OpenAL (Open Audio Library) is a cross-platform audio application programming interface (API). It is designed for efficient rendering of multichannel three-dimensional positional audio. Its API style and conventions deliberately resemble those of OpenGL. OpenAL is an environmental 3D audio library, which can add realism to a video game or other virtual environment by simulating attenuation (degradation of sound over distance), the Doppler effect (change in frequency as a result of motion), and material densities.
OpenAL aimed to originally be an open standard and open-source replacement for proprietary (and generally incompatible with one another) 3D audio APIs such as DirectSound and Core Audio, though in practice has largely been implemented on various platforms as a wrapper around said proprietary APIs or as a proprietary and vendor-specific fork. While the reference implementation later became proprietary and unmaintained, there are open source implementations such as OpenAL Soft available.
What is OpenAL?
OpenAL by Creative Technology Ltd. (developed by Creative Technology) is free Windows software in the pc games category. The first release dates back to 2000. It is written in C. Besides Windows, it is available for cross-platform.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE installers for 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 590 KB. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 25,076 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 21 of our languages. Similar programs include RetroArch, OpenTTD and Steam.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Documented silent install
- Small download (590 KB)
- Also runs on cross-platform
- Mature project (since 2000)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- No update for more than a year
In short: OpenAL is a free pc game tool for 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is OpenAL safe to download?
- The file is served by openal.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
D165BCB7628FD950D14847585468CC11943B2A1DA92A59A839D397C68F9D4B06· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1Latest | July 25, 2015 | 590 KB | 32-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id CreativeTechnology.OpenAL -echoco install openal -yoalinst.zip /sRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Creative Technology Ltd.
- Developer
- Creative Technology
- Category
- PC games
- Licence
- Freeware
- Price
- Free
- Written in
- C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE
- Other platforms
- cross-platform
- Version
- 1.1
- Released
- July 25, 2015
- First release
- 2000
- Added to the catalogue
- July 8, 2025
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 25,076
- Website
- openal.org
- winget ID
- CreativeTechnology.OpenAL
- Chocolatey package
- openal
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenAL free?
Yes. OpenAL is free to use.
Is OpenAL safe to download?
The download comes from openal.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install OpenAL with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can OpenAL be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does OpenAL run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
What are alternatives to OpenAL?
RetroArch, OpenTTD, Steam, Celestia and PPSSPP. The alternatives page compares them.
