AirPods Pro offer amazing sound quality with their noise cancellation feature. However, there may be times when you want to turn this feature off. You can turn off noise cancellation on AirPods Pro by pressing and holding the force sensor on the stem of either AirPod or by using the Control Center on your iPhone.
Many AirPods Pro users don’t realize how easy it is to switch between noise control modes. The three main options are Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off. Turning off noise cancellation can help save battery life and allow you to stay more aware of your surroundings when needed.
Whether you’re in a situation where you need to hear what’s happening around you or simply prefer the natural sound experience, disabling the ANC feature takes just seconds. The process works the same way for both the first and second generation AirPods Pro models.
How to Turn Off Noise Cancellation on AirPods Pro
Noise Cancellation is one of the defining features of the AirPods Pro, but it’s not always what you want—especially if you’re walking outside, talking with someone, or trying to stay aware of your surroundings. Whether you’re trying to preserve battery life or just prefer a more natural sound experience, disabling this feature is simple and quick. Let’s walk through every method available to turn off Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on AirPods Pro, including some handy tips you might not know about.
Use the Force Sensor on the AirPods Pro Stem
The quickest way to toggle Noise Cancellation is by using the built-in force sensor on the stem of your AirPods Pro. Apple designed this so you can switch modes on the go without touching your iPhone.
Steps:
- Make sure your AirPods Pro are in your ears and connected to your device.
- Press and hold the force sensor on the stem of either AirPod.
- You’ll hear a soft chime indicating the mode has changed. If you cycle through both Noise Cancellation and Transparency, keep holding to reach “Off.”
This is ideal if your phone isn’t nearby or you’re in the middle of a workout or commute. The chime confirms the switch, so you don’t need to look at your screen.
Turn Off Noise Cancellation from the Control Center
If your AirPods are already in and connected, the Control Center gives you a more visual method to manage the modes.
Here’s how:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone or iPad screen to open Control Center.
- Tap and hold the volume slider (it will display your AirPods icon).
- Select Noise Control from the expanded view.
- Tap Off to disable both Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
This method is great if you’re adjusting audio settings regularly or switching between AirPods and another device.
Disable ANC in Bluetooth Settings
Another reliable way to turn off ANC is via the Bluetooth settings. This option gives you more control over your AirPods and is especially useful if you want to customize the behavior of each stem sensor.
To access it:
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad.
- Find your AirPods Pro in the list and tap the “i” icon next to them.
- Under the Noise Control section, select Off.
From this screen, you can also choose whether the force sensor toggles between two or all three noise control modes: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. This is helpful if you want a quicker toggle between just two settings (for example, ANC and Off only).
What Happens When You Turn Noise Cancellation Off?
Turning off Noise Cancellation disables the inward and outward-facing microphones that are constantly monitoring and adjusting for ambient sound. This can slightly improve battery life and gives you the most natural sound profile—the same way standard earbuds function.
Note that “Off” is not the same as Transparency Mode. With Transparency on, microphones are still active, but instead of muting outside sound, they let it in and amplify it. “Off” simply disables both ANC and Transparency, making the AirPods sound like passive in-ear buds.
Bonus Tip: Use Siri to Control Noise Cancellation
For hands-free users, Siri can help toggle settings without lifting a finger.
Try saying:
- “Turn off noise cancellation.”
- “Switch to Transparency mode.”
As long as your AirPods Pro are in and connected, Siri can take care of it instantly. This is great while driving or multitasking.
New iOS Update: Hearing Protection Now Built In
Starting in iOS 18.1, Apple introduced a Hearing Protection feature that affects how noise control works. If you have this feature enabled, your iPhone will monitor ambient sound levels and automatically reduce exposure to loud volumes—even if Noise Cancellation is off. This means that turning ANC off doesn’t always mean your AirPods are working the same way they did before the update.
Hearing Protection can be adjusted under Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety. If you want a more raw and unfiltered sound experience, make sure “Reduce Loud Sounds” is turned off.
Make Off Mode Easier to Access
If you find yourself frequently toggling to Off mode, consider customizing your force sensor behavior:
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods Pro > Press and Hold AirPods
- Select which noise control modes are cycled when you hold the stem
- Disable the ones you don’t use often for quicker toggles
This gives you a smoother experience and avoids accidental switches to Transparency or ANC when you just want everything off.
Why You Might Want to Turn It Off
There are a few reasons you might prefer having ANC off:
- Battery lasts slightly longer with fewer active microphone adjustments
- Natural sound is sometimes more comfortable, especially indoors
- It avoids the pressure feeling some users get with ANC on
- Safer awareness in busy or high-risk environments
Whether you’re in a quiet room, prefer a more open audio experience, or just want to squeeze every drop of battery life, Off mode is a useful part of the AirPods Pro’s toolkit—and now you know how to access it in every way possible.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods Pro offer three noise control modes: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off.
