Noise cancellation on AirPods works through your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — not through the AirPods themselves

AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have built-in noise cancellation, but you control it from your device, not from the earbuds. When you switch noise cancellation on, your AirPods use microphones to listen to outside sound and play an opposite sound wave to cancel it out. The result is a quieter environment without turning up the volume.

Standard AirPods (2nd generation and earlier) do not have noise cancellation. Only AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max support this feature. If you have a different model, you will not see these options on your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Noise cancellation is controlled from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac through Settings or Control Center, not from the AirPods themselves.
  • You can switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off by opening Control Center and holding down the volume slider.
  • On iPhone and iPad, you can also change noise cancellation settings in Settings > Bluetooth > Your AirPods > Noise Control.
  • Noise cancellation drains the battery faster than normal listening, so you may need to charge more often during heavy use.

Turn on noise cancellation from Control Center on iPhone or iPad

Control Center is the fastest way to switch noise cancellation on and off. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center. Look for the volume slider — it shows a small icon next to it that represents your current audio mode.

Press and hold the volume slider. A menu appears with three options: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Active Noise Cancellation. Your AirPods will now filter out background noise. The icon next to the volume slider changes to show that noise cancellation is on.

To turn it off, return to Control Center, hold the volume slider again, and tap Off. You can switch between these three modes as many times as you need throughout the day.

Change noise cancellation settings on iPhone or iPad through Settings

If you want to set a default noise cancellation mode or check which mode is active, you can do this in the Settings app. Open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list and tap the information icon (a small circle with an "i") next to them.

Scroll down to find Noise Control. You will see three options listed: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. The one with a checkmark is currently active. Tap any option to change it. This setting becomes your default, but you can still override it anytime using Control Center.

Turn on noise cancellation on Mac

On a Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar (it looks like a rectangle with sliders). Scroll down until you see the volume control. Click and hold on the volume slider to reveal the noise control options.

You will see three choices: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Click Active Noise Cancellation to turn it on. On older Mac models, you may need to access this through System Preferences instead — open System Preferences, click Sound, then select your AirPods and choose the noise control mode from the dropdown.

Understanding the three noise control modes

Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside sound by playing inverted sound waves. This works best for steady, low-frequency noise like airplane engines, traffic, or air conditioning. It is less effective at blocking sudden loud noises or human voices.

Transparency mode does the opposite — it amplifies outside sound so you can hear your surroundings while still wearing your AirPods. This is useful when you need to hear someone talking to you, listen for traffic, or stay aware of your environment. Transparency mode uses the same microphones as noise cancellation but plays the outside sound through your AirPods instead of blocking it.

Off means neither noise cancellation nor transparency is active. You hear only what comes through your AirPods audio and whatever sound reaches your ears naturally. This uses the least battery power of the three modes.

Why noise cancellation drains your battery faster

Noise cancellation requires your AirPods to constantly run their microphones and process audio in real time. This takes more power than passive listening. On AirPods Pro, you may notice the battery drains noticeably faster when noise cancellation is on compared to when it is off.

If you find yourself charging your AirPods more often than before, switching to Transparency mode or Off when you do not need noise cancellation will extend the time between charges. On a full charge, AirPods Pro last about 6 hours with noise cancellation on, or up to 8 hours with it off.

Troubleshooting: noise cancellation is not working

If you have turned on Active Noise Cancellation but it does not seem to be working, first check that both AirPods are in your ears properly. Noise cancellation requires both earbuds to be seated correctly — if one is loose or out, the feature may not function. Remove both and reinsert them firmly.

Next, make sure your AirPods firmware is up to date. Connect them to your device and go to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the information icon next to your AirPods. Scroll to the bottom to see the firmware version. If an update is available, your device will prompt you to install it automatically the next time your AirPods are charging and connected to power.

If noise cancellation still does not work, try forgetting and re-pairing your AirPods. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPods, and select Forget This Device. Then place your AirPods in their case, open the case near your iPhone, and follow the pairing steps that appear on screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use noise cancellation on multiple devices at once?

No. Noise cancellation is controlled by whichever device your AirPods are currently connected to. If you switch from your iPhone to your Mac, you will need to turn on noise cancellation again on the Mac. Your AirPods will automatically switch to whichever device you are actively using, but the noise control setting does not carry over.

Does noise cancellation work with phone calls?

Yes. When you are on a call, noise cancellation helps filter out background noise on your end so the person you are talking to hears you more clearly. Transparency mode also works during calls if you want to hear your surroundings while talking.

Why does noise cancellation sound weird sometimes?

Noise cancellation works best on constant, low-frequency sounds. If you are in a quiet room or around unpredictable noises, you may hear a slight hissing or feel pressure in your ears — this is the noise cancellation processing working. If it feels uncomfortable, switch to Transparency mode or Off.

Do I need to turn noise cancellation on every time I use my AirPods?

No. Your AirPods remember the last noise control mode you used. If you turned on Active Noise Cancellation before taking them off, they will turn it back on the next time you put them in your ears and connect to your device.