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

AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have noise cancellation built in, but you control it from your device, not from the earbuds. You can turn it on in Settings, through Control Center, or by holding down the stem on AirPods Pro. The setting stays on until you switch to a different mode or turn it off.

AirPods 2 and the original AirPods do not have noise cancellation. If you have those models, this feature is not available to you. You can check which AirPods you own by opening Settings, going to Bluetooth, and looking at the model name next to your AirPods in the list.

Key Takeaways

  • Only AirPods Pro and AirPods Max support noise cancellation; AirPods 2 and the original AirPods do not have this feature.
  • You control noise cancellation from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac through Settings, Control Center, or by pressing the stem on AirPods Pro.
  • Noise cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off are three separate modes you can switch between at any time.
  • Once you turn on noise cancellation on one device, it may not automatically turn on when you switch to a different device — you may need to set it again.

Turn on noise cancellation through 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 iPhones) to open Control Center. Look for the audio or sound icon — it usually shows a speaker with sound waves.

Press and hold the audio icon until a menu appears showing three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Noise Cancellation. Your AirPods will switch to noise cancellation mode immediately, and you will see a checkmark next to Noise Cancellation in the menu.

If you do not see the audio control in Control Center, you may need to add it first. Go to Settings, tap Control Center, scroll down to "Hearing", and tap the green plus sign next to it to add the audio control to your Control Center.

Turn on noise cancellation through Settings on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list and tap the info icon (the small circle with an "i") next to the name. Scroll down until you see "Noise Control" or "Noise Cancellation" — the exact wording depends on your iOS version.

Tap the option and select Noise Cancellation from the menu. You will see three choices: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Noise Cancellation to turn it on. Close Settings and your AirPods will stay in this mode.

Turn on noise cancellation on AirPods Pro using the stem

AirPods Pro have a physical stem on each earbud. Press and hold the stem on either earbud for about two seconds until you hear a chime. Each press cycles through Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off. Keep pressing until you reach Noise Cancellation.

This method works without opening your phone, which makes it useful when your hands are full or your phone is in another room. The stem press works the same way on both the left and right earbud, so you can use whichever one is more convenient.

Turn on noise cancellation on Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar (it looks like a grid of squares). Look for the audio or sound control and click it. A menu will appear with Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off as options. Click Noise Cancellation.

If you do not see the audio control in Control Center, open System Settings, click Control Center in the sidebar, and make sure "Sound" is toggled on. Then try Control Center again.

Understanding the three noise control modes

Noise Cancellation blocks outside sound so you hear mostly what is playing through your AirPods. This works best for steady background noise like airplane engines, traffic, or air conditioning. It is less effective at blocking sudden loud sounds or human voices.

Transparency mode lets outside sound through 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. You can hear both your audio and the world around you at the same time.

Off turns off both noise cancellation and Transparency, so your AirPods work like standard earbuds. Outside sound comes through naturally without any processing.

What to do if noise cancellation is not working

First, make sure you have AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Noise cancellation is not available on AirPods 2, the original AirPods, or AirPods 3. Check your model in Settings by going to Bluetooth, tapping the info icon next to your AirPods, and reading the model name.

If you have the right model, restart your AirPods. Put them back in their case for 15 seconds, then take them out and reconnect them to your device. Go back to Control Center or Settings and try turning on noise cancellation again.

If noise cancellation still does not work, check that your AirPods firmware is up to date. Open Settings, go to Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and look for a firmware version number. If an update is available, your AirPods will update automatically the next time they are near your device and plugged into power.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Once you set noise cancellation to on, your AirPods will stay in that mode the next time you use them — unless you manually switch to Transparency or Off. If you switch devices (from iPhone to Mac, for example), you may need to set it again on the new device.

Can I use noise cancellation and Transparency mode at the same time?

No. You can only use one mode at a time. You switch between them by pressing the stem, using Control Center, or going to Settings. Some people switch to Transparency when they need to hear someone talking, then switch back to Noise Cancellation when they are done.

Does noise cancellation drain the battery faster?

Yes, noise cancellation uses more battery than regular listening because it takes processing power to block sound. AirPods Pro last about 6 hours with noise cancellation on, and about 8 hours with it off. Putting them in the case charges them back to full in about 15 minutes.

Why does noise cancellation sound different on my Mac than on my iPhone?

Noise cancellation quality can vary slightly between devices because each device processes sound differently. This is normal. If the difference is extreme, restart your AirPods and make sure both devices are running the latest software version.

Can I turn on noise cancellation without opening my phone?

Yes, if you have AirPods Pro. Press and hold the stem for two seconds to cycle through the modes. This works without touching your phone at all. On AirPods Max, you can use the digital crown (the rotating dial on the side) to control noise cancellation.