If you have the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you know they’ve got noise-cancelling. But how do you turn noise-cancelling on or off on AirPods? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to do this on an iPhone or a Mac.
QUICK
ANSWER
With an iPhone or iPad, go to Control Center > Press and hold the volume button > Tap on the noise-cancellation icon or Settings > Bluetooth > click on the info button next to your AirPods > Noise Control > Select the option you want.
With a Mac, menu bar > volume control > select your AirPods > choose the noise-cancellation mode you want or Apple Menu > System Preferences > Bluetooth > click on Options next your AirPods > select the noise-cancellation mode you want.
On the AirPods Max headphones themselves, press the noise control button on the right ear cup. With the AirPods Pro earbuds, press and hold the force sensor on the stem until you hear a chime.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
- On an iPhone or iPad
- On a Mac
- With the AirPods Pro or Max themselves
Toggle noise-cancelling on the AirPods with an iPhone or iPad
There are two ways you can change the noise-cancellation settings using an iPhone or iPad. The first is through the Control Center:
- Wear your AirPods and ensure they’re connected to your device.
- Open the Control Center.
- Next, press and hold the volume button on your device until use see additional controls pop up.
- Tap on the noise-cancellation icon in the lower-left of the screen.
The other method is going through settings:
- Wear your AirPods and ensure they’re connected to your device.
- Open the settings.
- Go to the Bluetooth section.
- In the connected devices list, click the info button next your AirPods.
- Under Noise Control you can select the noise-cancellation setting you want.
Toggle noise-cancelling on the AirPods with a Mac
You can toggle noise-cancellation modes on a Mac in two ways. One way is through the menu bar:
- Wear your AirPods and ensure they’re connected to your Mac.
- Go to the menu bar > click on the volume control button > click on your AirPods > choose the noise-cancellation mode you want.
You can also use the Apple Menu:
- Wear your AirPods and ensure they’re connected to your Mac.
- Open the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Bluetooth > click on Options next your AirPods > select the noise-cancellation mode you want.
Toggle noise-cancelling on the AirPods themselves
Adam Molina / Android Authority
If you don’t want to fish out your phone or boot up your Mac to change the noise-cancellation settings of your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you can do so on the headphones themselves.
AirPods Pro
- Ensure your AirPods Pro are connected and wear them.
- Press and hold the force sensor on the stem until you hear a chime.
- This will toggle between the noise-cancellation and transparency modes.
AirPods Max
- Ensure your AirPods Max are connected and wear them.
- Push the noise control button on the right ear cup to switch between transparency mode and noise-cancellation mode.
- A chime will sound to confirm the change.
Read more: The best AirPods alternatives
FAQs
Yes, but the experience will be less than ideal. We’ve got a full guide on doing so if you want to.
No. Only the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have noise-cancellation.