Active Noise Cancellation on AirPods: What It Does and How to Turn It On

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on AirPods uses tiny microphones to listen to the sound around you, then plays the opposite sound wave through the speaker to cancel it out. The result is that background noise — traffic, airplane engines, office chatter — becomes much quieter. You turn it on through your iPhone, iPad, or Mac settings, and it works on most AirPods models except the original AirPods and AirPods Max (which has its own control method).

The feature works best on steady, low-frequency sounds like engine noise or air conditioning hum. It is less effective on sudden sounds like a door slamming or someone speaking directly to you. Once you turn it on, you can switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode (which lets outside sound in), and Off — usually by holding the stem of your AirPods or through your device settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Active Noise Cancellation is available on AirPods Pro (both generations), AirPods Max, and AirPods (3rd generation), but not on older AirPods models.
  • You turn on ANC through your iPhone, iPad, or Mac by going to Settings, then Bluetooth, then tapping the info icon next to your AirPods name.
  • Once ANC is on, you can switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off by long-pressing the stem of your AirPods or through Control Center on your device.
  • ANC works best on constant background noise like engine or fan sounds, and less well on sudden or high-pitched sounds.

Turning On Active Noise Cancellation on iPhone or iPad

Start by making sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad. Open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list and tap the small info icon (a circle with an "i") next to the name. You will see a screen with options including Noise Control.

Tap Noise Control and you will see three options: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap the radio button next to Active Noise Cancellation. That is it — ANC is now on. Your iPhone will remember this setting and turn ANC on automatically the next time you connect these AirPods.

If you do not see a Noise Control option, your AirPods model does not support ANC. The original AirPods and AirPods (2nd generation) do not have this feature. AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro (2nd generation), AirPods (3rd generation), and AirPods Max all support it.

Turning On Active Noise Cancellation on Mac

On a Mac, the steps are nearly identical. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Bluetooth in the sidebar. Find your AirPods in the list and click the info icon next to the name.

Look for the Noise Control section and click the dropdown menu. Select Active Noise Cancellation from the list. Close the window and your Mac will remember the setting. The next time you connect these AirPods to your Mac, ANC will be on by default.

Switching Between Noise Control Modes Without Opening Settings

Once you have turned on ANC, you do not need to go back into settings every time you want to change it. On AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro (2nd generation), hold your finger on the stem of one AirPod for about two seconds. You will hear a chime, and the mode will cycle through Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Keep holding until you reach the mode you want.

On AirPods (3rd generation), the control works the same way — hold the stem to cycle through the three modes. On your iPhone or iPad, you can also use Control Center: swipe down from the top right corner (or up from the bottom on older iPhones), find the Noise Control icon (it looks like a speaker with sound waves), and tap it to cycle through modes.

If you have an AirPods Max, use the Digital Crown (the dial on the side) to control noise modes. Rotate it to cycle through Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off.

What Active Noise Cancellation Actually Cancels

ANC works by having the microphones in your AirPods pick up outside sound and generate an opposite sound wave to neutralize it. This is most effective on sounds that are constant and low-frequency — airplane engines, train noise, air conditioning, refrigerator hum, or traffic on a highway. These sounds have predictable patterns that the microphones can "learn" and cancel out.

ANC is much less effective on high-pitched or sudden sounds — a car horn, a dog barking, someone calling your name, or a door slamming. It also cannot cancel out sound that travels directly into your ear canal before the microphones can detect it. If someone is speaking right next to you, ANC will not make them inaudible. Transparency mode is better for situations where you need to hear people around you.

Transparency Mode and When to Use It Instead

Transparency mode does the opposite of ANC — it amplifies outside sound so you can hear your surroundings clearly while still wearing your AirPods. This is useful when you are walking in traffic, working in an office where people need to talk to you, or in any situation where you need to stay aware of what is happening around you.

You switch to Transparency mode the same way you switch to ANC: hold the stem of your AirPods or use the Noise Control icon in Control Center. Some people use Transparency mode during the day and switch to ANC when they want to focus or block out distractions. Others leave it on Off (regular mode) most of the time and only use ANC in very loud environments like airplanes or trains.

Troubleshooting: ANC Is Not Working

If you have turned on Active Noise Cancellation but it does not seem to be working, first check that your AirPods are sitting properly in your ears. ANC relies on the microphones being positioned correctly. Remove them and put them back in, making sure they are snug.

Next, check that you are actually in Active Noise Cancellation mode. Hold the stem to cycle through the modes and listen for the chime that indicates which mode you are in. If you are in Off mode, ANC will not work. If you are in Transparency mode, you will hear amplified outside sound instead of cancellation.

If ANC is on but you still hear a lot of background noise, remember that it works best on steady, low-frequency sounds. If you are in a noisy environment with lots of voices or sudden sounds, ANC will not eliminate all of it — it will just reduce the constant background hum. This is normal behavior, not a malfunction.

If your AirPods are very old or have not been updated in a while, check for a firmware update. Open Settings on your iPhone, go to Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and scroll down to see the firmware version. If an update is available, your AirPods will update automatically the next time they are near your iPhone and plugged into power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all AirPods have Active Noise Cancellation?

No. AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro (2nd generation), AirPods (3rd generation), and AirPods Max all have ANC. The original AirPods and AirPods (2nd generation) do not. If you own older AirPods and want ANC, you would need to purchase a newer model.

Does Active Noise Cancellation drain the battery faster?

Yes, ANC uses more power than regular mode because the microphones and processing are constantly running. Battery life is shorter with ANC on, though the difference varies depending on your AirPods model. If you need your AirPods to last as long as possible, turn ANC off.

Can I use Active Noise Cancellation on Android phones?

AirPods work with Android, but you cannot control Active Noise Cancellation through Android settings the way you can on iPhone. You can only switch modes by holding the stem of your AirPods. Some Android apps claim to control ANC, but they are not official Apple tools and may not work reliably.

Why does Active Noise Cancellation sometimes make a hissing sound?

The hissing you hear is the sound wave that ANC generates to cancel out background noise. It is normal and usually becomes less noticeable once you are in a noisy environment where ANC has something to actually cancel. If the hissing is very loud or uncomfortable, try Transparency mode or Off instead.

Can I use Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode at the same time?

No. You can only use one noise control mode at a time — Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off. You switch between them by holding the stem or using Control Center. Some people alternate between modes depending on what they are doing.