● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Windows 11 KB5124010 Update Causes Crashes in Games and Apps Using AC-3 Audio
Key points
- KB5124010 update causes crashes in AC-3 audio decoding apps.
- Issue affects games, media players, and productivity applications.
- Mainly impacts legacy apps using Windows built-in audio decoding.
- Microsoft is working on a fix for the problem.
Optional Update Causes Application Crashes
Microsoft has acknowledged that the optional September 2026 KB5124010 preview update for Windows 11 is causing crashes in certain games and applications. The problem specifically affects software that utilizes AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio decoding.
While KB5124010 is an optional update requiring manual installation, it automatically installs on Windows 11 24H2 devices with the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option enabled.
Affected Applications and Scope
The crashes manifest as applications failing to launch, closing unexpectedly, or malfunctioning when specific audio features are used. Affected applications can include games, media players, and productivity tools.
Microsoft noted that many modern applications are not impacted as they do not rely on Windows for this type of encoding. The issue primarily targets legacy applications that use Windows' built-in audio decoding components for the AC-3 codec.
Previous Audio-Related Issues
This is not the first audio-related problem Microsoft has addressed. Last month, emergency updates were released for USB audio issues following the KB5124008 and KB5124012 security updates. In January of the previous year, a similar issue caused audio playback problems and Code 10 errors on Windows 11 24H2 systems with USB audio device drivers.
Two years prior, an issue caused game audio to unexpectedly increase to full volume with USB DAC sound systems, and Windows 24H2 upgrades were blocked on systems with incompatible Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio drivers due to blue screen of death (BSOD) issues.
Resolution Underway
Microsoft has stated it is working to resolve the current issue. An estimated timeline for a fix has not been provided, but the company plans to share more information in a future update.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
Reporting from
Microsoft confirmed that the Windows 11 KB5124010 preview update causes some games and applications using AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio decoding to crash. This issue primarily affects legacy applications, and Microsoft is working on a resolution.