't support Atmos)

I have a Samsung soundbar btw, so not a receiver that I can manually change the hz on. (Bizarre that changing the hz apparently unlocks the option based on the workaround in this thread)

Now I regret updating, or should I say, downgrading my operating system.

Answer 4

hello dolby sound

Answer 5

Thanks, this took care of it for me. Haven't used the script yet, but might have to if it continues. 24hz seemed to fix it for now, and since I only use my AV receiver for audio with my second HDMI port, any display issues don't matter.

Would've used optical, but my USB->Optical device doesn't have volume control, so HDMI it is.