- You can switch between modes by pressing the force sensor on your AirPods Pro or using your iPhone’s Control Center.
- Turning off noise cancellation can extend battery life and help you stay aware of your surroundings.
Understanding Noise Cancellation in AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro uses advanced technology to block unwanted sounds from your environment. This feature works through a system of microphones and special audio processing that makes listening more enjoyable in noisy places.
The Technology Behind ANC
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in AirPods Pro works through a clever system of microphones. Outward-facing microphones detect external sounds, which the AirPods then counter with anti-noise. This creates opposite sound waves that cancel the noise before it reaches your ears.
The process happens in real time, about 200 times per second. AirPods Pro uses both external and internal microphones to monitor the sound environment continuously.
Sound waves have specific patterns. When ANC creates an opposite pattern (called anti-noise), the two waves cancel each other out. This is why you hear less background noise when using this feature.
The chip inside AirPods Pro (H1 or H2 depending on generation) handles all this processing instantly. Users can switch between three main modes:
- Active Noise Cancellation: Blocks outside noise
- Transparency Mode: Lets in outside sounds
- Off: No noise processing applied
Comparing AirPods Pro Models
AirPods Pro has seen improvements across its generations. The original AirPods Pro introduced ANC to Apple’s earbud lineup, but AirPods Pro 2 brought significant upgrades.
The second-generation model offers up to 2x better noise cancellation than the original. This improvement comes from the H2 chip, which processes sound more efficiently.
AirPods Pro 2 also introduced Adaptive Audio, which automatically blends noise cancellation and transparency based on your environment. This feature isn’t available on the first generation.
Both models share core features:
- Silicone ear tips for noise isolation
- Force sensor controls
- Water resistance
AirPods Max, Apple’s over-ear headphones, use the same noise cancellation technology but with larger drivers and more microphones for even better performance.
To turn off noise cancellation, users can press and hold the force sensor on the AirPods Pro stem or use Control Center on their iPhone.
How to Turn Off Noise Cancellation
AirPods Pro offer multiple ways to disable noise cancellation depending on your device and preferences. Users can quickly toggle between modes using physical controls, software interfaces, or voice commands.
Disabling ANC on iOS and iPadOS
The easiest way to turn off noise cancellation on AirPods Pro is through Control Center on an iPhone or iPad. Users can access Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on newer devices or up from the bottom on older models.
Once in Control Center, press and hold the volume slider. A control panel will appear showing Noise Control options. Tap “Off” to disable Active Noise Cancellation.
Alternatively, users can control noise settings through the Settings app:
- Open Settings
- Tap Bluetooth
- Tap the (i) icon next to your AirPods Pro
- Select “Off” under Noise Control options
For quicker access, users can add the Hearing control to Control Center through Settings > Control Center > add the Hearing control (ear icon).
Disabling ANC on Mac Devices
Mac users can also easily disable noise cancellation on their AirPods Pro. When connected to a Mac, users can control ANC through several methods.
The simplest approach is using the Volume Control in the menu bar. Click the volume icon while AirPods Pro are connected, and select the AirPods from the output device list. A Noise Control option will appear where you can select “Off.”
Users can also access noise control settings through:
- System Preferences/Settings > Bluetooth > Click Options next to AirPods Pro
- Control Center on macOS (click the Control Center icon in the menu bar)
Mac users should ensure their AirPods Pro firmware is up-to-date for all control features to work properly.
Additional Control Methods
AirPods Pro can be controlled directly without accessing device settings. The most convenient way is using the Force Sensor on the stem of the AirPods.
To use this method, press and hold the force sensor on either AirPod stem. This cycles through Noise Control modes: Noise Cancellation → Transparency → Off. Note that you need to enable this cycling behavior in your Bluetooth settings first.
Siri also provides a hands-free option. Simply say:
- “Hey Siri, turn off noise cancellation”
- “Hey Siri, switch to Transparency mode”
For Windows users, options are more limited, but basic toggling is still possible through the force sensor method.
Implications of Turning Off Noise Cancellation
Disabling ANC offers several benefits beyond personal preference. The most significant advantage is extended battery life. Active Noise Cancellation uses additional power to process and counter external sounds, so turning it off can significantly extend listening time.
On newer models like AirPods Pro 2, Apple has made the Off option less prominent as part of its hearing health protection features. The company wants to encourage users to protect their hearing from loud ambient noise.
Users should consider their environment when deciding whether to disable ANC:
- Quiet environments: Off mode is ideal
- Outdoor activities: Transparency mode may be safer
- Battery concerns: Off mode conserves the most power
For those who need awareness of surroundings but still want some noise reduction, Transparency mode offers a middle ground between full ANC and Off.
