Windows 11 will finally let you share audio to multiple devices at once

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Microsoft is developing a novel audio function for Windows 11, enabling simultaneous connection to two devices for shared audio experience. This functionality, named “Shared Audio,” operates similarly to how you can share audio with two Bluetooth devices on an iOS or Android device.

Initially discovered by Phantomofearth on X, the collaborative audio function is temporarily concealed in the most recent Windows 11 beta versions. In the future, it can be accessed through the Quick Settings menu on the Taskbar within Windows 11. From this menu, you will have the option to choose the two devices you wish to utilize for audio sharing.

The instruction asks you to choose two output devices from the given list, then hit the ‘Share’ button. Once you make your selection, sound will be transmitted to the devices you chose.

Previously, Windows computers only allowed audio output to one device simultaneously. As a result, it was not inherently possible for two individuals to listen to audio through separate headphones on a single Windows machine. However, with the introduction of the shared audio feature, this limitation should be addressed and simultaneous listening across multiple devices will become feasible.

Since Windows lacked a built-in method for achieving this previously, numerous Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and external developers devised workarounds. These solutions often involved creating a virtual audio device capable of distributing output across multiple devices. With the introduction of this new native feature, users can now avoid relying on third-party tools to accomplish this fundamental function.

As a technology analyst, I’m glad to observe that Microsoft is now incorporating native support for multi-device audio sharing, a feature that smartphones have offered for quite some time. Over the past few months, it’s been fascinating to see Microsoft gradually introducing smartphone conveniences into Windows.

Lately, the firm has introduced a feature that displays your laptop’s battery level right in the Taskbar, and they plan to extend this functionality to the lockscreen as well, similar to smartphones. Additionally, the operating system will soon offer a dedicated emoji button on the Taskbar for easier input of emojis when typing, which will only appear when you are typing.

Microsoft is making significant enhancements across its operating system (OS), one of which involves revamping the Start menu. This new design merges the list of all applications with the main page, providing a unified view. It also displays more pinned apps and offers a flexible layout that allows you to deactivate areas like Recommendations if desired.

The freshly introduced Start menu comes bundled with the new Phone Link sidebar, offering a glimpse into your phone’s condition. This sidebar within the Start menu displays key information like recent messages, alerts, and photos. Plus, it enables swift file sharing between devices via this innovative setup.

For Windows 11, there are numerous significant advancements on the way, such as the anticipated release of version 25H2 later this year, which Microsoft has now officially confirmed. Several features slated for version 25H2 will also be made available to the current version 24H2, according to the company’s announcement.

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2025-07-21 15:39