The quickest way to disable noise cancellation

On most AirPods models, you turn off noise cancellation by opening Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, pressing and holding the volume slider, then tapping the noise control icon until it shows "Off" instead of "Noise Cancellation" or "Transparency". The icon cycles through three modes: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. You can also disable it from the Bluetooth settings on your device, or by using Siri to say "Turn off noise cancellation".

Which method works depends on your AirPods model and what device you're using. AirPods Pro (both generations), AirPods Max, and AirPods (3rd generation) all have noise cancellation. Older AirPods and AirPods 2 do not have this feature at all, so there's nothing to turn off.

The setting syncs across your Apple devices if they're signed into the same iCloud account, so turning it off on your iPhone usually turns it off on your Mac and iPad too.

Key Takeaways

  • Control Center on your iPhone is the fastest way to toggle noise cancellation off — hold the volume slider and tap the noise control icon.
  • Noise cancellation cycles through three modes: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off, so you may need to tap the icon twice to reach Off.
  • You can also disable it through Bluetooth settings or by telling Siri to turn it off.
  • The setting syncs across all your Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.
  • Only AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and AirPods (3rd generation) have noise cancellation — older models cannot turn it off because they don't have it.

Using Control Center on iPhone or iPad

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (on newer iPhones) or swiping up from the bottom (on older models). You'll see a volume slider with a speaker icon. Press and hold that slider — don't just tap it.

A menu will expand showing your noise control options. You'll see an icon that currently shows either "Noise Cancellation" or "Transparency". Tap that icon to cycle through the modes. The first tap switches to the next mode, the second tap switches again. Keep tapping until you see "Off".

Once you've selected Off, close Control Center by swiping up (if you swiped down to open it) or swiping down (if you swiped up). Your AirPods will stop canceling noise immediately.

Turning it off through Bluetooth settings

Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, then tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list of connected devices and tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle) next to them.

Scroll down until you see "Noise Control" or "Noise Cancellation". You'll see three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap "Off".

This method takes longer than Control Center, but it's useful if you want to change other AirPods settings at the same time, like microphone input or automatic ear detection.

Using Siri to disable noise cancellation

Hold down the side button on your iPhone (or say "Hey Siri" if you have voice activation on) and say "Turn off noise cancellation". Siri will confirm the change out loud.

You can also say "Turn on Transparency" to switch to Transparency mode instead of Off. This is the fastest method if your hands are full or you're driving, but it requires Siri to be enabled on your device.

What happens when you turn noise cancellation off

When noise cancellation is off, your AirPods stop actively blocking outside sound. You'll hear ambient noise — traffic, conversations, background hum — at normal volume. This is different from Transparency mode, which actively lets outside sound in so you can hear your surroundings while still wearing the AirPods.

Turning off noise cancellation doesn't affect battery life in any meaningful way. The power savings from disabling it are minimal because the feature uses very little battery compared to the Bluetooth connection itself.

If you turn off noise cancellation and then take your AirPods out and put them back in, they'll remember your setting and stay in Off mode. You don't have to turn it off again.

Why you might want to turn it off

Noise cancellation can feel uncomfortable during long listening sessions because it creates a slight pressure sensation in your ears. Some people find Transparency mode more natural for everyday use because it lets them hear their surroundings without that pressure.

You might also turn it off if you're in a situation where you want to hear everything around you — like when you're with family, in a meeting, or walking in traffic. Off mode uses less processing power than Noise Cancellation, though the difference in battery drain is small.

Some people turn it off simply because they prefer the sound quality without it. Noise cancellation can slightly change the audio profile, and not everyone likes that change.

Troubleshooting if noise cancellation won't turn off

If the noise control icon doesn't appear in Control Center, make sure your AirPods are actually connected. Go to Bluetooth settings and confirm they show as "Connected" next to their name.

If they're connected but the icon still doesn't show, try restarting your iPhone. Hold the power button, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. Once it's on, open Control Center again and try toggling noise cancellation.

If you're using AirPods that are more than a few years old, they may not have noise cancellation at all. Check your model: only AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and AirPods (3rd generation) support this feature. You can find your model in Settings > Bluetooth > your AirPods info.

If you've tried these steps and noise cancellation still won't turn off, try forgetting the AirPods from Bluetooth settings and reconnecting them. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and select "Forget This Device". Then put your AirPods in pairing mode and reconnect them to your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off noise cancellation on just one AirPod?

No. Noise cancellation is a feature of the pair, not individual earbuds. When you turn it off, it turns off on both AirPods at the same time. You can't have noise cancellation on one earbud and off on the other.

Will turning off noise cancellation save battery?

Not significantly. The battery savings from disabling noise cancellation are minimal — usually less than 5% difference in total listening time. The Bluetooth connection itself uses far more power than the noise cancellation feature.

What's the difference between Off and Transparency mode?

Off means your AirPods are passive — they don't actively do anything with outside sound. Transparency mode actively lets outside sound in and amplifies it so you can hear your surroundings clearly while wearing the AirPods. Transparency uses slightly more battery than Off mode.

Do I have to turn off noise cancellation every time I use my AirPods?

No. Your AirPods remember the last mode you used. If you turn off noise cancellation and then take them out, they'll stay in Off mode the next time you put them in — unless you change the setting again.

Why does noise cancellation feel uncomfortable?

Noise cancellation works by playing inverted sound waves into your ears to cancel outside noise. This creates a slight pressure sensation that some people find uncomfortable during long sessions. If this bothers you, Transparency mode or Off mode may feel more natural.