AirPods Pro Tip: How To Diagnose Active Noise Cancellation Problem

Apple's AirPods Pro are very distinct from the AirPods in that they offer the best active noise cancellation features that the older model doesn't have. This feature, along with many others, have made Cupertino's audio accessory a must-buy for anybody invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Some who have used the AirPods Pro in recent times, however, must've noticed that the active noise cancellation feature isn't as good as it used to be, especially compared to when it was taken fresh out of the box. Now, it doesn't cancel out that much noise as it should, effectively causing the AirPods Pro to fail at the very purpose it was designed for.

According to tech review site rtings.com, this is caused by the recent firmware update that Apple released. The updated moved AirPods Pros from firmware version 2B588 to 2C54, and caused the AirPods Pro's noise cancellation feature to cancel less noise, primarily in the bass or low-frequency range.

Sadly, Apple automatically updates every AirPods Pro model to the latest firmware update without asking permission from users. Users who don't know of such a problem, then, will be surprised to hear their AirPods Pros cancel less noise. They might even consider the device as “broken” and a “waste of money.”

Before considering it as broken, users are advised to confirm if they are indeed using the problematic firmware version. Here's how, as per iPhoneHacks:

• First, enable Active Noise Cancellation on the AirPods Pro. This can be done by connecting the AirPods Pro to an iPhone or iPad, and enabling the feature via Control Center or the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad.
• Second, once ANC is turned on, users will need to launch the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad and proceed to General, then About.
• Third, once there, users must scroll down to locate AirPods Pro, then tap on it. A window showing details about the AirPods Pro will appear. Look for Firmware Version and see what version the AirPods Pro uses.

If the AirPods Pro has firmware version 2C54, it is affected by the the noise cancellation issue explained above. There's no way to fix the issue at the moment. Users have no choice but to wait for Apple to release a new firmware update with fixes.