AC-3 (Dolby Digital) codec no longer included with Windows 11 version 24H2

Almighty1 · Nov 14, 2024

uncyler825 said:
I haven't used Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer - MajorGeeks.

Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631 or earlier already contains native Dolby Digital supports. Basically, just install the AC-3 files from the previous version onto the 24H2.

Yes, I am still actually on Beta Insiders 23H2 but just wanted the CODECs on the system regardless. So it seems like AnWave covers AC-3. The MajorGeeks appears to be Windows Store apps which are Microsoft's CODEC's as it's in two appx bundles, one is for Dolby Digital Plus and the other is AC-4 so for the TrueHD, one I guess could use K-Lite CODEC Pack which has both AC-3 and TrueHD.

abactuon · Nov 14, 2024

Just use any ffmpeg based player.

Almighty1 · Feb 24, 2025

AnWave at GitHub - SimonMacer/AnWave: AnWave Personal Development Project - Manage and customize AMD Radeon drivers and more did seem to have the Dolby AC-3 Codec updated atleast a few times since AnWave had been mentioned originally in this thread.
Current version is 5.82.30.25 but this is from the recent update changes, I am only including the Microsoft Dolby Digital Atmos PAck updated parts.

AnWave 2024 version 5.62.15.30
Updated Microsoft Dolby Digital Atmos Pack to v10.0.22621.4602.

AnWave 2024 version 5.50.11.28
Microsoft Dolby Digital Atmos Pack Updated to 10.0.22621.4460.

Almighty1 · Mar 2, 2025

uncyler825 said:
Microsoft Dolby Digital Atmos Pack:
You can view these details via dxdiag.exe > Save All Infomation. The AC-3 MFT files from Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631.4317 (Install.wim).

Microsoft DSHOW AC3 Decoder,0x005fffff,1,1,msmpeg2ac3dec.dll,10.00.26100.0001

Microsoft AC-3 Encoder,0x00200000,1,1,msac3enc.dll,10.00.22621.2506

Microsoft Dolby Digital Plus Decoder MFT, {177C0AFE-900B-48D4-9E4C-57ADD250B3D4}, 0x1, DolbyDecMFT.dll, 10.00.22621.4249

Windows Media Player still gave a pop-up saying that the Dolby codec is not there and was silent. It's only need install Microsoft Dolby Audio Extensions. Download: Microsoft.DolbyAudioExtensions_1.0.61521.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx

【HOW-TO】Restore Microsoft Dolby Digital Decoder/Encoder MFT support in Windows 11, version 24H2 · SimonMacer AnWave · Discussion #14

In the most recent version of AnWave - AnWave 2024 version 5.82.30.25, many files mentioned above as it's newer keeps getting replaced when a sfc /scannow is done as it repairs it for being corrupted, probably because sfc /scannow's database does not know about the newer version due to the checksum mismatch. This is with 24H2 Beta 26120.3360. 26120.3291 does not have the issue. So if I do a sfc /scannow immediately without using AnWave to install the newer versions after the first sfc /scannow, it will not have the problem but if I ran AnWave to install the AC-3 MFT again along with Microsoft.DolbyAudioExtensions_1.0.61521.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx + Download Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer - MajorGeek and run a sfc /scannow, it will once again repair the files because it's corrupted.

The following is from the CBS.log:

Code:

2025-03-02 14:17:35, Info                  CSI    000000b1 Hashes for file member [l:15]'DolbyDecMFT.dll' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:9b89194225d8c26feb481f8a9f78cb59ef1a36e00fbad822d44caf92a5b0ec0a}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:b09efc9fc0babd18685248d1b8993ee2d3d0a6c5c2c593ff242e96b997345ec7}.
2025-03-02 14:17:35, Info                  CSI    000000b2 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\\DolbyDecMFT.dll from store

