How to Disable Dolby Atmos for Headphones in Overwatch 2

If Overwatch 2 sounds overly spacious, hollow, or different from your other games, you may want to stop the game from using Dolby Atmos for Headphones. On PC, the relevant control is in the game’s sound options. Depending on the current menu layout, it may appear as a Spatial Audio selector rather than a simple on/off switch.

For a game-only change, open Options > Sound, find Spatial Audio, and choose System Default instead of Dolby Atmos for Headphones. If the Windows output device itself is set to Dolby Atmos, System Default can continue using that processing. To remove Atmos from the whole Windows output, change Windows Spatial sound to Off as well.

Quick reference

Disable Dolby Atmos in Overwatch 2

1. Open the game’s settings. From the main menu, select Options. You can also press Esc during a PC match and open Options.
2. Go to Sound. Select the Sound tab or category. If the page is divided into sections such as General and Voice Chat, stay in the general game-audio section.
3. Find Spatial Audio. Look for a selector whose current value is Dolby Atmos for Headphones. Some older references call this the Dolby Atmos for Headphones option; newer menu layouts may group it under Spatial Audio.
4. Choose System Default. This stops the game from explicitly choosing Dolby Atmos. If the game shows a different non-Atmos option, use that only if you understand its effect; names and choices can vary by platform and update.
5. Back out and verify. Return to the game and listen to a short practice range session or other low-pressure audio source. If sound still has the same spatial effect, check the Windows setting below.

Blizzard’s archived patch notes describe support for Windows spatial audio and explain that Windows spatial-audio configuration can take priority over the setting in the game client. Blizzard forum guidance has also identified the Overwatch control under Options > Sound. Because the detailed layout can change, use the visible labels in your installed version rather than relying on a particular row position.

Turn off Windows spatial sound if Atmos is still active

The game selector and the Windows output setting are separate controls. Selecting System Default in Overwatch 2 does not necessarily switch Windows Spatial sound off; it tells the game to use the system’s default behavior. If you want ordinary output without Windows Dolby Atmos processing, disable spatial sound for the headphones or speaker device you actually use.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings and go to System > Sound.
2. Under Output, select your active headphones or audio device.
3. Open its Spatial sound setting and choose Off.
4. Close and reopen Overwatch 2 if the audio does not change immediately, then test again.

Windows 10

Open Settings > System > Sound, select the output device’s device properties or sound control panel, and locate the Spatial sound tab or menu. Set the spatial sound format to Off. Windows labels and the route to device properties vary by build and audio driver. If you do not see Spatial sound, check the classic Sound control panel or the headphone manufacturer’s utility; do not install a driver just to expose a setting without confirming it is intended for your device.

Dolby’s product information describes Dolby Access as the companion app for configuring Dolby Atmos on supported Windows PCs and Xbox devices. You can use it to inspect the Atmos setup, but you do not need to uninstall Dolby Access just to stop Overwatch 2 from selecting Atmos.

Which setting should you change?

• Only Overwatch 2 sounds wrong: change Spatial Audio in the game first. Keep Windows unchanged so other applications can continue using their current audio format.
• All Windows audio sounds spatialized: set Spatial sound to Off for the active device in Windows, then leave the game on System Default.
• You switch between headsets: check the setting for each output device. Windows can expose a different spatial-sound choice for each device, and a USB headset may use its own control software.
• You want to compare before deciding: use the same headphones, volume, and in-game location for both settings. Change one control at a time so you can tell whether the game or Windows caused the difference.

Troubleshooting checklist

Check the result

After changing the game option, confirm that Spatial Audio no longer displays Dolby Atmos for Headphones. If you also changed Windows, revisit the active device and confirm Spatial sound is Off. Then compare a familiar in-game sound—such as a voice line or movement cue—at a comfortable volume. You are checking whether the processing changed, not measuring competitive advantage: audio preference is personal, and the result can differ with headphones, drivers, and other sound software.

If you later want Atmos again, select it in Overwatch 2 and restore the Windows spatial-sound format you prefer. Make sure only the intended processing layers are enabled; multiple virtual-surround or equalizer effects can alter the sound in ways that are difficult to diagnose.

Sources and version note

Blizzard’s December 11, 2018 patch notes document Windows spatial-audio support and the relationship between Windows and game-client settings: Blizzard Overwatch patch notes. Blizzard forum support discussions identify the game’s Dolby setting under Options and Sound: Blizzard forum sound-settings guidance. Dolby describes Dolby Access for supported Windows and Xbox configuration: Dolby Atmos for Headphones. Menu names can change with game, Windows, and driver updates; this guide focuses on the PC path and was checked on October 8, 2026.