Dolby Digital Plus Codec Availability in Various Windows 11 Operating Systems

The Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) codec is missing from some Windows 11 operating systems

Those people that are replacing the Windows 11 operating system that came installed on their computer are reporting that the DD+ codec is missing.

They are reporting this after installing Windows 11 24H2 from either a Microsoft operating system image or an Enterprise version of Windows 11 24H2.

You may receive the following error when playing DD+ encoded content, if you do this to your Dell computer.

Dolby Labs are limiting the availability of the DD+ codec to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Windows 11 images. They are not making this codec available as a discrete application.

You must have your Windows 11 operating system installed in one of the following methods if the DD+ codec is required on your Dell computer:

• Dell computers that ship from the Dell factory with the Windows 11 24H2 operating system installed include the DD+ codec.
• Upgrading the Dell-installed Windows 11 23H2 operating system (or earlier) to Windows 11 24H2 operating system retain the DD+ codec.
• You retain the DD+ codec if you install a Dell Windows 11 24H2 operating system image from either Dell SupportAssist Operating System Recovery or the Dell Operating System Recovery Image (OSRI):
  • Dell Knowledge Base Article: Restore your Computer Using SupportAssist OS Recovery
  • Dell Support Pag: Reinstall Microsoft Windows using the Dell OS Recovery Image

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