The quickest way to turn on noise cancelling

On AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, press and hold the noise control button (the stem on AirPods Pro, or the Digital Crown on AirPods Max) until you hear a chime. This cycles through three modes: Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and Off. Release when you reach the mode you want.

If you have AirPods Pro (2nd generation) or AirPods Max, you can also swipe up or down on the stem or Digital Crown to cycle through modes without holding. A single press and hold still works if you prefer that method.

Standard AirPods and AirPods (3rd generation) do not have noise cancelling — only AirPods Pro and AirPods Max include this feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the stem (AirPods Pro) or Digital Crown (AirPods Max) until you hear a chime to cycle through noise cancelling modes.
  • AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Max let you swipe the stem or Digital Crown up and down to switch modes without holding.
  • You can also control noise cancelling from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac by opening Control Center and tapping the audio card.
  • Standard AirPods and AirPods (3rd generation) do not have active noise cancelling at all.

Controlling noise cancelling from your iPhone or iPad

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (iPhone X and later) or swiping up from the bottom (iPhone 8 and earlier). Look for the audio card showing your AirPods name.

Long-press the audio card to see noise control options. You will see three buttons: Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and Off. Tap the one you want. This method works on any iPhone or iPad paired with your AirPods.

If you do not see the audio card, make sure your AirPods are connected. Swipe left or right in Control Center to find the audio controls if they are not visible on the first screen.

Controlling noise cancelling from your Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar. Look for the sound or audio section, then click the dropdown next to your AirPods name.

You will see the same three options: Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and Off. Click the mode you want. On some Mac models, you may need to scroll down in Control Center to find the audio controls.

What Active Noise Cancelling actually does

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) uses tiny microphones on your AirPods 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 — not on sudden sounds like someone talking or a door slamming.

When ANC is on, your AirPods use more battery. AirPods Pro last about 6 hours with ANC on, or up to 30 hours with the charging case. AirPods Max last about 20 hours with ANC on.

Transparency mode does the opposite: it amplifies outside sound so you can hear your surroundings while keeping your AirPods in. This is useful when you need to hear traffic, announcements, or someone talking to you.

Troubleshooting noise cancelling that is not working

First, check that you have AirPods Pro or AirPods Max — standard AirPods do not have this feature. Then make sure your AirPods firmware is up to date. Firmware updates happen automatically when your AirPods are in their case and near your iPhone, but you can force a check by opening Settings on your iPhone, going to General, then About, and looking for your AirPods in the list.

If noise cancelling is on but not working well, try removing and reinserting your AirPods. A poor seal in your ear reduces how well ANC works. Make sure you are using the correct ear tip size — AirPods Pro come with three sizes (small, medium, large). Go to Settings on your iPhone, tap Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and select Ear Tip Fit Test to find the right size.

If one AirPod has noise cancelling and the other does not, one of them may need a restart. Put both AirPods in their case for 15 seconds, then take them out and reconnect them to your device.

Switching between noise cancelling and transparency without holding

On AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Max, you can set up a quick toggle between just two modes instead of cycling through all three. Open Settings on your iPhone, go to Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, then scroll to Noise Control and choose which two modes you want to switch between.

For example, you could set it so swiping the stem toggles only between Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency, skipping the Off mode entirely. This is faster if you use only two modes regularly.

Battery drain and noise cancelling

Active Noise Cancelling uses more power than regular listening because the microphones and processing run constantly. If you notice your AirPods draining faster than usual, turning off ANC when you do not need it extends battery life.

Transparency mode also uses more battery than having noise control off entirely, but less than Active Noise Cancelling. If you are in a quiet environment and do not need either mode, turning both off gives you the longest listening time before you need to charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use noise cancelling on both AirPods at once?

Yes. Noise cancelling works on both AirPods simultaneously. If only one AirPod has noise cancelling active, restart both by placing them in the case for 15 seconds, then remove and reconnect them.

Does noise cancelling work if I am on a phone call?

Yes. Active Noise Cancelling stays on during calls and helps reduce background noise for the person listening to you. You can toggle between ANC and Transparency during a call using the same button or Control Center method.

Why does noise cancelling sound like a pressure change in my ears?

This is normal and happens because ANC creates a slight pressure sensation as it cancels low-frequency sound. If it bothers you, try Transparency mode instead, or turn noise control off. The sensation usually fades as you get used to it.

Do I need to turn off noise cancelling before putting my AirPods in the case?

No. Your AirPods automatically pause audio and enter a low-power state when you put them in the case, regardless of which noise control mode was active. You do not need to manually switch modes first.

Can I use noise cancelling with non-Apple devices?

Yes. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max work with Android phones, Windows computers, and other Bluetooth devices. Noise cancelling functions the same way — press and hold the stem or Digital Crown to cycle through modes. Control Center controls are only available on Apple devices.