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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallMicrosoft says Windows 11’s optional KB5124010 preview update can make some apps close unexpectedly because of a problem decoding AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio. The issue affects Windows 11 versions 26H2, 25H2 and 24H2, and reports point mainly to older games and apps. Microsoft has not published a list of affected titles or a fix date.
If you have not installed the optional preview, you can avoid it for now. If crashes began after installing it, removing the update or disabling audio output in the affected app are reported workarounds, not fixes endorsed by Microsoft.
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What is the Windows 11 gaming bug?
The likely match for this headline is KB5124010, an optional, non-security Windows 11 preview released on 22 September 2026. Microsoft added the issue to its Windows release health dashboard on 2 October. As quoted by TechRadar, Microsoft’s notice says: “Some applications which require the decoding of AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio might close unexpectedly.”
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The fault is with Windows’ built-in AC-3 audio decoding. An app that depends on that decoder may close when it tries to use it. Many newer apps include their own decoders, so the issue appears more likely to affect legacy software. Microsoft has not identified specific games, published a count of affected users, or confirmed that every crash reported after the update has the same cause. BleepingComputer’s report and TechRadar’s coverage describe the issue and user reports.
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Which Windows versions and games are affected?
Microsoft lists Windows 11 26H2, 25H2 and 24H2 as affected. Windows Server is not included in the reported affected-version list. The reports do not establish that all games on those Windows versions are at risk; the stated trigger is an application’s reliance on AC-3 decoding.
TechRadar relayed Reddit reports of crashes in Fallout: New Vegas, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Wardogs after the preview update. Some posters said the crashes stopped when they removed KB5124010. These are user reports, not a Microsoft-confirmed compatibility list or a guarantee that uninstalling will resolve a particular crash.
Other symptoms require caution. A small number of users described very slow startup or shutdown, or a PC failing to boot normally after removing the update. One Reddit user said their PC became stuck at an Asus logo and required a clean reinstall. That is a single anecdote, not a confirmed KB5124010 effect, but it is a reason to back up important files before attempting an update removal.
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Is KB5124010 installed on your PC?
KB5124010 was an optional preview. Most people who did not choose Download and install will not have installed it. One exception noted in coverage is Windows 11 24H2 devices with Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available enabled, which may receive optional updates automatically.
- Open Settings and go to Windows Update.
- Select Update history.
- Look through the update entries for KB5124010. If it is not listed, this preview is not the likely cause of your crashes.
Windows 11 preview updates are normally incorporated into a later cumulative update. Coverage at the time of reporting expected KB5124010 to roll into the October Patch Tuesday update about a week after TechRadar’s article. Since availability can change, check Windows Update and Microsoft’s release health information before deciding whether to install or remove an update.
What to do if a game started crashing after KB5124010
First, check whether the update is installed and whether the problem began after it arrived. A game crash alone does not prove that KB5124010 is responsible. If the timing and symptoms fit, these are the reported options, ordered from least disruptive to more involved.
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Skip or pause the optional preview
If KB5124010 is not installed, do not select Download and install while waiting for Microsoft’s resolution. You can also use the pause option in Settings > Windows Update to defer updates temporarily. Pausing also delays other updates, so it is not a permanent security strategy.
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Disable audio output in the affected app
Some reports suggest turning off audio output in the game or application may avoid the decoder path that triggers the crash. The setting’s name and location vary by app, and this can leave you playing without sound. It is an unofficial, user-reported workaround and may not help if the crash has another cause.
Uninstall KB5124010 only after preparing
Users have reported that removing the preview stopped crashes, but Microsoft has not listed uninstalling it as an official workaround. Because at least one user reported serious boot trouble after removal, back up important files and saves before proceeding. Do not start update removal if you cannot tolerate recovery downtime or do not have a backup.
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- Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
- Scroll to Related settings and select Uninstall updates.
- Find the entry for KB5124010 and choose Uninstall, if it is listed.
- Restart when prompted, then check whether the original app problem remains.
If Windows will not start normally after removal, use Windows recovery options rather than repeatedly forcing restarts. If you do not have a reliable backup or recovery plan, waiting for Microsoft’s update may be the safer choice.
Wait for Microsoft’s resolution
Microsoft has said engineers are working on a resolution for a future Windows update, but no delivery date was stated in the reporting. Waiting is the only option among these that follows Microsoft’s stated path to a fix; it does not provide an immediate workaround. Check the Windows release health dashboard and Windows Update for a status change before installing the next update.
Do not confuse this with other 2026 Windows gaming issues
Windows 11 had other reported gaming problems in 2026, but they involved different updates and causes. A crash after another update should not automatically be attributed to KB5124010’s AC-3 issue.
Quick Recap
| Update and period | Reported problem | Reported cause or status |
|---|---|---|
| KB5074109, January 2026 | Reports included black screens, visual artifacts and frame-rate drops described as roughly 15–20 FPS, depending on the game. The attribution and exact FPS figure are not firmly established. | NVIDIA reportedly identified the update as a likely culprit and said uninstalling it was, as far as it knew, the only fix. The February 2026 update KB5077181 was reported to fix an NVIDIA black-screen issue and a KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE tied to dxgmms2.sys. |
| KB5121003, August 2026 Patch Tuesday | Reports described games failing to launch or crashing, EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors and unexpected restarts, including in ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls and The Finals on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. | Microsoft tied that issue to RGB lighting peripherals or components installing drivers with names such as inpoutx64; Embark Studios pointed to inpoutx64.sys. Microsoft shared a temporary fix. |
| KB5124010, September 2026 preview | Some applications may close unexpectedly, with reports involving older games. | Microsoft identified a problem with built-in AC-3 (Dolby Digital) decoding. A resolution was being developed; no fix date was reported. |
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