

Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) is an integrated audio Digital Signal Processor (DSP) which is responsible for processing audio signals on many modern Intel devices. Microsoft also shared a workaround to mitigate this issue. To safeguard your upgrade experience, Microsoft applied a compatibility hold on devices with affected Intel SST drivers from offering Windows 11. Windows 11 (version 21H2) devices with the affected Intel SST driver might receive an error with a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). Microsoft recommended against performing a manual upgrade via the Update Now button or the media creation tool until this issue is resolved and the compatibility lock is lifted.Microsoft shared some details regarding a compatibility issue with Intel Smart Sound Technology ( Intel SST) drivers on Windows 11 PCs. For organizations using update compliance, the protection ID is 36899911.

Microsoft has imposed a compatibility lockout on devices with affected Intel SST drivers to prevent them from being offered for Windows 11. The driver has the file name IntcAudioBus.sys and a file version of 10. The affected driver is called Intel® Smart Sound Technology (Intel® SST) Audio Controller and can be found under System Devices in the Windows 11 Device Manager. Windows 11 devices with the affected Intel SST driver may experience a BlueScree Stop error. Microsoft writes that they have found incompatibility issues with Intel with certain versions of drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) and Windows 11. In the Windows 11 status area, Microsoft has published the new entry Compatibility issues with Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers and Windows 11. Here's how Intel describes this technology.

The DSP enables PCs with the latest Intel® Core™ and Intel® Atom™ processors to play Hi-Fi quality audio and respond quickly to voice commands without any negative impact on system performance or battery life. The Intel® Smart-Sound-Technik (Intel® SST) consists of an integrated audio DSP (Digital Signal Processor) that processes audio, speech and voice-driven interactions.
