Did Microsoft finally deliver fix for the Windows 11 Dirac Audio problems?

Is a frustrating audio bug still preventing Windows 11 24H2 update?

If you use a computer with Windows 11, you might have heard about a problem with sound. For many months, some people who updated to a version called 24H2 found their sound stopped working completely. This was a big issue. Your computer’s speakers would not make any sound. Your headphones would not work either. The good news is that this problem is now solved. Microsoft, the company that makes Windows, has released a fix. The upgrade, which was stopped for affected computers, is now available again.

This guide will walk you through what happened. We will talk about the problem, what caused it, and how you can get the fix for your computer. The goal is to give you clear information so you can feel confident about your computer’s sound and your Windows update.

Understanding the Sound Problem

The issue began for many people back in December 2024. After installing the Windows 11 version 24H2 update, their audio would disappear. This happened on computers that use a special sound technology called Dirac Audio. Imagine turning on your computer to listen to music or watch a video, but there is only silence. That is what users experienced.

It affected all kinds of audio devices :

• The speakers built into the computer or laptop
• Bluetooth speakers you connect wirelessly
• Bluetooth headsets and headphones

The problem was not with the speakers or headphones themselves. It was inside the computer’s software. The programs that play sound could not find the audio devices anymore. It was like the computer forgot it had speakers.

What is Dirac Audio?

To understand the problem, it helps to know what Dirac Audio is. Dirac is a company that makes technology to improve sound quality. Their software acts like a smart filter. It cleans up the audio signal on your computer. This makes music, movies, and voices sound clearer and more precise. It is a feature found in some computers to give users a better listening experience. The issue was not with Dirac’s goals, but with how a specific part of its software worked with the new Windows update.

The Small File That Caused Big Problems: cridspapo.dll

The entire sound issue was traced back to one tiny file on the computer: cridspapo.dll. This file is a driver. A driver is a piece of software that lets your computer’s main system, Windows, talk to a piece of hardware, like your sound card.

The cridspapo.dll file is a key part of the Dirac Audio software. When Microsoft released Windows 11 version 24H2, this file was no longer compatible. The new version of Windows and the old version of the driver could not work together. This conflict is what caused the audio to stop working. Because this file was essential for processing sound on these devices, its failure meant no audio could be played at all.

How Microsoft Handled the Issue

Once Microsoft understood the problem, they took action to protect users. They did not want more people to update their computers and lose their sound. So, they put a “safeguard hold” or an “upgrade block” in place.

A safeguard hold is like a temporary stop sign for Windows Update. If Microsoft’s system knows your computer has the specific software or hardware causing a problem, it will not offer you the new update. This prevents your computer from running into a known issue. This was a necessary step to stop the problem from spreading to more users while they worked on a permanent solution. For many months, people with affected devices could not install the 24H2 feature update.

The Path to a Solution

Finding a fix took time. Microsoft first acknowledged the problem in December 2024. They added the issue to their official “Known Issues” list, which lets everyone know they are aware of it and working on it.

Through the early part of 2025, the safeguard hold remained active. In February 2025, there was a small update to the support page, but no fix was ready yet. The developers at Microsoft and likely Dirac had to create a new version of the cridspapo.dll driver. This new driver needed to be compatible with Windows 11 24H2 and also work correctly with the Dirac Audio technology. Finally, after months of work, a solution was prepared.

The Fix Is Here: A New Driver for Your PC

On September 12, 2025, Microsoft officially announced that the problem was “resolved”. The fix comes in the form of a new audio driver. This updated driver replaces the old cridspapo.dll file that was causing the conflict.

This new driver is being delivered through Windows Update. This is the built-in tool in Windows that downloads and installs security patches, bug fixes, and feature updates. By including the fix in a standard update, Microsoft makes it easy for most people to get it automatically.

How to Get the Audio Fix and Upgrade to 24H2

Now that the fix is available, the upgrade block has been removed as of September 11, 2025. This means if your computer was previously blocked from getting the 24H2 update because of the Dirac Audio issue, you should now be able to install it.

Here are the steps you should follow:

Step 1: Check for Windows Updates

The most important step is to run Windows Update. You can do this by going to Settings > Windows Update and clicking the “Check for updates” button. Your computer will look for the latest security update.

Step 2: Install the Latest Security Update

The new audio driver is included with recent Windows security updates. When you install the latest one, you are also installing the fix for the audio problem. Microsoft recommends installing the latest available update to get this and other important improvements.

Step 3: Restart Your Computer

After the update is installed, it is always a good idea to restart your computer. A restart can help make sure all the new files are loaded correctly. In some cases, a restart can also help speed up the process of the update becoming available to you.

Be Patient

Microsoft notes that after a safeguard hold is lifted, it can sometimes take up to 48 hours for the update to be offered to your device. If you check for updates and do not see the 24H2 version immediately, wait a day or two and check again.

Once your system has the new driver, the incompatibility is gone. You can then proceed with the upgrade to Windows 11 version 24H2 without worrying about losing your sound. Eligible devices should now be able to install the update smoothly.