To turn on noise cancelling on AirPods on Android, you don’t need an iPhone or a special app, Active Noise Cancellation is a hardware feature built into your AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 with ANC, or AirPods Max, and it works directly from the earbuds themselves. The control is always on the device, not in your phone’s settings, so you can activate it with a simple press or hold, a similar physical approach to how you turn on noise cancelling on JBL earbuds.
For AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 with ANC
If you own AirPods Pro (any generation) or AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, the only step you need is to press and hold the force sensor on the stem of either AirPod until you hear a chime. This single action cycles between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. There is no need to open an app or dig into your Android settings, the hardware handles it. If you’re wondering, “How do I turn noise cancelling on,” the answer is that same press-and-hold: it’s the only gesture you need to remember. If the controls feel unresponsive, resetting found AirPods can clear pairing glitches that interfere with the force sensor.
For AirPods Max
For AirPods Max, the process is even more straightforward. Press the dedicated Noise Control button located on the right ear cup. Each press cycles between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. Again, this works entirely from the headset itself, independent of your Android phone.
How to turn noise control off
By default, pressing the force sensor or Noise Control button toggles only between ANC and Transparency Mode. If you want to add an “Off” mode to that cycle, so you can disable all noise control, you must first connect your AirPods to an Apple device (iPhone or iPad). In the device’s Bluetooth settings, you can enable the “Off” option in the Noise Control menu. Once set, that third mode will appear in the cycle when you use the hardware controls on your Android phone. This configuration is saved to the AirPods themselves, so you only need an Apple device once.
Connecting your AirPods to your Android phone
Before you can use noise cancellation, your AirPods need to be paired with your Android device. This is a standard Bluetooth process:
- Open the charging case lid (for AirPods Pro or AirPods 4) or ensure your AirPods Max are powered on.
- On your Android phone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on.
- Press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case until the status light flashes white. For AirPods Max, press and hold the Noise Control button until the light flashes.
- Your AirPods will appear in the list of available devices under “Available devices.” Tap their name to pair.
Once connected, your AirPods will remember the pairing, and you can use the hardware controls to turn noise cancelling on or switch modes at any time. No third-party apps are required for ANC functionality, the feature works natively from the earbuds or headphones themselves.
