Dolby Digital audio support is disappearing from Windows 11

One of the less pleasant news in this autumn’s major upgrade of Windows 11 (24H2) is that the built-in support for Dolby Digital audio is removed.

If you have files that use the codec in question, i.e. AC-3, you will not be able to play them in Windows Media Player or other accompanying apps.

Microsoft points out in a support document that the change only applies to new installations. Updating your current system will not remove support for Dolby Digital.

This isn’t a show-stopper though. You can also use third-party applications like the legendary do-it-all VLC to play Dolby Digital files if desired. That can’t be said for all the other Windows 11 features disappearing soon, however.

Windows