Is the Noise Cancellation Poor on Your AirPods Pro? Here’s a Possible Fix

The jury is still out on whether Apple’s just-released AirPods Pro Firmware 2D15 actually does anything to fix the diminished Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) from prior firmware updates, but concurrently with the 2D15 release, Apple has also offered a few other suggestions for things that AirPods Pro users can try if they find that Active Noise Cancellation isn’t working as expected.

When Apple first released the AirPods Pro last fall, reviewers generally agreed that they offered great Active Noise Cancellation, with the diminutive true wireless earbuds actually rivalling some full on-ear headphones at certain frequencies. However, when Apple debuted a new firmware update about two weeks later, users began to question if they were hearing things or if the new firmware had actually diminished the noise cancellation to make it less effective. Professional audio reviewers later confirmed that it was in fact true — that based on empirical testing, later updates did in fact make the Active Noise Cancellation noticeably worse than before.

This week Apple released two new support documents covering issues that users may be having with their AirPods Pro, including poor noise cancellation and users experiencing crackling/static noises.

Active Noise Cancellation Fixes

While the suggested fixes for ANC won’t likely return it to its original levels, although we’re hoping that the 2D15 update does that, they may still improve your experience if you’ve otherwise found that it’s not working as well as it used to.

In a new support document, Apple points out that the problem in some cases can be the mesh located at the top of each earbud. Since this mesh actually covers a microphone that’s used to measure external sound levels for the purposes of cancelling them out, if it has become blocked by earwax or small bits of debris it will naturally reduce the efficacy of the ANC feature, since it can’t accurately recognize the noise that’s supposed to be cancelling. Apple notes that problems in this area can also cause a loss of bass sound, perhaps due to how its Adaptive EQ feature works.

Apple suggests cleaning the microphone and speaker mesh regularly, using a dry cotton swab, however it clearly cautions against getting any liquid into the openings, and says that while a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe can be used on the exterior surfaces of the AirPods, they shouldn’t be used on the mesh.

So if you’ve been finding that Active Noise Cancellation on your AirPods has been getting worse, this is definitely worth a try, and even though audio quality is of course a very subjective thing to assess, this could also explain why there are so many differing opinions on how well the ANC has been performing on Apple’s new AirPods Pro, especially in light of the later firmware updates.

That said, Apple does of course note that if Active Noise Cancellation still isn’t working as expected, users can contact Apple Support, suggesting that there may be other issues that Apple can assist with, or in the very least offer a replacement set under warranty.

Crackling and Static

A second support document briefly addresses issues that some users have been experiencing with crackling and static sounds, although the solutions it offers are a little bit more obvious — making sure that your software is updated, ensuring that you’re within proximity to your device with no obvious sources of wireless interference or obstructions, and trying different audio apps to make sure that the problem isn’t isolated to a single app.

However, Apple also notes that users who experience sound quality issuers that increase “in loud environments, with exercise, or while talking on the phone” should contact Apple Support, which again would seem to indicate that Apple knows of a problem with some AirPods Pro units that may require replacement.