Microsoft is bringing shared audio to Windows 11, allowing you to stream audio across two pairs of wireless headphones, speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids. The feature is built using the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio codec, and it’s rolling out in preview to Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels.
Shared audio comes in handy if you’re watching a movie on a laptop with your friend or family member, or just want to show them new music that you can both stream inside your own wireless headsets. You can use shared audio by connecting Bluetooth LE-supported devices to your Windows 11 PC and then selecting the “Shared audio (preview) button in your quick settings menu.
Microsoft introduced an LE Audio feature on Windows 11 in August, enabling higher audio quality while using a wireless headset in a game or call. Other device makers have added support for shared audio as well, with Google using the Bluetooth LE-based Auracast feature to broadcast audio from Android 16 devices to compatible hearing aids. The company later expanded this capability to allow Pixel 8 phones or newer to connect to two pairs of headphones at once. Samsung also began building Auracast into its phones with last year’s launch of the Galaxy S24.
For now, shared audio in Windows 11 is only available on select Copilot Plus PCs, including the 13.8 and 15-inch Surface Laptops and the 13-inch Surface Pro. It’s coming to the Samsung Galaxy Book5 360, Galaxy Book5 Pro, 13-inch Surface Laptop, and others at a later date. You can also only use the feature with devices compatible with Bluetooth LE, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, and the Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones.
This is an exciting development for Windows 11 users! The ability to share audio between two headsets will definitely enhance the listening experience for friends or family. Looking forward to seeing how this feature performs!