In a quarterly support document Microsoft has confirmed that starting from version 24H2, Windows 11 will no longer support the AC-3 audio codec. For those unfamiliar, it is an audio codec that supports multi-channel (“surround sound”) audio, which is also known as Dolby Digital. However, OEMs will still be able to pre-install the AC-3 codec.

As a result, you won’t be able to open files that use AC-3 codec with the Media Player in Windows 11 24H2. In fact, most streaming platforms and media companies are no longer using the AC-3 encoder as it is currently being phased out.

Additional coded packs from Microsoft Store can also enable Media Player to play the files

If you need to access a file with the AC-3 codec, you will be able to manually install the codec from the Microsoft Store or use a third-party player that supports the codec such as the MPV player.

Alongside the AC-3 encoder, Windows 11 24H2 will also reportedly exclude Cortana, WordPad, and Steps Recorder.

The Windows 11, version 24H2 (Build 26100.712) became available in the Release Preview Channel on May 22. It will be available to the general public later this year, possibly towards September or October.

Included codecs are as follows:

Audio Codec

  • MPEG-1, MPEG-2 Audio ( eg . MP3, MP2)
  • Advanced Audio Coding (AAC, M4A)
  • Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)
  • Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)
  • Waveform (WAV)
  • Windows Media Audio (WMA)
  • 3GP、3G2
  • Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR)

Video Codec

  • MPEG-4, H.264
  • H.263
  • VC-1
  • Windows Media Video (WMV)
  • DV
  • VP8
  • Motion JPEG

Codec packs that you can install from the Microsoft Store

Codec packs add additional codec support to Windows. Apps such as Media Player will then be able to play media files encoded in those formats. The following codec packs are available:

  • MPEG-2 Video Extensions

Added support for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video formats.

  • HEVC Video Extensions

Added support for HEVC (H.265) video format.

  • VP9 Video Extensions

Added support for VP9 video format.

  • AV1 Video Extensions

Added support for AV1 video format.

  • Web Media Extensions

Added support for the OGG audio and video formats, including the OGG container format, the Vorbis audio codec, and the Theora video codec.

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