On Windows 11, spatial sound is an audio format that provides a more immersive experience. As you turn on the spatial sound using the “Windows Sonic for Headphones” feature, you will feel like the sound is playing around you instead of directly coming from the speakers.
Spatial sound is what Microsoft refers to as 3D sound, and you can use it on virtually any headphones, but on supported hardware works best.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to use headphones with the spatial sound format available on Windows 11.
Enable spatial sound on Windows 11
To enable spatial sound for headphones on Windows 11, use these steps:
-
Open Settings on Windows 11.
-
Click on System.
-
Click the Sound page on the right side.
-
Under the “Output” section, click the Speakers page.
Sound settings -
Under the “Spatial sound” setting, use the Type drop-down menu and select the Windows Sonic for Headphones option to enable spatial sound on Windows 11.
Windows 11 enable spatial sound
Although you can use spatial sound with any headphones, it is recommended to use headphones that support the feature.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].