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Windows 11 KB5124010 Is Crashing Dolby Digital Games and Apps
The KB5124010 update for Windows doesn’t seem to like Dolby Digital. If you have a game that closes the moment the music starts, or a media player that no longer works, this newly confirmed bug from Microsoft could be the cause. Here’s what we know.
KB5124010, the optional update released by Microsoft on September 22, 2026 for Windows 11, lets you preview non-security changes that will be included in the next Patch Tuesday update. In other words, in the update expected on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
It’s also an opportunity to see whether it’s causing bugs. And once again, that appears to be the case. After installing KB5124010, some applications that need to decode AC-3 audio may unexpectedly close. As a reminder, AC-3 is the technical name for the Dolby Digital format, commonly found on DVDs.
When an application is affected, the behavior is not always the same. Some cannot even start or close without any warning. Others work until a specific feature is used, such as music playback. Microsoft mentions a potential impact on games, media players, and other applications, without naming any specific ones. But this issue has indeed been confirmed by the Redmond-based company.
Mostly older applications
Many modern applications include their own AC-3 decoder and therefore do not rely on Windows. "The code component involved in this issue is most often used in older applications that still rely on the audio decoding built into Windows," Microsoft explains.
The bug affects Windows 11 24H2, Windows 11 25H2, and the latest version: Windows 11 26H2. Windows Server, on the other hand, is not on the list of affected operating systems.
Since the start of September 2026, Windows 11 has really been struggling with audio.... One example is the September 2026 update (KB5124008), which could prevent some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices from starting (Code 10 error), an issue that has now been partially fixed.
No workaround for now
Microsoft says it is working on a fix that will be included in a future Windows update, but no date has been given. No workaround is offered, and no Known Issue Rollback (KIR) is associated with this issue.
"We are currently working on a solution to this issue in a future Windows update. We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information," Microsoft says. Follow this link for the latest information about this bug.
In the meantime, the only real way to avoid the issue is not to install this optional update. Let’s hope Microsoft gets it right with the update scheduled for next week...
