diff --git a/Gems/AudioEngineWwise/gem.json b/Gems/AudioEngineWwise/gem.json
index dc5f968bc7..699ed8419a 100644
--- a/Gems/AudioEngineWwise/gem.json
+++ b/Gems/AudioEngineWwise/gem.json
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@
     "canonical_tags": ["Gem"],
     "user_tags": ["Audio", "Utility", "Tools"],
     "icon_path": "preview.png",
-    "requirements": "Users will need to download WWise from the AudioKinetic web site: https://www.audiokinetic.com/download/"
+    "requirements": "Users will need to download Wwise from the Audiokinetic web site: https://www.audiokinetic.com/download/"
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6b88097739..c129fffb6c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,11 +41,13 @@ git clone https://github.com/o3de/o3de.git
 
 #### Optional
 
-*   Wwise - 2021.1.1.7601 minimum: [https://www.audiokinetic.com/download/](https://www.audiokinetic.com/download/)
+*   Wwise version 2021.1.1.7601 minimum: [https://www.audiokinetic.com/download/](https://www.audiokinetic.com/download/)
     *   Note: This requires registration and installation of a client application to download
-    *   Make sure to select the SDK(C++) component during installation of Wwise
-    *   You will also need to set an environment variable: `set LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH=<path to Wwise version>`
-    *   For example: `set LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH="C:\Program Files (x86)\Audiokinetic\Wwise 2021.1.1.7601"`
+    *   Note: It is generally okay to use a more recent version of Wwise, but some SDK updates will require code changes
+    *   Make sure to select the `SDK(C++)` component during installation of Wwise
+    *   CMake can find the Wwise install location in two ways:
+        *   The `LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH` CMake cache variable -- this is checked first
+        *   The `WWISEROOT` environment variable which is set when installing Wwise SDK
 
 ### Quick Start Build Steps
 
@@ -54,8 +56,7 @@ git clone https://github.com/o3de/o3de.git
 1.  Install the following redistributables to the following:
     - Visual Studio and VC++ redistributable can be installed to any location
     - CMake can be installed to any location, as long as it's available in the system path
-    - (Optional) Wwise can be installed anywhere, but you will need to set an environment variable for CMake to detect it:  `set LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH=<path to Wwise>`
-    
+
 1.  Configure the source into a solution using this command line, replacing <your build path> and <3rdParty cache path> to a path you've created:
     ```
     cmake -B <your build path> -S <your source path> -G "Visual Studio 16" -DLY_3RDPARTY_PATH=<3rdParty cache path> -DLY_UNITY_BUILD=ON -DLY_PROJECTS=AutomatedTesting 
diff --git a/cmake/3rdParty/FindWwise.cmake b/cmake/3rdParty/FindWwise.cmake
index 8cd6db31dd..4cb95da319 100644
--- a/cmake/3rdParty/FindWwise.cmake
+++ b/cmake/3rdParty/FindWwise.cmake
@@ -6,25 +6,16 @@
 #
 #
 
-# The current supported version of Wwise
-set(WWISE_VERSION 2021.1.1.7601)
-
 # Wwise Install Path
-# Initialize to the default 3rdParty path
-set(LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH "" CACHE PATH "Path to Wwise version ${WWISE_VERSION} installation.")
+set(LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH "" CACHE PATH "Path to Wwise installation.")
 
+# Check for a known file in the SDK path to verify the path
 function(is_valid_sdk sdk_path is_valid)
     set(${is_valid} FALSE PARENT_SCOPE)
     if(EXISTS ${sdk_path})
         set(sdk_version_file ${sdk_path}/SDK/include/AK/AkWwiseSDKVersion.h)
         if(EXISTS ${sdk_version_file})
-            string(FIND ${sdk_path} ${WWISE_VERSION} index)
-            if(NOT index EQUAL -1)
-                set(${is_valid} TRUE PARENT_SCOPE)
-            else()
-                # The install path doesn't contain the WWISE_VERSION string.
-                # The path could still be correct, but it would require parsing the AkWwiseSDKVersion.h to verify.
-            endif()
+            set(${is_valid} TRUE PARENT_SCOPE)
         endif()
     endif()
 endfunction()
@@ -32,19 +23,17 @@ endfunction()
 # Paths that will be checked, in order:
 # - CMake cache variable
 # - WWISEROOT Environment Variable
-# - Standard 3rdParty path
 set(WWISE_SDK_PATHS
     "${LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH}"
     "$ENV{WWISEROOT}"
-    "${LY_3RDPARTY_PATH}/Wwise/${WWISE_VERSION}"
 )
 
 set(found_sdk FALSE)
-foreach(test_path ${WWISE_SDK_PATHS})
-    is_valid_sdk(${test_path} found_sdk)
+foreach(candidate_path ${WWISE_SDK_PATHS})
+    is_valid_sdk(${candidate_path} found_sdk)
     if(found_sdk)
-        # Update the Wwise Install Path cache variable
-        set(LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH "${test_path}")
+        # Update the Wwise Install Path variable internally
+        set(LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH "${candidate_path}")
         break()
     endif()
 endforeach()
@@ -112,15 +101,14 @@ set(WWISE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS
 )
 
 
-# The default install path might look different than the standard 3rdParty format (${LY_3RDPARTY_PATH}/<Name>/<Version>).
 # Use these to get the parent path and folder name before adding the external 3p target.
-get_filename_component(WWISE_3P_ROOT ${LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH} DIRECTORY)
+get_filename_component(WWISE_INSTALL_ROOT ${LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH} DIRECTORY)
 get_filename_component(WWISE_FOLDER ${LY_WWISE_INSTALL_PATH} NAME)
 
 ly_add_external_target(
     NAME Wwise
     VERSION "${WWISE_FOLDER}"
-    3RDPARTY_ROOT_DIRECTORY "${WWISE_3P_ROOT}"
+    3RDPARTY_ROOT_DIRECTORY "${WWISE_INSTALL_ROOT}"
     INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES SDK/include
     COMPILE_DEFINITIONS ${WWISE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS}
 )