Unknown Windows Insider user uncovers hidden 'Shared audio' functionality in recent update, featuring a new quick setting that enables users to route audio through various output devices simultaneously
The latest Windows 11 Insider builds have introduced an exciting new feature that allows users to stream audio simultaneously across multiple devices or speakers. Dubbed the 'Shared Audio' feature, it is integrated into the Quick Settings panel (Win + A) on the taskbar.
This long-awaited feature solves a common limitation in Windows, which previously only allowed audio output to a single device. Users can now select up to two devices from the Quick Settings panel, confirm with a "Share" button, and audio will begin playing on both devices simultaneously. The workflow is designed to be simple and native, similar to how modern smartphones (like iPhones or Android devices) allow Bluetooth audio sharing to multiple devices.
The 'Shared Audio' feature supports both wireless and wired devices, including Bluetooth headphones/headsets, wired headphones, and wired speakers. However, it is still listed as a work in progress in the Insider builds and has not been officially announced or fully documented yet, so exact compatibility and any possible limitations on device types are not fully confirmed.
The feature is expected to be officially released with the upcoming Windows 11 25H2 update later in 2025. It is important to note that joining the Windows Insider program does not guarantee that users will receive the 'Shared audio' feature or any other specific features. Microsoft may randomly push updates to different devices, which could affect the availability of the 'Shared audio' feature.
To access the 'Shared Audio' feature before its official release, users need to join the Windows Insider program and the Canary Channel. However, it is important to note that the Canary Channel provides access to experimental features, but it may include unstable builds of Windows. Some third-party apps, like OBS, Voicemeeter, or Audio Router, can be used as a workaround, but they can be complicated.
In summary, the 'Shared Audio' feature enables native multi-device audio output in Windows 11 for the first time, simplifying scenarios like sharing audio between two headphones or a headphone and speakers simultaneously. This feature could be particularly useful for watching movies with someone in a public place, without sharing earbuds.
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The 'Shared Audio' feature will revolutionize the Windows 11 user experience by enabling simultaneous audio streaming across multiple devices, making shared media consumption more convenient, such as watching a movie without sharing earbuds. This long-awaited technology, rolled out first within the Windows Insider builds, supports various devices, including wired speakers and Bluetooth headphones, but its full compatibility remains to be officially announced.
