Ignore any blog posts or YouTube videos that claim to show you how to play 5.1 surround from YouTube videos in a browser. They don’t work.
As of January, 2025, Chrome, Edge, and Safari all play multichannel audio just fine without any special settings. Try the audio tests yourself on this page, after you’ve configured your multichannel audio device to work with Windows 10/11 or Mac OS (see instructions below):
Chrome and Edge play all of the audio files properly. Safari plays the first and third one (HE-AAC bitstream and AAC bitstream) but the rear channels don’t play on the second one (Original Wave File).
YouTube, however, does not play multichannel audio in Chrome, Edge, or Safari browsers, and no option appears in the settings to select any other audio format like it does in the YouTube App on Google TV and other streaming devices. Try it yourself with this YouTube video encoded in 5.1 surround:
(Balu - Relaxing in Nature 4K channel)
The YouTube video does play 5.1 surround in the YouTube App on Google TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max, which I have verified. My setup has HDMI ARC going to a Pioneer 7.1 receiver. It probably plays on Apple TV and Roku TV sticks as well, but I don’t have those to test.
Register feedback with YouTube. Maybe they’ll address this oversight. It’s a shame it doesn’t work because Google develops both the Chrome browser and YouTube. I suspect they don’t use the multichannel capability built into the Chrome and Edge browsers because they use their own audio API and it isn’t a priority because not a lot of people have multichannel audio devices connected to their computers.
Windows 10 and 11 Multichannel Audio Device Configuration
Go to the Sound Control Panel or Manage Audio Devices (they are the same thing). There are a few ways to get there.
- Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select “Open Sound settings” or do a Windows Search for “Sound settings”). Select “Sound Control Panel” on the right. If it’s not visible, drag the dialog larger until you see it.
- Or do a Windows Search for “Control Panel.” In the “Search Control Panel” box, enter “Manage audio devices” and select the “Manage audio devices” link under Sound.
Under the Playback tab, select your multichannel audio device and click the Configure button. Select 5.1 Surround and the Next button. Check the boxes next to all the speakers you have. Test the speakers by clicking on the icon for each one. Click Next and set the full-range speakers. If you have big speakers in front but not in back, select just the front ones as full-range. If they’re all the same size, select them all. Click Next and Finish and OK to save your settings.
Be sure to select the multichannel audio device as your output device. Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar, Select “Open Sound settings,” and make sure “Choose your output device” shows the multichannel audio device.
Mac OS 15 (Sequoia) Multichannel Audio Device Configuration
Go to Audio MIDI Setup by doing a Spotlight search (Cmd + Spacebar) for “Audio MIDI Setup” or go to the Finder menu > Go > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.
Find the multichannel audio (Output) device and set the Format to the number of channels you will use. For 5.1, set it to 6-channel. Select the “Configure Speakers...” button. Set Configuration to something like 5.1. Test the speakers by clicking to icon on each channel. Click Done.
Be sure you are using the multichannel audio device you set up as your audio output.
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