AirPods Pro Noise Cancellation Not Working? Here’s What to Do

AirPods Pro will not be able to cancel noise if their firmware is invalid or outdated. Moreover, if the OS of the paired device holds improper output configurations, it could also cause noise canceling not to work.

Generally, the noise canceling on AirPods Pro will stop working after an OS or firmware update. Either the setting gets disabled automatically or the feature does not work even if it is enabled. Sometimes, only one AirPod gets affected.

In some cases, the noise canceling fails with high-frequency sounds but works on low-frequency sounds. All generations of AirPods Pro are reported to show this behavior. 

Before starting the troubleshooting process,

• Make sure the AirPods and their case are charged fully.
• Remove the AirPods from your ears and reinsert them. Check if the noise canceling has improved.

1. Re-enable the Noise Cancelling Feature

The Noise Cancelling feature on the AirPods Pro will fail to work correctly due to an error in its operation modules. Re-enabling the feature will put the modules into their default configurations and thus solve the problem.

1. Launch the iPhone Settings and open Bluetooth.
2. Tap on the info icon for the AirPods Pro and set the Noise Control to off.

   

3. Restart your Apple device and enable back Noise Cancelling. Check if it is operating correctly.

2. Update the Device and AirPods to the Latest OS/Firmware

The AirPods Pro will fail to cancel noise if the device’s OS or firmware of the pods is outdated. This can make the AirPods incompatible with the device. Moreover, a bug in the device’s OS or AidPod’s firmware can also cause the issue.

In either case, updating the device’s OS and firmware of the AirPods to the latest build will resolve the issue.

To update an iPhone

1. Back up the phone and fully charge it.
2. Connect it to a Wi-Fi network and navigate to Settings > General > Software Update.

   

3. Install the update (if shown) and restart the iPhone. See if the noise canceling is working correctly on the AirPods Pro.

Update AirPods

1. Put AirPods into their case and connect the case to its charger.
2. Bring your paired Apple device (iPhone, iPad, etc.) close to the AirPods and enable the Internet (preferably, Wi-Fi) on the Apple device.
3. If an update is available, it will be installed automatically.
4. Once done, check if the noise canceling issue is resolved.

3. Disable Spatial Audio

Spatial Audio allows you to experience surround sound on the AirPods. This surround sound might interfere with the pod’s noise detection and thus cause the issue. In such a case, disabling Spatial Audio will solve the problem.

1. Launch the iPhone Settings and go to Bluetooth > AirPods Pro.
2. Disable Spatial Audio and see if the problem is solved.

   

3. If Spatial Audio is already disabled at step 2, enable it and check if that clears the issue.

4. Clean the AirPods Pro

Your AirPods Pro uses its mic to detect the noise and then negates it with opposite sound waves. If the mic has dust or debris accumulated over it, the pods will not be able to properly detect the noise and will thus fail to cancel it.

In this case, cleaning the AirPods Pro will solve the problem.

1. Get a clean new toothbrush and lightly brush all the vents of an AirPod.

   

2. Get a Q tip and use it to lightly clean the vents.
3. Cover all the speakers and vents of the pod except the one you are cleaning.
4. Use a low-intensity vacuum cleaner to clean the vent. If that is not an option, suck on the vent for 5 to 10 seconds.
5. Use the sticky tack, blue tack, or tape to grab all the dust/debris pressed against the vent. Do not press hard, otherwise, tack or tape may get into the vent. You can also use isopropyl alcohol to clean the vent.

   

6. Repeat the same with the other vents.
7. Clean the ear tip of the AirPod.
8. Repeat the above steps to clean the other AirPod and verify if the problem is solved.

5. Re-pair the AirPods with the Apple Device

If the profiling between the AirPods Pro and your Apple device is no more valid, it will affect the communication settings such as noise cancellation. In such a case, repairing the AirPods with the Apple device will solve the problem.

1. Launch the iPhone Settings and go to Bluetooth.
2. Tap on the More Info icon for your AirPods Pro and select Forget This Device.

   

3. Confirm to do the action and restart your iPhone.
4. Pair the phone with the AirPods Pro.
5. Enable Noise Cancelling and see if it is working correctly.

6. Try ‘Ear Tip Fit Test’

If the AirPods are failing to make a good seal in your ear canal, their ability to reduce the noise will decrease drastically. This can happen if the ear tips of the AirPods do not fit properly in your ears. To confirm if that is the case, try Ear Tip Fit Test.

1. With the AirPods in your ears, navigate to the Apple device (such as iPhone) Settings > Bluetooth > your AirPods.
2. Tap on Ear Tip Fit Test, select Continue, and then tap on Play.

   

3. If the test fails, try to adjust AirPods in your ears and try again. 
4. If the test still fails, try another pair of ear tips. You may need different sizes (preferably, foam based) for your right and left ears. Check if that clears the issue.
5. Repeat the test with different sizes of ear tips until a perfect match is found. 
6. If the issue persists, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth > your AirPods.
7. Disable Automatic Ear Detection and see if that solves the noise canceling problem.

   

7. Reset the AirPods to Their Default Settings

The noise canceling on AirPods Pro will fail to operate if the firmware of your pods is invalid. A latest update to the firmware might have caused the issue. Here, resetting the AirPods to their default settings will solve the problem.

1. Charge the case and AirPods Pro to at least 80%.
2. On the iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Open the AirPods and tap on Forget This Device.
4. (must) repeat the same with all other devices where AirPods were paired (iPad, Mac, etc.).
5. Put the AirPods into the charging case and keep its lid open.
6. Press/hold the Setup button on the back of the case till the light changes from amber to white. This will take around 15 seconds.

   

7. Do not close the lid of the case and wait for another 15 minutes.
8. Restart the phone and pair it with the AirPods.
9. Enable Noise Cancelation and see if the issue is resolved.

8. Reset Your Phone to the Factory Defaults

If none of the above methods work and the AirPods are working for other Apple devices, you can move forward and reset your device completely. This will reinitialize problematic modules and fix potential bugs. 

1. Back up the phone and fully charge it.
2. Launch the iPhone Settings and go to General > Reset.
3. Select the Erase All the Content and Settings.

   

4. Confirm to reset your phone and wait till the process completes.
5. Once done, set it up as new; hopefully, the noise cancellation problem will be solved.

If none of the above works, contact Apple Support and get your AirPods Pro checked for a hardware error. If under warranty, you may claim a replacement.