Turn on noise cancelling in the Beats app or on the headphones themselves
Beats Studio Pro has noise cancelling built in, and you can turn it on three ways: using the physical button on the left ear cup, through the Beats app on your phone, or through your device's settings. The physical button is the fastest — press and hold the button on the left side until you hear a tone. The app gives you more control over how strong the noise cancelling is. Both methods work when ready once your headphones are paired to your device.
Noise cancelling on Beats Studio Pro works by using microphones to pick up outside sound and playing the opposite sound wave into your ears, cancelling out background noise. It works best on constant sounds like airplane engines, traffic, or air conditioning. It is less effective on sudden noises like a door slamming or someone speaking directly to you.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold the button on the left ear cup to toggle noise cancelling on and off when ready without opening an app.
- The Beats app on your phone lets you choose between Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode, and adjust how strong the effect is.
- Noise cancelling drains the battery faster than regular listening, so you will get fewer hours of playback with it on.
- Transparency mode lets outside sound in so you can hear conversations and traffic while still wearing the headphones.
Using the physical button on your headphones
The quickest way to turn on noise cancelling is the button on the left ear cup. Press and hold this button for about two seconds until you hear a beep or tone in your ears. You will hear a voice say "Noise Cancelling on" or similar confirmation. Press and hold again to turn it off, and you will hear "Noise Cancelling off."
If you press the button once instead of holding it, you will cycle through your modes — usually Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and off. This is useful if you want to switch between blocking sound and hearing your surroundings without opening the app. The button does the same thing whether your headphones are connected to your phone, computer, or any other device.
Turning on noise cancelling through the Beats app
Open the Beats app on your phone — it is the app with the red "b" logo. Make sure your Beats Studio Pro are already paired and connected. Tap the icon that looks like your headphones at the bottom of the screen, then look for the noise control section. You will see three options: Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and Off.
Tap "Noise Cancelling" to turn it on. Some versions of the app also let you adjust the strength of noise cancelling by moving a slider — this controls how aggressively the headphones block outside sound. A higher setting blocks more noise but can sometimes feel like pressure in your ears. Start at the middle setting and adjust based on what feels comfortable to you.
Controlling noise cancelling from your device settings
On an iPhone or iPad, you can also control noise cancelling through the Control Center. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open Control Center. Look for the audio or headphone icon, tap it, and you will see your Beats Studio Pro listed. Tap the headphones name, and you will see the noise control options.
On Android, the steps depend on your phone model, but generally you open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth, find your Beats Studio Pro, and tap the settings icon next to them. Not all Android phones show noise cancelling controls in the same place, so you may need to use the Beats app instead. The physical button on your headphones works the same way regardless of your device type.
Understanding Transparency mode and when to use it
Beats Studio Pro has a second mode called Transparency, which does the opposite of noise cancelling — it lets outside sound in so you can hear conversations, traffic, or announcements while wearing your headphones. You cycle to Transparency mode by pressing the button on the left ear cup once, or by selecting it in the Beats app. Use Transparency when you need to stay aware of your surroundings, like when you are walking outside or working in an office.
You can also turn off both noise cancelling and Transparency by pressing the button again, which puts your headphones in regular listening mode. In this mode, sound comes through naturally without any processing. Most people use Noise Cancelling when they want to focus or block distractions, Transparency when they need to hear what is happening around them, and regular mode when they are in a quiet space or want the most natural sound.
Battery life and noise cancelling
Noise cancelling uses extra power because the headphones are constantly running microphones and processing sound. Beats Studio Pro last about 40 hours with noise cancelling off, but only about 24 hours with it on. If you are on a long flight or commute and want your battery to last, turn off noise cancelling when you do not need it, or use Transparency mode instead, which uses slightly less power.
Check your battery level in the Beats app — it shows a percentage at the top of the screen. When the battery gets low, noise cancelling may stop working even if it is turned on, because the headphones need enough power to run the feature. If you notice noise cancelling suddenly stops working, charge your headphones for at least 15 minutes before assuming there is a problem.
Troubleshooting noise cancelling that is not working
If you press the button and do not hear the confirmation tone, or if noise cancelling is on but you still hear outside noise, try these steps: First, make sure your headphones are fully charged — plug them in for at least 30 minutes. Second, restart your headphones by turning them off and back on using the power button on the right ear cup. Third, unpair and re-pair your headphones to your phone by going to Bluetooth settings, forgetting the device, and pairing again.
If noise cancelling still does not work after these steps, check that you are using the latest version of the Beats app and that your phone's software is up to date. Sometimes a software update fixes noise cancelling problems. If the issue continues, the microphones inside the headphones may be blocked by dirt or debris — gently clean the microphone holes on both ear cups with a dry cloth. If nothing works, contact Beats support, as the noise cancelling hardware itself may need repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does noise cancelling work on phone calls?
Noise cancelling on the listener's side works during calls — you will hear the other person more clearly. However, the other person will still hear background noise from your end because noise cancelling only affects what you hear, not what your microphone picks up. Some newer phones have separate call noise reduction that affects your microphone, but that is a phone feature, not a Beats feature.
Can I use noise cancelling with only one ear cup?
Noise cancelling works best when both ear cups are in your ears because the headphones use microphones on both sides to process sound. If you remove one ear cup, noise cancelling will still be on, but it will be less effective. For the best experience, keep both ear cups in place when you want full noise cancelling.
Why does noise cancelling make a hissing sound?
A slight hissing or white noise sound is normal with noise cancelling on — it is the sound of the headphones' processing. If the hissing is very loud or annoying, try adjusting the noise cancelling strength in the Beats app, or turn it off and use Transparency mode instead. Some people find the hissing goes away after a few minutes of listening as their brain adjusts.
Will noise cancelling damage my hearing?
Noise cancelling itself does not damage hearing — it actually reduces the amount of loud outside noise reaching your ears. However, if you turn up the volume on your headphones to very high levels, that can damage hearing over time, with or without noise cancelling. Keep your volume at a moderate level, and take breaks from wearing headphones throughout the day.