Want to turn on noise cancelling on your AirPods, or switch on Transparency mode so you can hear what’s around you? You can do this directly on the AirPod, in Control Centre or in Settings. Here’s which models support it, how to switch between listening modes and what helps if noise cancellation isn’t working properly.
Which models have noise cancellation?
- With noise cancellation and Transparency mode: AirPods Pro 1, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
- Without these listening modes: AirPods 1, AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 without ANC.
- Beats: Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds +, Powerbeats Fit and Powerbeats Pro 2 have both modes. Beats Solo Buds don’t.
Whether you have AirPods 4 with or without ANC is explained in the guide AirPods 4 with or without ANC.
The listening modes in brief
- Noise Cancellation: microphones pick up the sounds around you, and the AirPods play matching anti-noise. Trains, planes or offices then sound much quieter.
- Transparency: the AirPods let outside sounds in. You can hear announcements, traffic or conversations even while music is playing.
- Adaptive: the AirPods blend both and continuously adjust to your surroundings. This is available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with ANC.
- Off: all listening modes are turned off.
Turn on AirPods noise cancelling: three ways
On the AirPod: press and hold the stem of an AirPod until you hear a chime. Each time, you switch to the next listening mode.
In Control Centre:
- Put in your AirPods and open Control Centre on your iPhone.
- Touch and hold the volume control until more buttons appear.
- Tap “Listening Mode” and choose “Noise Cancellation”, “Transparency”, “Adaptive” or “Off”.
In Settings: open “Settings”, tap the name of your AirPods near the top and choose the mode you want under “Listening Mode”. On a Mac, click the icon for your AirPods in the menu bar.
Choose what the stem does
If nothing happens when you press and hold, or Siri starts, the stem has been given a different job. Open “Settings”, tap the name of your AirPods and choose the left or right AirPod under “Press and Hold AirPods”. Select the listening modes there and choose which modes you want to switch between.
With Android phones
Android phones don’t have the settings the iPhone offers for AirPods. Switching by pressing and holding the stem usually still works. For Beats on Android, use the Beats app. There’s more on this in the guide Connect AirPods to Android.
Noise cancellation not working properly?
- Check the mode: with “Adaptive”, the AirPods let more sound through depending on your surroundings. To test, choose “Noise Cancellation”.
- Check the fit: with AirPods Pro, the ear tips need to seal your ear canal well. Take the fit test on your iPhone and try a different size, as described in the guide Change AirPods Pro ear tips.
- Keep the microphones clear: if they’re covered or dirty, noise cancellation is weaker and you may hear whistling or hissing. Carefully clean the meshes with a soft, dry brush.
- Update the software on your iPhone and your AirPods.
- If noise cancellation won’t turn on at all, reset the AirPods. How to do this is explained in the guide Reset AirPods.
If noise cancellation is still weak on one side despite all this, or one AirPod hisses constantly, that AirPod is probably faulty. You don’t need a new pair for this: at Lostpod, you can get the left or right AirPod individually, as a genuine replacement part.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to turn noise cancellation on separately?
You choose the listening mode yourself, on the stem, in Control Centre or in Settings. If it’s set to “Transparency” or “Off”, noise cancellation isn’t active.
What does noise cancellation do on AirPods?
Sounds around you become much quieter, especially steady ones such as engines or fans. This often lets you listen at a lower volume. However, sounds don’t disappear completely.
Does noise cancellation work with just one AirPod?
Yes, if you turn it on: “Settings”, “Accessibility”, tap “AirPods” under “Accessories” and turn on “Noise Cancellation with One AirPod”.
How do I turn off all listening modes?
Choose the “Off” listening mode. On AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, “Off” only appears once you’ve turned it on in your AirPods’ settings. This also turns off Hearing Protection on these models.
