Windows 11 can now share audio with two Bluetooth headsets at the same time

Windows 11 is finally adding a simple feature that many people have wanted for years: the ability to play the same audio through two Bluetooth headsets at once. The new feature is called Shared Audio, and it lets two people listen from the same Windows 11 PC using separate Bluetooth audio devices.

This is useful in everyday situations. You could watch a movie with someone on a laptop during a flight, listen to music together while studying, or share a podcast without using speakers in a public place. Until now, Windows did not properly support two Bluetooth headsets playing the same audio from one PC at the same time.

Shared Audio works through Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology. That means your PC and both audio devices need to support Bluetooth LE Audio. If the hardware is compatible, Windows 11 can send the same sound to both devices and let each listener control their own volume separately.

Shared Audio is rolling out through an optional Windows 11 update

Microsoft added the feature through the optional Windows 11 update KB5089573. Once it is available on your device, you should see a Shared Audio button in Quick Settings on the taskbar.

To use it, open Quick Settings, select Shared Audio, choose two supported Bluetooth audio devices that are already paired and connected, then select Start sharing. After that, both headsets should receive the same audio from the PC.

There is one catch. The feature is rolling out gradually. That means you may install the update and still not see Shared Audio right away. Microsoft may enable it later for your specific PC.

Hardware support is also important. Many newer Windows PCs include Bluetooth LE Audio support, but not every machine supports audio broadcasting. Your headphones or earbuds also need to support Bluetooth LE Audio. If one part of the chain is missing, Shared Audio may not appear or may not work.

The idea is similar to Apple’s Share Audio feature for AirPods and iPhones. Microsoft’s version brings that same kind of shared listening experience to Windows laptops and desktops, which makes sense now that more people use PCs for streaming, video calls, travel entertainment, and shared media.

The same optional update also includes another feature called Low Latency Profile, which is designed to make Windows 11 feel faster in some situations. But Shared Audio is likely to be the more noticeable addition for regular users because it solves a very practical problem.

This is not a huge redesign of Windows 11, but it is the kind of small feature that can make a PC feel more modern. If you often travel with a laptop or share media with another person, Shared Audio could become one of those additions you wonder why Windows did not have earlier.