Getting Dolby Atmos surround sound not working properly on your shiny new Xbox Series X or Sony PlayStation 5 console can be frustrating. Atmos is supposed to immerse you in 3D audio – but instead you get no audio, muffled sound, or regular stereo output.
Don’t despair! With a few configuration tweaks and connectivity checks, you can get Dolby Atmos functioning flawlessly to take your gaming audio to the next level.
In this post, we’ll cover some quick troubleshooting steps for fixing Dolby Atmos problems on both the Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles.
Checking Xbox Series X Dolby Atmos Settings
If Dolby Atmos isn’t working properly on your Xbox Series X, double check these settings first:
- Go to Settings > General > Volume & audio output > Additional options
- Under Audio output, set it to Dolby Atmos for home theater
- If using HDMI or optical audio, enable Bitstream out
- Make sure your TV or sound system is set to use Bitstream format for audio
- Under Headset audio, select Dolby Atmos if your headset supports it
Tweaking these audio options for your specific speaker setup is key for activating Dolby Atmos. Still having issues? Continue troubleshooting below.
Confirm Xbox Series X and Audio Device Compatibility
For Dolby Atmos to work, both your Xbox and your audio receiver/soundbar/headset must support it.
- Check your audio device manual or specifications to confirm it is Dolby Atmos enabled. If not, you’ll only get standard stereo.
- Try connecting your Xbox to a different TV or audio receiver that you know works with Atmos.
- Some users have had success getting Atmos by trying a different HDMI input on their audio device.
If your Xbox is confirmed working but the TV or speakers don’t support Atmos, you’ll need to upgrade your audio equipment to experience 3D spatial sound.
Adjust Your Xbox HDMI Connection
How your Xbox console is connected via HDMI to your TV and audio system can also prevent Dolby Atmos from engaging:
- If you have an eARC HDMI port on your TV, make sure to use that for connecting soundbars or receivers.
- For audio receivers, connect Xbox to an HDMI input, not directly to the TV.
- If connecting to a TV first, use the Audio Return Channel (ARC) HDMI port to send sound to audio equipment.
- Try swapping HDMI cables in case of defects causing connectivity issues.
Getting the HDMI wiring setup correctly ensures the Dolby Atmos signal passes through properly to your speakers.
Troubleshooting Dolby Atmos on Sony PS5
For PlayStation 5 consoles, start by checking these basic Dolby Atmos settings under Settings > Sound > Audio Output:
- Set audio format priority to Bitstream (Dolby)
- Enable Dolby Atmos if your device supports it
- Under Headphones > Audio Format Priority, choose Dolby Atmos
If you still only get stereo audio, consider the equipment compatibility, HDMI wiring, and troubleshooting tips above for Xbox. The principles are the same.
Some PS5 users have also resolved Atmos issues by power cycling the console and audio devices after changing settings. Give this a try if you’re still struggling with sound.
Hope this helps!
