The quickest way to turn on noise cancellation

Open Control Center on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac by swiping down from the top-right corner (iPhone and iPad) or clicking the Control Center icon in the menu bar (Mac). Find the sound control card — it shows a speaker icon and volume slider. Press and hold this card to expand it, then tap the noise control icon at the bottom. You'll see three options: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Active Noise Cancellation to turn it on.

Your AirPods Pro will immediately begin blocking outside sound. The switch takes effect in seconds, and you'll notice the change as background noise fades. If you're on a call or listening to audio, the transition happens without interrupting what you're hearing.

Key Takeaways

  • Control Center is the fastest way to switch noise cancellation on and off without opening Settings.
  • You can also hold down either AirPod for a few seconds to cycle through noise modes, though this method is slower than Control Center.
  • Noise cancellation works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, but the steps differ slightly depending on your device.
  • Once you turn on Active Noise Cancellation, it stays on until you manually switch to Transparency mode or Off.

Using the physical button on your AirPods Pro

Each AirPod Pro has a force sensor on its stem — the narrow part below the speaker. Press and hold either stem for about two seconds until you hear a chime. This cycles through your three noise modes: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Keep holding until you reach the mode you want.

This method works anywhere without needing your phone, but it's slower than Control Center because you have to cycle through all three modes. If you're already in Transparency mode and want Active Noise Cancellation, you'll have to hold the stem twice. For frequent switching, Control Center is more efficient.

Turning on noise cancellation from Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Bluetooth. Find your AirPods Pro in the list and tap the info icon (a circle with an "i"). Scroll down to find "Noise Control" and you'll see the same three options: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Active Noise Cancellation.

This route takes longer than Control Center and is mainly useful if you want to change your default noise mode or check which mode is currently active. Most people use Control Center instead because it's faster and doesn't require opening multiple apps.

Noise cancellation on Mac and Apple Watch

On a Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar (top-right corner), then click the sound control card. You'll see the same three noise options. Select Active Noise Cancellation. On an Apple Watch, open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, find the sound icon, and tap it to cycle through noise modes.

The Watch method cycles through modes rather than showing all three at once, so you may need to tap multiple times to reach Active Noise Cancellation. If your Mac and AirPods Pro are connected to the same Apple account, changing the mode on one device doesn't automatically change it on the other — each device controls its own setting.

What happens when noise cancellation is on

Active Noise Cancellation uses microphones on each AirPod to listen to outside sound, then plays an inverted sound wave to cancel it out. This works best on steady, low-frequency noise like airplane engines, traffic, or air conditioning. It's less effective on sudden or high-pitched sounds like voices or car horns.

Noise cancellation drains your battery faster than normal listening. Apple estimates you'll get about 6 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on, compared to 6 hours with it off (though real-world results vary based on volume and audio content). If your battery is low, switching to Transparency mode or Off will extend your listening time.

Switching between noise modes without Control Center

If you don't want to open Control Center every time, you can set up a shortcut. On iPhone, open the Shortcuts app and create a new automation that runs when you connect to your AirPods Pro. Add an action to change the noise control mode. This lets you automate noise cancellation based on location, time of day, or which app you open.

You can also ask Siri to change your noise mode by saying "Hey Siri, turn on noise cancellation" or "Hey Siri, switch to Transparency." Siri responds by changing the mode on whichever device you're using. This works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, though you need to have Siri enabled in Settings.

Troubleshooting noise cancellation that won't turn on

If Active Noise Cancellation isn't working, first check that your AirPods Pro firmware is up to date. Connect them to your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and scroll to the bottom to see the firmware version. If an update is available, it will download automatically the next time your AirPods are near your iPhone and plugged into power.

If the option is grayed out or missing, restart your AirPods by going to Settings > Bluetooth, tapping the info icon, and selecting "Forget This Device." Then hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white, and pair them again. If noise cancellation still doesn't work after these steps, one or both AirPods may have a hardware issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does noise cancellation work if I'm on a phone call?

Yes. Active Noise Cancellation works during calls, though the microphones prioritize picking up your voice so the other person can hear you clearly. You'll notice less background noise reduction during a call than when you're just listening to audio, because the AirPods need to capture your voice accurately.

Can I set different noise modes for different apps?

Not automatically. You can create a Shortcut that changes your noise mode when you open a specific app, but this requires manual setup in the Shortcuts app. For example, you could set up a shortcut that turns on Transparency when you open Maps for navigation, then switches back to Active Noise Cancellation when you close it.

Will noise cancellation work if my AirPods Pro are low on battery?

Yes, but it will drain the remaining battery faster. If your AirPods show a low battery warning, switching to Transparency or Off will extend your listening time. Once the battery drops below a certain level, noise cancellation may stop working to preserve power for basic audio playback.

What's the difference between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode?

Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside sound using inverted sound waves. Transparency mode uses the microphones to pick up outside sound and play it through your AirPods, so you can hear your surroundings while still wearing them. Off disables both features and gives you the longest battery life.