Turn off noise cancellation in Settings on your iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list of connected devices and tap the info icon (the small circle with an "i") next to them. You will see three noise control options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Off to disable noise cancellation entirely.

This method works on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 13.2 or later. The setting applies to both AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Once you turn it off here, noise cancellation stays off until you change it again — it does not reset when you disconnect and reconnect your AirPods.

Key Takeaways

  • The quickest way to turn off noise cancellation is through the Control Center on your iPhone, where you can switch between Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off in seconds.
  • You can also disable it permanently in the Bluetooth settings menu under your AirPods device information.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings, then Bluetooth, then the info icon next to your AirPods to change the noise control mode.
  • If you have AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you can also press and hold the noise control button on the device itself to cycle through the three modes.

Use Control Center for the fastest toggle

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center. Look for the audio card showing your currently playing audio or connected device. Press and hold this card until you see the volume slider and noise control options appear below it.

You will see three buttons: one for Noise Cancellation, one for Transparency, and one for Off. Tap the Off button to disable noise cancellation immediately. This change takes effect right away and lasts until you switch to a different mode. Control Center is the fastest method if you need to turn noise cancellation on and off throughout the day.

Press the noise control button on your AirPods Pro or Max

AirPods Pro have a small button on the stem of each earbud. AirPods Max have a button on the right ear cup. Press and hold this button for about two seconds. Your AirPods will announce which mode you are switching to — you will hear "Noise Cancellation off" or similar audio feedback.

Each press cycles through the three modes in order: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Keep pressing until you reach Off. This method works without touching your phone and is useful when your device is not nearby or you want to change modes quickly during a call or while listening to music.

Turn off noise cancellation on Mac

Click the Apple menu 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 them. You will see the same three noise control options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Click Off to disable it.

On Mac, this setting is separate from your iPhone settings. If you use the same AirPods on both devices, you will need to turn off noise cancellation on each device individually if you want it off everywhere. The Control Center method also works on Mac — click the volume icon in the menu bar and hold it to see noise control options.

Disable noise cancellation on Apple Watch

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Scroll down and tap Bluetooth. Tap your AirPods in the list. You will see the noise control options. Tap Off to turn off noise cancellation on that device.

Like Mac, your Apple Watch has its own noise cancellation setting separate from your iPhone. If you wear your watch and use your AirPods together, changing the setting on one device does not change it on the other. You can also use the Control Center on your watch — swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the audio card to access noise control options.

What to do if noise cancellation is not turning off

If you have turned off noise cancellation but still hear it working, try disconnecting and reconnecting your AirPods. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods, and tap "Forget This Device." Then place your AirPods back in their case, open the case near your iPhone, and follow the pairing prompt to reconnect them. This resets the connection and often clears any stuck settings.

If the problem continues, check that your AirPods firmware is up to date. Firmware updates happen automatically when your AirPods are connected and charging, but you can force a check by going to Settings, Bluetooth, tapping the info icon next to your AirPods, and scrolling to see the current firmware version. If an update is available, keep your AirPods connected and plugged in until it completes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off noise cancellation save battery life?

Yes, disabling noise cancellation uses less power because the microphones and processing chip do not have to work as hard. On AirPods Pro, you may see a small improvement in battery life when using Off mode instead of Noise Cancellation mode, though the difference is usually only an hour or two per charge.

Can I turn off noise cancellation for just one earbud?

No. Noise cancellation is controlled as a pair — when you turn it off, it turns off on both earbuds at the same time. You cannot set different modes for the left and right earbud individually.

Will my AirPods remember the noise cancellation setting if I switch devices?

No. Each device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch) stores its own noise cancellation setting for your AirPods. If you turn off noise cancellation on your iPhone, it will still be on when you connect to your Mac unless you turn it off there too.

What is the difference between Off and Transparency mode?

Off mode disables noise cancellation and does not let outside sound in — you hear only what is playing in your AirPods. Transparency mode keeps noise cancellation off but actively lets outside sound in through the microphones so you can hear your surroundings while listening to audio.