Quick answer: Microsoft confirmed on 2 October 2026 that the optional Windows 11 update KB5124010 can make apps and games that use AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio decoding fail to launch or close without warning. It affects Windows 11 versions 26H2, 25H2 and 24H2. If you haven’t installed it, wait. If you have and something crashes, uninstalling it is the practical workaround.
Microsoft’s Windows release health page lists the problem as “confirmed” and says the company is working on a resolution for a future update. It hasn’t given a date. Reports also link the same update to crashes in some online games, though Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that part.
This guide explains who’s at risk, how to check whether you have the update, and how to roll it back safely. For the rest of this month’s patches, our Tech News section has more.
What is KB5124010 and what’s going wrong?
KB5124010 is a Windows 11 update that Microsoft lists as released on 22 September 2026 (build 26200.9550). BleepingComputer describes it as an optional preview update, meaning it’s a test run of fixes that normally roll out to everyone on the next monthly Patch Tuesday.
Microsoft says applications that need AC-3 audio decoding “can fail to launch, or close without warning.” The crash can happen at launch or when you use a particular feature, such as playing music.
The component is mostly used by older software. Microsoft notes that modern apps usually bring their own audio decoders and are less likely to be affected. In plain terms, a current browser or streaming app is probably fine, while an older media player or a game that plays Dolby Digital sound might not be.
Which Windows 11 versions are affected?
According to Microsoft’s release health page, as updated on 2 October 2026, the issue affects:
- Windows 11, version 26H2 (the 2026 Update)
- Windows 11, version 25H2
- Windows 11, version 24H2
BleepingComputer’s report frames it around 24H2 and notes the update installs on its own only if you’ve turned on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” setting. If that switch is off, you’d have to choose to install KB5124010 yourself.
What about the Battlefield 6 and EA game crashes?
TechSpot reports that players of Battlefield 6, Wardogs and other games protected by EA’s Javelin anti-cheat said their games crashed seconds after launch following KB5124010, and that removing the update let them play again. A Team17 representative reportedly acknowledged the problem.
That’s a report from players and the game studio, not a Microsoft statement. We can’t say the audio bug and the anti-cheat crashes share a cause. If you play those games and they started crashing in late September, the update is a reasonable first suspect.
How do you check for KB5124010 and uninstall it?
Microsoft’s own support page says you can remove an update from update history, although it adds that it doesn’t recommend removing installed updates and that not every update can be removed. Use this only if you’re actually seeing crashes.
- Open Start and go to Settings, then Windows Update.
- Select Update history, then scroll down and choose Uninstall updates.
- Find KB5124010 in the list. If it isn’t there, you don’t have it.
- Select it, choose Uninstall, and restart when asked.
- Go back to Windows Update and choose Pause updates for a week or two so it doesn’t reinstall straight away.
Per Microsoft’s Windows Update FAQ, you can pause updates for a limited time, but you can’t stop them altogether because they keep your device secure. Set a reminder to unpause. Skipping security patches for long isn’t a good trade.
What if you can’t uninstall it or the crashes continue?
A few other steps are worth trying before you give up on an app. None is a confirmed fix from Microsoft, so treat them as ordinary troubleshooting.
- Restart the PC fully, not just sleep and wake, and try the app again.
- Check the app’s own updates. Developers sometimes ship a new build that bundles its own audio decoder.
- Try a different player for the same file if a media app is the problem.
- Check Windows Update again in a week or two. Microsoft says a fix is coming in a future update.
- If you use a work or school PC, contact your IT team rather than removing updates yourself. They may be managing updates centrally.
You can also send feedback to Microsoft through the Feedback Hub app, which is the route Microsoft points users to for reporting issues. Mention your Windows version, the app’s name and whether uninstalling the update helped.
Should you install it at all?
If you’re not seeing problems, we’d skip optional preview updates and wait for the regular monthly update. The fixes in preview builds arrive a few weeks later anyway, usually after the worst bugs are caught.
If you rely on an older media player, an audio editing tool or a game that uses Dolby Digital, hold off until Microsoft says the fix is out. When you do update, check one or two of your key apps afterward, so you spot a problem while the cause is still obvious.
Updates that misbehave are a good reminder to keep your accounts and files protected in other ways too. Our guide on checking whether you were in a data breach is a quick, useful companion.
One more check: Microsoft’s page also lists a few other issues it has marked as mitigated or resolved this week, including USB audio devices failing and false Defender “turned off” notifications. Those are separate from this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is KB5124010 a security update?
It’s described as an optional preview update, which is a test of upcoming fixes rather than an urgent security patch. Your regular monthly security update is separate.
How do I know if an app uses AC-3 audio?
You usually can’t tell from the app’s name. Look for Dolby Digital in its audio settings, or just watch for apps that close at launch or when playing sound. Older software is the most likely to be affected.
Will Microsoft fix this automatically?
Microsoft says it’s working on a fix for a future Windows update and will share more later. It hasn’t given a date, so check the release health page rather than waiting passively.
Is it safe to uninstall the update?
For an optional preview update, uninstalling is a normal troubleshooting step. Microsoft still advises against removing updates unless needed, and some can’t be removed.