How to Turn Noise Cancelling On AirPods: A Complete Guide

Apple's AirPods lineup includes some of the most widely used wireless earbuds on the market, and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is one of their standout features. But not every AirPods model has it, and the way you enable or adjust it depends on which model you own, what device you're connected to, and how your settings are configured. Here's everything you need to know. 🎧

Which AirPods Actually Have Noise Cancellation?

Before diving into the how, it's worth confirming the what. Not all AirPods include ANC.

If you own standard AirPods (2nd or 3rd generation), noise cancellation simply isn't available as a hardware feature — no setting will unlock it.

How to Turn On Noise Cancelling: The Main Methods

Method 1: Press the AirPods Themselves

For AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), the quickest way is directly on the earbud:

• AirPods Pro (1st Gen): Press and hold the force sensor on the stem until you hear a chime. This cycles through Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, and Off.
• AirPods Pro (2nd Gen): Press and hold the stem the same way, but you can also use the new touch controls — swipe up or down on the stem to adjust volume, and press to switch listening modes.

For AirPods Max, press the Digital Crown to cycle between Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.

Method 2: Control Center on iPhone or iPad

If your AirPods are connected to an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14 or later:

1. Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner on Face ID devices, or swipe up on older models)
2. Long-press the volume slider — this expands the audio controls
3. Tap the Noise Control icon (bottom-left of the expanded view)
4. Select Noise Cancellation

This method works well when you don't want to fiddle with the earbuds themselves.

Method 3: Through Bluetooth Settings on iPhone/iPad

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth
2. Tap the ⓘ icon next to your AirPods
3. Under Noise Control, select Noise Cancellation

You can also set which modes are available when using the physical press controls on the earbuds — useful if you want to limit cycling to just two modes instead of three.

Method 4: On Mac

1. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar (top-right)
2. Click on Sound or directly on your AirPods name
3. You'll see options for Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off

Alternatively, go to System Settings → Sound, select your AirPods as the output device, and the noise control options will appear.

Method 5: Apple Watch

If your AirPods are connected through your Apple Watch:

1. While audio is playing, tap the AirPlay icon in the Now Playing app
2. Tap your AirPods to reveal the listening mode options

What "Off" Mode Actually Means

When you select Off (sometimes labeled "Neither"), noise cancellation is disabled but so is Transparency. This is called standard isolation — you're just relying on the physical seal of the ear tip to passively block sound. Some users prefer this for music listening when they don't need full ANC but also don't want ambient sound piped in.

Adaptive Audio: The Newer Option on AirPods Pro 2

AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) introduced Adaptive Audio with a firmware update. This mode automatically blends noise cancellation and transparency depending on your environment — quieter in loud settings, more open in calm ones.

To enable Adaptive Audio:

• In Settings → Bluetooth → AirPods Pro ⓘ, look for Adaptive Audio under the Noise Control section
• You can also set it as a default mode or add it to your press-and-hold cycle

Conversation Awareness is a related feature on the same model — it automatically lowers your audio and lets in ambient sound when it detects you're speaking.

Factors That Affect How Well ANC Performs

Even with ANC turned on, the experience varies based on several factors:

• Ear tip fit — AirPods Pro include multiple tip sizes, and a poor seal significantly reduces ANC effectiveness. Use the Ear Tip Fit Test (Settings → Bluetooth → AirPods Pro ⓘ → Ear Tip Fit Test) to check your seal.
• Type of noise — ANC handles low-frequency, consistent noise (like airplane engines or HVAC systems) much better than sudden, irregular, or high-pitched sounds.
• Firmware version — Apple updates AirPods firmware automatically over the air when connected and charging. Older firmware can affect feature availability and ANC performance.
• Connected device — Some ANC controls are only available when connected to an Apple device running a compatible OS version. Android connections offer basic functionality but typically lack the full settings menu.

ANC on Non-Apple Devices

AirPods Pro will work with Android phones and other Bluetooth devices, but the settings interface is limited. You won't get the Bluetooth settings panel with noise control options. Your best bet is to use the physical stem controls to cycle through modes, since those work regardless of the connected device.

The right noise cancellation setup depends on more than just flipping a switch — it comes down to which AirPods model you're using, the device it's paired to, your ear tip fit, and what kind of audio environment you're trying to manage. Those variables make the difference between ANC that genuinely transforms your listening experience and one that feels like it's barely doing anything.