The quickest way to turn on noise cancelling

Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, press and hold the volume slider, then tap the noise control icon at the bottom left. You'll see three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Noise Cancellation. Your AirPods Pro will switch modes immediately.

On a Mac, click the volume icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click the noise control icon (it looks like a circle with sound waves) and select Noise Cancellation from the dropdown menu.

If you're using an Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center, then tap the noise control icon and select Noise Cancellation.

Key Takeaways

  • Noise Cancellation is turned on through Control Center on your device, not through the AirPods themselves.
  • You can switch between Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off by tapping the noise control icon in Control Center.
  • Siri can turn on Noise Cancellation if you say "Hey Siri, turn on Noise Cancellation," though this works best when your device is unlocked.
  • Noise Cancellation drains your AirPods Pro battery faster than other modes, so switch to Off or Transparency if you need them to last longer.

Using Siri to control noise cancelling

Say "Hey Siri, turn on Noise Cancellation" and Siri will switch the mode for you. You can also say "Hey Siri, turn on Transparency" or "Hey Siri, turn off Noise Cancellation." This works on any device your AirPods Pro are connected to, as long as Siri is enabled.

Siri responds faster when your device is unlocked, but you can use voice commands even when it's locked. If Siri doesn't respond, check that Siri is turned on in Settings > Siri & Search on your iPhone or iPad.

What Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode do

Noise Cancellation uses microphones on your AirPods Pro to listen to outside sound, then plays the opposite sound wave to cancel it out. This works best for steady, low-frequency noise like airplane engines, traffic, or air conditioning. It's less effective at blocking sudden, high-pitched sounds like a dog barking or someone shouting.

Transparency mode does the opposite — it amplifies outside sound so you can hear what's happening around you without removing your AirPods. This is useful when you're walking, cooking, or need to hear someone talking to you. The microphones pick up ambient sound and play it through your AirPods at a volume you control.

Turning Noise Cancellation off disables both features and gives you the longest battery life. Your AirPods will still play audio, but you won't get any active noise control.

Battery drain and noise cancelling

Noise Cancellation uses more power than other modes because the microphones and processors are constantly working. With Noise Cancellation on, your AirPods Pro last about 4 hours per charge. With Transparency mode, you get about 4 hours as well. With Noise Cancellation and Transparency both off, you can stretch that to around 6 hours.

The charging case holds multiple charges — you can recharge your AirPods Pro about five times before the case itself needs to be plugged in. If you're on a long flight or commute and battery is a concern, switch to Off mode for the last part of your journey.

Switching between modes without Control Center

If you've set up a custom noise control shortcut, you can press and hold the force sensor (the stem) on one AirPod to cycle through your chosen modes. By default, this cycles through Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off in order.

To change which modes appear in this cycle, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, tap the info icon next to your AirPods Pro, scroll down to Noise Control, and select which two modes you want to cycle between. You can choose any two of the three options.

Troubleshooting when noise cancelling won't turn on

If the noise control icon doesn't appear in Control Center, your AirPods Pro may not be connected. Open Settings > Bluetooth and make sure your AirPods Pro show as connected. If they're listed but grayed out, tap them once to reconnect.

If Noise Cancellation is grayed out or unavailable, restart your AirPods Pro by going to Settings > Bluetooth, tapping the info icon next to your AirPods Pro, 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 with your device.

Make sure your AirPods Pro firmware is current. Firmware updates happen automatically when your AirPods are connected and charging, but you can check the version in Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods Pro info. If the version hasn't changed in several weeks, try leaving your AirPods in the case and plugged in overnight.

Noise cancelling on different devices

Noise Cancellation works the same way across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch — the setting syncs automatically once you turn it on. If you turn on Noise Cancellation on your iPhone, your AirPods will stay in that mode when you switch to your Mac or iPad.

You can override this by changing the mode on any device. For example, if Noise Cancellation is on and you switch to Transparency on your Apple Watch, your AirPods will switch to Transparency across all your devices. This syncing happens instantly as long as your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network or connected through Bluetooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does noise cancelling work with non-Apple devices?

AirPods Pro connect to Android phones and other non-Apple devices, but Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode only work with Apple devices. On Android, your AirPods Pro will play audio normally but won't have active noise control. You can still use them as regular wireless earbuds.

Why does noise cancelling sound like it's making a hissing noise?

Some people hear a faint hissing or whooshing sound when Noise Cancellation is on, especially in quiet environments. This is the sound of the active noise cancellation system working. It's normal and usually fades into the background once you start playing audio. If it's very loud or bothersome, try Transparency mode instead.

Can I use noise cancelling while on a phone call?

Yes. Noise Cancellation stays on during calls and helps reduce background noise so the person on the other end hears you more clearly. You can also switch to Transparency mode during a call if you want to hear your surroundings while talking.

Will noise cancelling drain my battery faster if I'm not listening to anything?

Yes. Noise Cancellation uses power even when no audio is playing because the microphones are still running. If you're wearing your AirPods but not listening to anything, switch to Off mode to save battery.