AudioBind
WHAT IS WINDOWS 11 SHARED AUDIO?
With the release of Windows 11 update KB5089573, Microsoft introduced an official feature called Shared Audio. Designed to solve the age-old problem of two people wanting to watch a movie or listen to music together on a single laptop or PC, the feature lets Windows broadcast sound to two pairs of wireless headphones at the same time.
It is a welcome addition to the Windows ecosystem. However, many users who installed the update quickly found the toggle missing or greyed out in Quick Settings. Here is an honest explanation of how Shared Audio works, what hardware it demands, and what to do if your setup does not meet its strict requirements.
⚡ Short version: Windows 11 Shared Audio requires your PC's Bluetooth radio AND both sets of earbuds to support modern Bluetooth LE Audio (Bluetooth 5.3+). If you have standard wired headphones, USB soundcards, HDMI displays, or regular Bluetooth headsets, you will need a software routing tool like AudioBind instead.
THE CATCH: BLUETOOTH LE AUDIO HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
Windows 11's built-in Shared Audio does not work with arbitrary audio devices. It is built strictly on Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio broadcast architecture (Auracast). For the toggle to appear and function, you must satisfy three separate hardware hurdles:
- Bluetooth 5.3+ Radio: Your computer's internal Bluetooth adapter must support the LE Audio standard. Older Bluetooth 4.x and standard 5.0/5.2 chips cannot broadcast LE streams.
- Two LE Audio Compatible Headsets: Both pairs of wireless headphones or earbuds must specifically support Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 codecs. Standard Bluetooth headphones using AAC or SBC cannot join a Shared Audio session.
- Updated Vendor Drivers: OEM Bluetooth drivers and headset companion software must have LE Audio enabled in firmware.
If any single component in your chain lacks LE Audio support, Windows 11 simply hides the Shared Audio option.
WHAT ABOUT WIRED SPEAKERS, USB DACS, AND NORMAL HEADSETS?
The biggest limitation of Windows 11 Shared Audio is that it is strictly wireless and strictly LE Audio. It cannot:
- Split audio between your desktop speakers and a headset.
- Mirror audio to an HDMI TV and a soundbar.
- Route one specific application (like VLC or Firefox) while leaving game audio separate.
- Work with the vast majority of gaming headsets that use 2.4GHz USB wireless dongles.
HOW AUDIOBIND MIRRORS AUDIO ACROSS ANY DEVICE
If you don't own two pairs of brand-new Bluetooth LE earbuds, or if you want to output sound to completely different types of audio hardware, that is where AudioBind comes in.
Instead of relying on proprietary hardware codecs, AudioBind handles multi-device playback directly inside the Windows audio stack:
- Works with Any Output: Combine wired 3.5mm headphones, USB DACs, HDMI monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers in any combination.
- Synchronized Mirroring: In AudioBind v1.2.4, quicker outputs are held back to match the slowest, preventing distracting echoes between speakers.
- Fractional Anti-Drift: Software clocks are kept in step continuously throughout hours-long sessions without audio dropouts or pops.
- Per-App Routing: Mirror only the movie or music player to both outputs, while keeping Discord voice chat isolated strictly to your headset.
Wireless hardware latency reminder: Remember that Bluetooth receivers and smart TVs introduce their own internal hardware decoding delay that happens outside of Windows. AudioBind synchronizes the software streams inside Windows, but cannot remove a wireless device's built-in hardware lag.
HOW TO SHARE AUDIO IN AUDIOBIND (3 STEPS)
Setting up multi-device listening in AudioBind takes less than a minute:
- Open AudioBind from your system tray and click the App Rules tab.
- Click + ADD APP RULE and pick your media player, browser, or game.
- Click the output button, tick every device you want to listen on (e.g., Headset 1 and Headset 2, or Speakers and Headphones), and confirm.
Both devices will begin playing your selected application simultaneously, with anti-drift protection active in the background.
QUICK QUESTIONS
What Windows update added Shared Audio?
Windows 11 update KB5089573 added native Shared Audio, allowing two compatible Bluetooth LE Audio headsets to share one audio stream simultaneously.
Can Windows 11 Shared Audio work with normal 3.5mm or USB speakers?
No. Windows 11's built-in Shared Audio is strictly built on Bluetooth LE Audio (Auracast) and requires compatible Bluetooth 5.3+ hardware. It cannot route to USB DACs, wired headphones, HDMI monitors, or legacy Bluetooth devices.
How can I play audio on two headphones if I do not have Bluetooth LE Audio?
You can use AudioBind's multi-device mirroring. AudioBind routes sound across any combination of physical outputs—including wired 3.5mm jacks, USB headsets, HDMI displays, and standard Bluetooth headphones—with anti-drift synchronization.
Does AudioBind remove Bluetooth latency?
No. Every Bluetooth device has its own internal hardware and codec latency that happens outside of Windows. AudioBind synchronizes the software streams inside Windows, but cannot eliminate wireless hardware delay.
SPLIT SOUND ACROSS ANY DEVICE.
Get AudioBind on the Microsoft Store for a one-time purchase of $4.99 USD.
DOWNLOAD ON MICROSOFT STORE