System Enable or Disable Spatial Sound in Windows 11

Spatial sound is an enhanced immersive audio experience that simulates a realistic environment where sounds can flow around you, including overhead, in three-dimensional (3D) virtual space. Spatial sound provides an enhanced atmosphere which traditional surround sound formats cannot.

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This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Spatial Sound in Windows 11.




EXAMPLE: Tooltip on volume icon to tell you when you’re using spatial sound

The spatial sound tooltip on the volume icon is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22598.

Starting with Windows 11 build 25231, when moving your mouse over the sound icon on Quick Settings, the tooltip will now display when spatial audio is in use – not just that it is enabled.

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Sound on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Open Sound settings


3 Under Output devices, click/tap on the sound device (ex: "Digital Audio (S/PDIF)") you want to enable or disable spatial sound for. (see screenshot below)


4 In the Spatial audio drop menu, select Off (disable - default) or Windows Sonic for Headphones (enable) for what you want. (see screenshot below)


5 You can now close Settings if you like.





1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sound icon.

2 In the Playback tab, select the device (ex: "Digital Audio (S/PDIF)") you want to enable or disable spatial sound for, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on the Spatial sound tab, select Off (disable - default) or Windows Sonic for Headphones (enable) for what you want in the Spatial audio format drop menu, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


5 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


6 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink