The basic steps to enable noise cancelling

Noise cancelling on AirPods works through your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — not through the headphones themselves. You have three ways to turn it on: through Control Center, through Settings, or by asking Siri. The fastest method is Control Center if you use it regularly.

To use Control Center on iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models). Find the audio card showing your AirPods, press and hold it, then tap the noise control icon at the bottom. You'll see three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Noise Cancellation.

On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar, then find the sound control. Click your AirPods name, and you'll see the same three noise control options. Select Noise Cancellation.

Key Takeaways

  • Noise cancelling turns on through your device's Control Center or Settings, not through the AirPods themselves.
  • You can switch between Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off by holding the audio card in Control Center.
  • Siri can toggle noise cancelling if you say "Turn on noise cancellation" or "Switch to transparency mode."
  • Noise cancelling works only on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max — standard AirPods and AirPods (3rd generation) do not have this feature.

Using Settings to turn on noise cancelling

If you prefer to set noise cancelling through Settings rather than Control Center, the process takes a few more taps but works the same way. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, and tap the info icon (the small circle with an "i") next to their name.

Scroll down to the Noise Control section. You'll see three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap the one you want. This setting becomes your default, so the next time you put your AirPods in, they'll use whichever mode you selected here — unless you change it again through Control Center.

On Mac, open System Settings, click Bluetooth in the sidebar, find your AirPods, click the info icon, and scroll to Noise Control. The steps are identical from there.

What transparency mode does

Transparency mode lets you hear the world around you without taking your AirPods out. Instead of blocking sound, it uses the microphones on your AirPods to pick up ambient noise and play it through to your ears. This is useful when you're walking, cooking, or need to hear someone talking to you.

You toggle between Noise Cancellation and Transparency the same way you turn noise cancelling on — through Control Center or Settings. Many people switch between them throughout the day depending on what they're doing. You can also set one mode as your default and use Control Center to switch when you need to.

Why noise cancelling might not work

Noise cancelling only works on AirPods Pro (all generations) and AirPods Max. Standard AirPods and AirPods (3rd generation) do not have this feature, even if you own a newer iPhone or Mac. If you own a different model and don't see the noise control option, that's why.

If you own AirPods Pro but noise cancelling isn't showing up in Control Center or Settings, make sure your AirPods are connected to your device. Disconnect them and reconnect: on iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and tap Forget This Device. Then open the AirPods case near your iPhone and follow the pairing steps.

Noise cancelling also requires a recent version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS. If you haven't updated your device in several months, check for updates in Settings > General > Software Update (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings > General > Software Update (Mac).

Customizing noise control with long press

You can set up your AirPods so that a long press on one earbud cycles through your noise control modes. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and scroll to Press and Hold. You'll see options for Left and Right. Choose which earbud you want to use, then select Noise Control from the menu.

Now when you long-press that earbud, it will cycle through Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. This is faster than opening Control Center if you switch modes often. You can set the other earbud to do something different — like play or pause — if you want.

Using Siri to control noise cancelling

If your hands are full or you're driving, you can ask Siri to change your noise control mode. Say "Turn on noise cancellation," "Switch to transparency mode," or "Turn off noise cancellation." Siri will confirm which mode you've switched to.

This works on any device where Siri is enabled and your AirPods are connected. You don't need to set anything up in advance — just speak the command naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use noise cancelling while on a phone call?

Yes. Noise cancelling stays on during calls and helps reduce background noise on your end. The person you're talking to will hear you more clearly because the microphones on your AirPods filter out wind, traffic, and other ambient sound while picking up your voice.

Does noise cancelling drain the battery faster?

Yes, it uses more power than having it off. AirPods Pro last about 6 hours with noise cancelling on and up to 30 hours with the charging case. With noise cancelling off, you get slightly longer battery life per charge, though the difference is usually just an hour or two.

Why does noise cancelling sound muffled sometimes?

Noise cancelling works by playing an inverted sound wave to cancel out ambient noise, which can make music or calls sound slightly different than they do with it off. If it sounds too muffled, try Transparency mode instead, or turn noise cancelling off entirely. Some people prefer the sound quality with it disabled.

Can I use noise cancelling on multiple devices at once?

No. Your AirPods can only be connected to one device at a time. If you want to switch from your iPhone to your Mac, you need to disconnect from one before connecting to the other. You can set different default noise control modes for each device in their individual Bluetooth settings.

What's the difference between noise cancelling and transparency mode?

Noise cancelling blocks outside sound so you hear only your audio. Transparency mode lets you hear the world around you while still wearing your AirPods. Off mode disables both features. You can switch between all three when ready through Control Center.