Microsoft Fixes Windows 11 Game and App Crashes Caused by Dolby Digital Audio

Microsoft has fixed a known Windows 11 issue that caused games and applications using AC-3, also known as Dolby Digital, audio decoding to crash after installing the September 2026 Preview Update, KB5124010.

Windows 11 AC-3 audio issue fixed in October update

KB5124010 is an optional update that users must manually select and install. However, it is installed automatically on devices where the option to receive the latest updates as soon as they become available is enabled.

When Microsoft first acknowledged the problem, it said some affected applications could fail to start or close without warning. Other applications might work normally until users activated a specific feature, such as music playback.

The affected software could include games, media players, and certain productivity applications. Microsoft also noted that many modern applications are not affected because they do not use Windows’ built-in audio decoder for this encoding format. Applications that use the legacy AC-3 codec may also include their own audio-decoding components.

In an update to the Windows Release Health Dashboard, Microsoft said the October 2026 Patch Tuesday update, KB5127648, resolves the known issue.

The fix applies to affected systems running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later. Microsoft recommends that users experiencing crashes install the latest security update.

“We recommend that you install the latest security updates for your device, which contain important improvements and resolutions, including this update,” Microsoft said in its release health update.

Microsoft has fixed several recent Windows audio problems

Microsoft has resolved multiple other audio-related issues affecting Windows components and third-party software in recent years.

For example, a previous issue caused game audio to play unexpectedly. Other problems involved USB DAC sound systems jumping to maximum volume, Windows 11 version 24H2 upgrade blocks caused by incompatible Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio drivers, and related Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors.

In January 2025, Microsoft addressed another issue that caused audio playback problems on Windows 11 version 24H2 systems using USB audio device drivers. The company also removed a safeguard hold that had prevented upgrades on systems where incompatible Dirac audio-enhancement software caused Bluetooth headsets and speakers to malfunction.

More recently, Microsoft released an emergency update in September to fix USB audio problems that appeared after users installed the September 2026 security updates KB5124008 and KB5124012.

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