With Dolby Atmos gaming settings, you will experience more immersive surround sound for games and movies. With this, you can also enjoy gaming ambient sound effects like knowing where the enemy is. Here is a quick guide for Dolby Atmos settings for gaming:
First, go into your settings, select “general”, select “volume and audio output”, and check for options under “speaker audio”, this is where you get to choose which options will work best for your system. If your Xbox is plugged into a receiver or soundbar directly on either a 7.1 or a 5.1 system, you can choose 5.1 or 7.1 uncompressed. If your Xbox and the 7.1 or 5.1 is plugged into a TV and the audio router is connected to speakers through HDMI ARC or optical cable, choosing uncompressed will require a lot of bandwidth to set up a connection.
How do I enable Dolby Atmos?
To enable Dolby Atmos, first go to “settings”, then “all settings”, select “display and sound”, select “audio output”, then “headset format”, then select “Dolby Atmos for headphones”

Setting up surround sound for soundbar and home theatre system
Whether you have a soundbar system with rear satellites or dedicated speakers with an Av receiver, the Xbox series S and Xbox series X is designed to support multiple surround formats. With this, you can choose the settings that are best for you, but it all comes down to your setup, for example, what format type your sound system and TV support, not only that, the hook-up setup too.
The first step is to go into your settings,
- Select “general”,
- Select “volume and audio output”,
Check for options that are under the “speaker audio”. This is where you get to choose which options will work best for your system.
Here are some of the setups.
If your Xbox is plugged into a receiver or soundbar directly on either a 7.1 system or a 5.1 system, you can choose 5.1 or 7.1 uncompressed.
If your Xbox and either 7.1 system or 5.1 system is plugged into a TV and the audio router connected to speakers through HDMI ARC or optical cable, choosing uncompressed will require a lot of bandwidth to set up a connection. The best will be to choose Bitstream out, then selecting DTS Dolby digital or digital surround your format, this is how you can get a better sound.
It is important to note that even though you have choices, and whatever setup you use, the Blue-ray audio discs default format is Bitstream. Each setup has its gains and losses like when you choose an uncompressed 7.1 or 5.1 systems setup, you gain good quality audio but lose some features that require bit streaming to work, like the Dolby night mode.
Setting up Dolby Atmos for home theatre system and soundbar.
It is easy to enable Dolby Atmos on your Xbox to get overhead and immersive sound effects if you have an up-firing driver soundbar or in-ceiling speakers. With this, atmos audio is allowed over apps that support it, but you will plug your Xbox directly into the soundbar or receiver for it to properly work except a TV that supports Dolby atmos.
To get Atmos working, head up to the Microsoft store and download the Dolby Access app. Atmos is free for home theater use on the speaker system, for Dolby atmos headphones you need a paid license. For home theater use:
- Go to “product tab”,
- Select “Dolby Atmos for Home Theater” on the middle icon,
- Select the “setup” button so it is turned on.
The next step heads up to settings:
- Select “general”,
- Select “volume and audio output”,
- Below speaker audio select “bitstream format”.
Once you’ve done this, any games or apps that support Dolby Atmos should start working.
Setting up Dolby ATmos and virtual surround for headphones
There are ways to get the virtual surround effects when using either a gaming headset or headphones, and if you have a headphone that has a built-in virtual surround it can easily be enabled on the fly while watching moves or gaming.
Depending on the model, you can do this by flipping on the switch on the USB adapter or headphones. You have to be aware that quality is not assured because the surround virtual effect does vary with different headsets, also may be unmatched with Xbox virtual surround features.
Activating Xbox spatial audio
- Got to settings,
- Select “general”,
- Select “volume and audio output”,
Follow the options below Headset audio, choose either Windows Sonic for headphones, DTS headphones:X, or Dolby Atmos for headphones. If you choose DTS headphones:X or Dolby Atmos for headphones, then you have to download it from the Microsoft Store, but the Windows Sonic for headphones is already installed on Xbox, and it’s free.
Best Dolby Atmos speakers
Below is the list of some of the best Dolby Atmos speakers, with a built-in voice assistant, great sounds, and affordable.
Best dolby atmos soundbar:
- Samsung HW-Q70T 3.1.2ch Soundbar with Dolby Atmos / DTS:X
- VIZIO Elevate P514a-H6 5.1.4 Home Theater Surround Sound Bar w/DolbyAtmos & DTS:X
- LG GX 3.1 ch 420w OLED Gallery TV Matching High Res Audio Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos
Dolby atmos upward-firing speakers:
- Onkyo SKH-410 Home Audio Dolby Atmos-enabled Speaker System
- Monoprice 133833 Premium Immersive Satellite Speakers
- ELAC Debut 2.0 A4.2 Dolby Atmos Modules
Wireless Dolby Atmos speakers:
- Sony Sound Bar with Rear Speakers: HT-Z9F 3.1ch Dolby Atmos / DTS:X TV Soundbar Speaker
- Samsung HW-Q800T 3.1.2 Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer
Dolby Atmos home theater system:
- Enclave CineHome II 5.1 Wireless Home Theater Surround Sound System, Dolby Audio, DTS
- Klipsch 2 Pack R-26FA Dolby Atmos Speaker
- Sony CS-Series speakers bundle Speaker, Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers
How do I know if Dolby Atmos is working?
The best way to know if Dolby Atmos is working is through the information panel in front of the AV receiver, Xbox, or the soundbar display screen. This is where it will display the type of audio signal that is in use.
Is Dolby Atmos good for gaming?
Yes, Dolby Atmos is good for gaming, the work of Dolby Atmos is to create an immersive sound and to experience a multi-dimensional sound with clarity. It creates an accurate positional audio sound for games, for example revealing the exact side where the enemy is positioned.
Not all games support Dolby Atmos, but few other games fully support or compatible with Dolby Atmos. These games include:
- Forza Horizon 4
- Assassin’s Creed Origins
- Crackdown 3
- Final Fantasy XV
- Division 2
- Battlefield 1
- Rise Of The Tomb Raider
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Super Lucky’s Tale
- Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Overwatch
- Borderlands 3
- Mass Effect: Andromeda
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Star Wars: Battlefront
- Gears of War 4
- Gears 5
- Star Wars: Battlefront II
- Metro Exodus
- Resident Evil 2
- Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Do you need special speakers for Dolby Atmos?
Most speakers can be used for Dolby Atmos, but if you want the latest immersive audio technology then you will need to have the latest Dolby speakers which are designed to deliver the best sound experience.
Conclusion
This article covered some important topics with detailed guides on the best Dolby atmos settings for gaming. Another important thing is knowing how to set up surround sound for soundbar, home theatre system, Dolby Atmos for home theatre system, and soundbar. Another important key point to remember is before you start setting up Dolby Atmos for gaming, the format of your sound system and the type of TV support including the hook-up, all this have a role to play in the sound. Also, all the recommended best Dolby Atmos speakers are top-rated so you can increase your Dolby Atmos experience.