2025-03-02 14:18:11, Info                  CSI    00000119 Hashes for file member [l:17]'msmpeg2ac3dec.dll' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:43b32b69cd1a6d1a4f95c675a00eff54771a615d89ed93b3a0157633a669c4d2}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:c713a5987f315c8de3379cd51fe48af01572a5ead882256cf49af1a34a204bc6}.
2025-03-02 14:18:11, Info                  CSI    0000011a [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\\msmpeg2ac3dec.dll from store
2025-03-02 14:18:11, Info                  CSI    0000011b Hashes for file member [l:12]'MSAC3ENC.DLL' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:82419ab082252fb9c6e2d0668ce61b874ad4eef50f9cfe5e57baedd6c166f2bf}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:d5f5d9ce36692518ca6212b234ebd808b0f49a64207cb1319c462e944f688e64}.
2025-03-02 14:18:11, Info                  CSI    0000011c [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\\MSAC3ENC.DLL from store

2025-03-02 14:20:33, Info                  CSI    00000254 Hashes for file member [l:15]'DolbyDecMFT.dll' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:6ae48445178ded30298a676da4beae7bee8c72130d826f718cd96a86c96c9892}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:5e104296305cc6b9045fb5c23bfd82368e7b4ff1e4bca6bb5e87f0eee57932b6}.
2025-03-02 14:20:33, Info                  CSI    00000255 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\\DolbyDecMFT.dll from store

2025-03-02 14:21:08, Info                  CSI    000002bf Hashes for file member [l:12]'MSAC3ENC.DLL' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:8ed3c1eab827ffa3644861de807c931cb5c79e5cdd1e9f1d43c684b33e7b9806}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:d5824490a1648d73e9b94c806b8fd8ae4827aeeb67da7206f41f704059e4a38d}.
2025-03-02 14:21:08, Info                  CSI    000002c0 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\\MSAC3ENC.DLL from store

025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002dd Hashes for file member [l:12]'MSAC3ENC.DLL' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:8ed3c1eab827ffa3644861de807c931cb5c79e5cdd1e9f1d43c684b33e7b9806}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:d5824490a1648d73e9b94c806b8fd8ae4827aeeb67da7206f41f704059e4a38d}.
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002de [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\\MSAC3ENC.DLL from store
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002df Hashes for file member [l:17]'msmpeg2ac3dec.dll' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:43b32b69cd1a6d1a4f95c675a00eff54771a615d89ed93b3a0157633a669c4d2}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:c713a5987f315c8de3379cd51fe48af01572a5ead882256cf49af1a34a204bc6}.
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e0 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\\msmpeg2ac3dec.dll from store
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e1 Hashes for file member [l:15]'DolbyDecMFT.dll' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:9b89194225d8c26feb481f8a9f78cb59ef1a36e00fbad822d44caf92a5b0ec0a}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:b09efc9fc0babd18685248d1b8993ee2d3d0a6c5c2c593ff242e96b997345ec7}.
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e2 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\\DolbyDecMFT.dll from store
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e3 Hashes for file member [l:12]'MSAC3ENC.DLL' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:82419ab082252fb9c6e2d0668ce61b874ad4eef50f9cfe5e57baedd6c166f2bf}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:d5f5d9ce36692518ca6212b234ebd808b0f49a64207cb1319c462e944f688e64}.
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e4 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\\MSAC3ENC.DLL from store
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e5 Hashes for file member [l:15]'DolbyDecMFT.dll' do not match.
 Expected: {l:32 ml:33 b:6ae48445178ded30298a676da4beae7bee8c72130d826f718cd96a86c96c9892}.
 Actual: {l:32 b:5e104296305cc6b9045fb5c23bfd82368e7b4ff1e4bca6bb5e87f0eee57932b6}.
2025-03-02 14:21:14, Info                  CSI    000002e6 [SR] Repairing file \??\C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\\DolbyDecMFT.dll from store

heich · Mar 12, 2025

Brink said:
Microsoft Support:

AC-3 is an audio codec that supports multi-channel (“surround sound”) audio. It's also known as Dolby Digital.

On versions of Windows prior to Windows 11, version 24H2, the AC-3 codec is included.

