Windows 11 Now Lets You Share Audio with Multiple Devices

Key Takeaways

1. New Feature: Windows has introduced a “Shared Audio” feature in the quick settings menu, allowing users to stream audio to multiple devices simultaneously.

2. Device Selection: Users can choose one or more audio devices, such as Bluetooth headphones or wired speakers, for simultaneous audio playback.

3. Enhanced Usability: This feature addresses a limitation of Windows, which previously required third-party apps for multi-device audio support.

4. Compatibility Questions: There are uncertainties about the feature’s compatibility with Auracast and its ability to connect different types of devices at once.

5. Future Updates: Microsoft has not officially announced the feature, but it may be included in upcoming stable releases of Windows 11 if testing is successful.

As mentioned by the X user @phantomofearth, there’s a fresh feature called “Shared Audio” that has shown up in the quick settings menu right next to the “Project” button.

Selecting Audio Devices

When users turn this on, they are asked to choose one or more audio devices—like Bluetooth headphones or wired speakers—and start streaming audio to them all at the same time.

So far, Windows has not allowed playing audio on multiple devices at the same time without the help of third-party applications, such as OBS. This new feature seems to be aimed at making it easier for users since its rivals already provide this kind of capability.

Compatibility Concerns

It’s still unclear if the Shared Audio feature will work with Auracast or if it will let users connect different types of devices at once, like Bluetooth earbuds, hearing aids, and wired headphones. The present stable version of Windows 11 does support Bluetooth LE audio, which allows for two compatible devices to be connected at the same time, although there are some limitations. Users usually have to download specific drivers, and the Settings menu currently only permits sequential connection of devices. The new Shared Audio feature is expected to make it easier to select multiple devices at once.

Future Releases

It’s quite interesting that Microsoft hasn’t made any official statement about this new option—not even in their Insider blogs. If the testing phase goes well, the Shared Audio feature will probably show up in future stable versions of Windows 11.

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