How to use Windows Studio effects on Windows 11 (2024)

Windows 11 keeps gaining new features, including what Microsoft calls Windows Studio effects. They were designed for the age of remote and hybrid working, letting you enhance your experience in video calls by applying certain effects to your camera and microphone, so you look and sound your best during video calls when using the built-in webcam on your laptop. Unfortuantely, Windows Studio Effects typically don't work with external webcams, but they're still a very useful feature.

Using Windows Studio effects is pretty straightforward, as long as you have a PC that supports them. There are two primary ways to access Windows Studio effects, either through the Settings app or the Quick Settings flyout. Let's take a closer look.

What are Windows Studio effects?

As we previously mentioned, Windows Studio effects let you apply certain filters and effects to your camera and microphone to improve the way you look and sound during video calls. They require a neural processing unit (NPU), a special chip that wasn't present in many processors until recently. Most laptops launched in 2024 onward have an NPU, so at least some Windows Studio effects are supported. Some olderPCs with Qualcomm processors, such as the Surface Pro 9 with 5G, also have an NPU capable of supporting Windows Studio Effects.

But then there are also Copilot+ PCs, which feature an even more powerful NPU. These new PCs have a lot more AI-based features, including new Windows Studio effects that are exclusive to them. Currently, only PCs powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processors are supported, but in the future, Intel and AMD processors will also add support.

Currently, there are seven primary Windows Studio effects — three for the camera and one for the microphone. Here's what they are:

• Automatic framing: As the name suggests, this feature makes it so the camera frame adjusts automatically to keep you in focus.
• Background effects (blur): This feature lets you blur the background elements in the camera view. You can choose between a standard blur or a softer portrait blur, but the latter may not be supported by all NPUs.
• Eye contact: This camera effect compensates for when you're looking at the screen, making it appear as though you're making eye contact with other people on the call.
  • Standard: Basic version of the filter with subtle eye corrections.
  • Teleprompter: Advanced eye contact correction to simulate "lifelike"eye contact. Requires an NPU with 40 TOPS or more (Copilot+)
• Portrait light: This effect brightens your face in situations where lighting may be poor, ensuring you remain visible in challenging scenarios. This effect requires an NPU with over 40 TOPS (Copilot+).
• Creative filters: Apply visual filters to your webcam to change the overall look. Currently, three options are available: Illustrated, Animated, and Watercolor. Required an NPU with over 40 TOPS (Copilot+).
• Voice focus: This microphone effect filters out background noise to ensure your voice is heard clearly. Some PCs may not include this option.

Using Windows Studio effects in Quick Settings

The easiest way to use Windows Studio effects is in the Quick Settings panel, though this is a relatively recent method. You'll need to be running Windows 11 build 22621.1344 (released on Feb. 28) or higher, which you can get by looking for updates in the Windows Update section of the Settings app. If you do have this version, you can follow these steps:

1. Click the notification area icon group to open Quick Settings. This is the area with the network, battery, and sound icons.
2. Choose Studio effects.

   

3. By default, you'll see the camera effects first. You can enable the ones you want to use, and a camera preview is shown at the top. You can also choose between a standard or portrait blur. The UI will look a bit different depending on whether your PC supports Copilot+ or not.
4. Click the microphone icon at the top to switch to the microphone effects.
5. Enable or disable Voice focus here.

Once you've chosen your settings, you simply click outside the Quick Settings panel to dismiss it, and you'll be ready to go. If you don't see the Studio effects option on your PC, you may need to add the button manually. Click the pencil icon at the bottom of the Quick Settings panel, and then click Add and choose Studio effects. If you still don't see the option, your PC likely doesn't support Studio effects.

This is definitely the easiest way to use Windows Studio effects, but you can also use the full Settings app.

Using Windows Studio effects in the Settings app

The other way to access Windows Studio effects is through the Settings app, though it's a little more convoluted since the camera and voice effects are in different places. To enable the camera effects, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Choose Bluetooth & devices from the menu on the left.
3. Click Cameras.

   

4. Select the primary webcam on your laptop. It will have a different name depending on your device.
5. Enable the effects you want to use. You'll see more effects if you have a Copilot+ PC.

   

6. Check the preview at the top to see how it looks.

Once that's done, you can also enable voice focus, but it's on a different page. Here's how to do it:

1. In the Settings app, choose the System section on the left.
2. Click Sound.

   

3. Under Input, select the microphone you want to use, and click the arrow next to it.
4. Make sure the Audio enhancements dropdown menu is set to Microsoft Windows Studio Voice Focus.

   

5. Enable the Voice Focus toggle.

That's all there is to Windows Studio effects, at least for now. If you'd like to go back and disable these at any time, you can.

Windows Studio effects help you look your best

Microsoft is always adding new features to Windows 11, and Windows Studio effects is just one of many. They first appeared in Windows 11 version 22H2, and now, version 24H2 brings a few more, as long as you have a Copilot+ PC. You can probably expect more options to be added as PCs come with increasingly powerful NPUs .