Microsoft is introducing shared audio on Windows 11, enabling the streaming of audio across two sets of wireless headphones, speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids. This feature is developed with the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio codec, and it’s currently being rolled out in preview to Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels.
Shared audio proves useful when watching a movie on a laptop with a friend or family member or when you want to easily share fresh music that you both can stream through your individual wireless headsets. You can take advantage of shared audio by pairing Bluetooth LE-compatible devices with your Windows 11 PC and then choosing the “Shared audio (preview)” button in your quick settings menu.
Microsoft rolled out an LE Audio feature on Windows 11 in August, which enhances audio quality while utilizing a wireless headset for gaming or calls. Other manufacturers are also incorporating shared audio support, notably Google implementing the Bluetooth LE-based Auracast feature to transmit audio from Android 16 devices to compatible hearing aids. Subsequently, the company extended this feature to enable Pixel 8 smartphones or newer to connect to two sets of headphones simultaneously. Samsung has likewise begun integrating Auracast into its smartphones with the introduction of Galaxy S24 last year.
Currently, shared audio on Windows 11 is exclusively accessible on specific Copilot Plus PCs, such as the 13.8 and 15-inch Surface Laptops and the 13-inch Surface Pro. It will be available for the Samsung Galaxy Book5 360, Galaxy Book5 Pro, 13-inch Surface Laptop, and others in the future. The feature is also only compatible with devices that support Bluetooth LE, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, and the Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones.