Beginning with Windows 11, version 24H2, the AC-3 codec is no longer included with Windows. However, many device manufacturers will pre-install an AC-3 codec. Also, if you upgrade to Windows 11, version 24H2 from an earlier version of Windows, the AC-3 codec will be retained. In these cases, you will still be able to play files encoded with the AC-3 audio codec.

Source:

Codecs in Media Player - Microsoft Support

Codecs allow you to play different formats of audio and video files. Media Player supports a wide variety of codecs. Most are included out of the box; some additional codecs can be installed from the Microsoft Store.

support.microsoft.com

I dont believe the comments made by users regarding AC-3/E-AC-3 codecs working in an upgrade from 23H2 to 24H2 is totally true. I upgrade to 24H2 and my Video converters of which i have two (Movavi Video Converter and VidCoder Converter) do not allow me to convert my videos to 5.1 surround sound only options are mono or stereo even if i use the Microsoft Dolby Atmos codec from Anaware site i only get these two options.
I may be only i speck in an ocean of users that rely on Video converters in their daily working life but it's an important part of my work and this decision by Microsoft to abandon this codec is raising hell for a lot of us not only in the video editing field but also in the Audio field.
I hope that Microsoft listens to it's users and pays attention.
This is impacting a very large number of Windows users and with all of these upgrades that are breaking systems worldwide microsoft will be losing a lot of us to it's major competitors such as Apple and Linux.
Regards

2112 · Mar 13, 2025

heich said:
...(Movavi Video Converter and VidCoder Converter) do not allow me to convert my videos to 5.1 surround sound only options are mono or stereo even if i use the Microsoft Dolby Atmos codec from Anaware site i only get these two options.

Use the Dolby AC-4 decoder and Dolby Digital Plus decoder from Major Geeks instead: Download Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer

Download, unzip and install both files.

This solved all my issues with video encoding! :)

Lebon14 · Mar 16, 2025

Personally, I don't see the use in installing these as many solutions exist to playback audio encoded as such like foobar2000 (for audio only), PotPlayer (for audio and video), VLC, and so many others that I wonder why such a codec being removed from baseline Windows being such a headache.

uncyler825 · Mar 16, 2025

Lebon14 said:
Personally, I don't see the use in installing these as many solutions exist to playback audio encoded as such like foobar2000 (for audio only), PotPlayer (for audio and video), VLC, and so many others that I wonder why such a codec being removed from baseline Windows being such a headache.

This depends on how the application calls the decoder, Adobe (Premiere Pro, After Effects) only calls the system-based native AC-3 decoder. Because you don’t need it, just like some the features of Windows may not be useful to you.

PCUser · Mar 16, 2025

Here are some FREE codecs including Dolby from the Microsoft store.
This still works.

Includes Dolby AC-4 decoder for PC OEMs
Dolby Digital Plus decoder for PC OEMs

Enjoy!

Windows Media Foundation Codecs

Media Foundation Codecs For Windows 10

www.codecguide.com

www.codecguide.com/media_foundation_codecs.htm

ALSO . . . . .
Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer

Download Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer - MajorGeeks

Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer includes the necessary installers for Microsoft Dolby AC-3 and AC-4 audio technologies. These technologies are essential for integrating Dolby AC-3 and AC-4 into your multimedia applications and ensuring high-quality audio playback on your system.

www.majorgeeks.com

THEBOSS619 · Mar 17, 2025

Lebon14 said:
Personally, I don't see the use in installing these as many solutions exist to playback audio encoded as such like foobar2000 (for audio only), PotPlayer (for audio and video), VLC, and so many others that I wonder why such a codec being removed from baseline Windows being such a headache.

Everyone have a certain use cases, my case is different.

My laptop have Dolby Vision Display support and it doesn't work through any external players except the built-in Windows ones [Media Player].

Some videos uses E-AC3 audio which needs those codecs that Microsoft removed. Thankfully It can be fixed easily through shark007 website.

Microsoft Dolby Atmos Installer

If you try to play any video that uses E-AC3 audio codec with the built-in Windows ones [Media Player] without having the needed codec that Microsoft removed, it will simply error out and continue playing the video file without audio.

AC-3 (Dolby Digital) codec no longer included with Windows 11 version 24H2

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