doesn't work. Please don't post unverified information
Realtek 5.1/7.1 surround speaker issue in Windows 11.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Anonymous
Hi,
Since I upgraded to Windows 11 a few days ago, I now no longer have the option in sound settings to enable 5.1 or 7.1 surround support, as I did in Windows 10. At least I believe that I had that option in Windows 10, all I have now is stereo only and I miss the added depth of sound of my 5.1 speakers. Am I failing to see the obvious, or is this an oversight in the programming. If anyone has any thoughts on solving this issue it would be most welcome. I admit I have not tried installing the Realtek Audio Manager, as that file looks as though it may not be compatible with Windows 11 although it did function in Windows 10.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
46 answers
Sort by: Most helpful
-
Anonymous
2022-03-21T23:16:45+00:00 -
Anonymous
2022-02-18T18:55:53+00:00 Hit Windows Key + R, and enter mmsys.cpl, and hit Enter. Then click on speaker configuration and set it to 5.1 7.1 or whatever your system can run. All the other answers are wrong, and the people posting them are clueless. Windows 11 has an issue that needs to be fixed. This will solve your issue in the meantime. You will have to continue to do this until its fixed. Make sure to run the Test, so you can see that all of your speakers and sub are working.
Thank you very much. IT WORKED! WHEW!!!
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(259.20000000000005, 65%, 35%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJ%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
JosephT71 9,220 Reputation points2022-02-18T17:42:11+00:00 This might be right if the option to configure wasn't disabled for the Realtek Optical Output. Clicking on Properties instead, and going to the Supported Formats tab, I can select and test both Dolby and DTS. Both work.
My suspicion is that Dolby, DTS and MS worked out some kind of deal to try and prod people into using Atmos and DTS:X Ultra
Read carefully, it tests whether your av receiver can do Dolby or DTS. It doesn't test whether your computer can do Dolby or DTS.
There is no deal and that's the problem.
Google/Youtube and Microsoft are trillion dollar companies and they decided to not pay tiny Dolby any money. Google went as far as creating their own video and audio codecs so that youtube doesn't have to pay anyone any money.
-
Anonymous
2022-02-18T14:43:17+00:00 This might be right if the option to configure wasn't disabled for the Realtek Optical Output. Clicking on Properties instead, and going to the Supported Formats tab, I can select and test both Dolby and DTS. Both work.
My suspicion is that Dolby, DTS and MS worked out some kind of deal to try and prod people into using Atmos and DTS:X Ultra
-
Anonymous
2021-10-31T16:15:46+00:00 Do you show a Realtek Audio Console in your apps? If so, it should set the speaker configuration.
If you don't have it you may need some additional drivers or software.. If we knew what motherboard you have it might help,.