Home / Technology / Windows 11 Adds Dual Bluetooth Audio Support
Windows 11 Adds Dual Bluetooth Audio Support
6 Feb
Summary
- New Windows 11 update enables shared audio with two Bluetooth devices.
- Requires compatible hardware and Bluetooth LE implementations.
- Currently limited to specific Snapdragon-powered devices.
A new "Shared Audio" feature is now accessible in Windows Insider Preview Build 26220.7051, enabling users to connect two Bluetooth audio devices and output sound to both simultaneously. This update addresses a long-standing limitation in Windows, which typically only supported a single audio output.
The functionality requires both the audio devices and the Windows hardware to support specific implementations of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). While many recent Bluetooth headphones are compatible, the hardware requirements on the Windows side are currently quite restrictive.
Initially, Microsoft has listed only the latest Snapdragon-powered Surface laptops and tablets, alongside the Qualcomm-powered Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, as compatible devices. Future updates are planned to include other Galaxy Book5 models. The slow rollout via Windows Update suggests a need for cutting-edge Bluetooth drivers, with hopes for broader hardware accessibility in future general releases.
