Some AirPods Pro owners have run into issues with their earbuds, and there have been numerous complaints about Active Noise Cancellation failing to work properly or becoming degraded after firmware updates. This guide covers the problem and provides troubleshooting steps recommended by Apple as a potential fix.
Since the launch of the 2B588 firmware for the AirPods Pro in November 2019, there have been complaints about Active Noise Cancellation issues, which some believe have gotten worse with each firmware update.
This is not a problem experienced by all users, though the people who are affected believe that the Active Noise Cancellation properties of the AirPods Pro have been downgraded since launch.
The current version of the AirPods Pro firmware is 2D15, and there have been mixed reports on whether the update fixes the problem, as some people report improved Noise Cancellation and others suggest there's been no change.
Rather than firmware causing the problem, Apple has suggested earwax buildup could be the problem, with Apple making the following recommendations as a fix:
Make sure all iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac devices are running the latest software from Apple.
Make sure Active Noise Cancellation is enabled when the AirPods Pro are in the ears by opening up Control Center and long pressing on the volume indicator.
Clean the mesh located at the top of the AirPods Pro.
Apple says that if debris or earwax builds up at the mesh located at the top of the AirPods Pro, it can affect how Active Noise Cancellation works. Debris buildup can cause a loss of bass sound and an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise.
Contact Apple Support
If AirPods Pro problems with Noise Cancellation persist after following the steps listed above, Apple suggests AirPods Pro owners should contact Apple Support for further help.
Guide Feedback
Have a question about Apple's advice for these issues, know of a potential solution we left out, or want to offer feedback? Send us an email here.
Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued.
The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models.
In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring.
There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category.
M4...
Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by Juli Clover
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch.
All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
Friday February 21, 2025 1:08 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple finally released the first beta of iOS 18.4 to developers for testing purposes, and while the beta is lacking some of the Apple Intelligence features we were hoping for, there are some notable new additions.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Priority Notifications - Apple Intelligence
There is a new Priority Notifications feature that can show you your most...
Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19.
"Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag.
The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle.
Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Friday February 21, 2025 8:01 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple has confirmed that its custom-designed C1 modem in the iPhone 16e has nothing to do with the device's lack of MagSafe support, according to Macworld.
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, there was some speculation online about how MagSafe magnets might have interfered with the C1 modem's cellular connectivity performance, and this was considered to be a potential reason for the...
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e.
The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.
Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most...
