With the recent update, build 29576.1000 or higher, Microsoft added a new option to quickly enable or disable audio hardware acceleration in sound settings.
In case you don’t know, audio hardware acceleration means offloading the audio processing from your CPU to a dedicated hardware built into your speakers, a dedicated sound card, or a digital audio processor. When it’s enabled, audio hardware acceleration improves audio processing, extends overall battery life, and even gives you access to advanced audio effects (if your hardware accelerator supports them). Of course, if you think audio hardware acceleration is causing problems such as lag, uneven sound, etc., you can just as easily disable it using the Settings app.
In this quick and easy guide, let me show you how to enable or disable audio hardware acceleration in Windows 11.
Before You Start
- The audio hardware acceleration option is only available if your audio device supports it. If it doesn’t, you won’t find it.
Enable or Disable Audio Hardware Acceleration in Windows 11
- Press “Windows key + I” to open the Settings app.
- Go to the “System” tab on the sidebar.
- Select the “Sound” option.
- Click the “All sound devices” option.
- Click on your audio device.
- Turn ON the “Hardware acceleration” toggle to enable Audio Hardware Acceleration.
- Turn OFF the “Hardware acceleration” toggle to disable Audio Hardware Acceleration.
- Close the Settings app.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
As always, the first step is to open Settings by pressing the “Windows key + I” keyboard shortcut. Once it opens, go to the “System” tab on the left sidebar and select the “Sound” option on the right panel. This is the option that lets you manage all sound-related settings on Windows 11.
On this page, scroll down the right page and click the “All sound devices” option under the “Advanced” section.
This page shows all your sound devices. Here, click the input or output sound device for which you want to manage the hardware acceleration.
Now, scroll down to the “Advanced settings” section and do the following:
- Turn ON “Hardware Acceleration” toggle: Enables the Audio Hardware Acceleration.
- Turn OFF “Hardware Acceleration” toggle: Disables the Audio Hardware Acceleration.
If you have more audio devices, you can do the same to toggle the hardware acceleration. Do keep in mind that, if you don’t see the “Hardware Acceleration” toggle, your audio device doesn’t support this feature.
That is all. It is that simple to enable or disable the audio hardware acceleration in Windows 11. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
