Airpods Pro 2 ANC Not Working Good!

[bondr006]

When I got my Airpods Pro 2 ten months ago, the ANC was darn near perfect. Really had to listen close to hear outside noise. Subsequently, I got used to using transparency so I could hear my surroundings, and just recently tried ANC again to mow the lawn. Imagine my surprise when it didn't seem to be working, even after following all the suggested troubleshooting steps to make sure I was using it properly. After some more trying, I have discovered that it does work ever so slightly, but there is hardly any difference between ANC and Transparency. What the heck is up with that Apple?

After searching, and reading a ton of complaints in communities all over the internet about this, it is very apparent that this is a widespread driver/firmware problem and I'm not just an isolated case. Please fix this Apple! Good ANC is needed when in a crowded room, mowing the lawn, or anywhere that the ambient noise is loud. We paid a lot for our Airpods with good ANC Apple. FIX IT! There are other less expensive earbuds out there that have ANC that actually works. I love my Airpods, but this is really annoying and uncalled for.

I've been with Apple since 1993. I expect better, and sure as heck miss Steve Jobs, when the consumer, quality, and ease of use were the bottom line....not the $$$.😤😤😤

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirpodsPro/comments/17frm3h/airpods_pro_2_anc_awful_now

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/15pz5lf/why_has_the_noise_cancellation_on_the_airpods_pro

Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse af… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[aries81]

Working fine for me.

 

[AMTYVLE]

I feel the same way, OP. I use my AP2 while running on the treadmill....for the past couple months I can hear my feet hitting the treadmill, the treadmill noise, and everything else around me. I constantly check to see if Noise Cancellation is turned on each time and it always is.

I feel over time, the ANC on AirPods start to dwindle down and isn't as good as it used to be when they were new. Either firmware updates could be the culprit or the ear tips start to form to your ears and do not provide a good seal anymore...although I have done many ear tip fit tests and the tips I use always come back as a good fit....so that leaves it to firmware updates, IMO.

 

[bondr006]

I feel the same way, OP. I use my AP2 while running on the treadmill....for the past couple months I can hear my feet hitting the treadmill, the treadmill noise, and everything else around me. I constantly check to see if Noise Cancellation is turned on each time and it always is.

I feel over time, the ANC on AirPods start to dwindle down and isn't as good as it used to be when they were new. Either firmware updates could be the culprit or the ear tips start to form to your ears and do not provide a good seal anymore...although I have done many ear tip fit tests and the tips I use always come back as a good fit....so that leaves it to firmware updates, IMO.

Yeah, from what I've read and researched, I'm pretty convinced that it's a driver/firmware problem. I have always treated my airpods very well, keeping them clean and not abusing them. I rarely use ANC and just discovered over the weekend while mowing the grass that is doesn't work well at all. I normally use transparency because I am mostly in situations that it's good to be able to hear what's going on around you if needed. I hope that Apple fixes this soon. I've only had these for 10 months and have no plans on replacing them any time soon.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

ANC working great on my Pro 2's running the latest firmware..

 

[bondr006]

ANC working great on my Pro 2's running the latest firmware..

I have the latest firmware and I can barely tell when ANC is activated. All the other functions, including Transparency are perfect. Great sounding earbuds. The ANC does work a little. Muffles the outside noise slightly but can still plainly hear things with ANC on, like others in the room talking, keyboard clicks, clapping my hands, etc. I can't hear the hum of my ceiling fan, so there's that.

I clean them every day, so it's not that. I have reset them...not that. They've never been in the washer or got wet. Never been dropped. Only 10 months old, and I basically baby them...just like my original Airpods Pros.

 

[sparksd]

Haven't seen this with my Pro 2's on the newest f/w. Just checked them to make sure.

 

[Monque]

I've been wondering something similar, but with Transparency mode (TM) - It used to be that with TM I sometimes forgot I had the earbuds in, it was so... transparent. 😉

Now, I often have to take one earbud out when I'm talking to someone (I wear them on my dog walks and there's usually one or two conversations with strangers as the dogs meet). TM seems to be lacking something it used to have, a really good pass-through of external sounds. It feels like I'm getting an attenuated version.

(To the obvious first question that comes up, yes, I checked, the AirPods are not in some other mode like conversation awareness)

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

If it’s happening for some but not for others, could it be that the battery life is poor so performance automatically gets slightly reduced to help them last longer on a charge? I don’t know how much extra battery ANC uses though.

 

[Parowdy]

I recently got the audio shifting problem that was very present in 2021/22… they are basically unusable now and Apple support can’t do anything to help. They are dropping balls every damn day.

 

[Timpetus]

It really seems to vary based on the type of sound. Mine often work great, but there are times I wish it was better. It would be really cool if Apple would give us a slider between complete transparency and maximum ANC.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

When I got my Airpods Pro 2 ten months ago, the ANC was darn near perfect. Really had to listen close to hear outside noise. Subsequently, I got used to using transparency so I could hear my surroundings, and just recently tried ANC again to mow the lawn. Imagine my surprise when it didn't seem to be working, even after following all the suggested troubleshooting steps to make sure I was using it properly. After some more trying, I have discovered that it does work ever so slightly, but there is hardly any difference between ANC and Transparency. What the heck is up with that Apple?

After searching, and reading a ton of complaints in communities all over the internet about this, it is very apparent that this is a widespread driver/firmware problem and I'm not just an isolated case. Please fix this Apple! Good ANC is needed when in a crowded room, mowing the lawn, or anywhere that the ambient noise is loud. We paid a lot for our Airpods with good ANC Apple. FIX IT! There are other less expensive earbuds out there that have ANC that actually works. I love my Airpods, but this is really annoying and uncalled for.

I've been with Apple since 1993. I expect better, and sure as heck miss Steve Jobs, when the consumer, quality, and ease of use were the bottom line....not the $$$.😤😤😤

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirpodsPro/comments/17frm3h/airpods_pro_2_anc_awful_now

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/15pz5lf/why_has_the_noise_cancellation_on_the_airpods_pro

Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse af… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Umm, did you ask Apple? What did they say? Or did you first come instead to MR for some reason?

My friends and I constantly marvel at how well ANC works. I can vacuum while talking and the person on the other end of the conversation does not notice.

 

[Andy_2341]

My APP2’s that I’ve had for almost 2 years lost some of their ANC ability and I started noticing it more recently when mowing my lawn too. It was primarily the right side. I’ve used them in plenty of dusty conditions and for long hours, but I haven’t got them wet. I ordered the cleaning kit from the Apple Store and followed apple’s directions. Now my ANC just doesn’t seem to have as much punch in less loud situations. I haven’t got to mow again yet, but crowded restaurants don’t seem to be as dulled as they were. It’s odd. On the other hand, they seem to be louder than they used to be at a given volume level and transparency works better than before.

 

[bondr006]

Umm, did you ask Apple? What did they say? Or did you first come instead to MR for some reason?

My friends and I constantly marvel at how well ANC works. I can vacuum while talking and the person on the other end of the conversation does not notice.

I didn't first come to MR for some reason. MR is the last place I came to. First I went to the official Apple community, then went to reddit. I found a lot of people having the same problem. It was then, and last that I came to MR to see if I could find anything further. I see here in my thread and other threads here at MR, that some are also experiencing ANC problems...most of them starting after updating iOS and/or Airpods firmware.

 

[sparksd]

I didn't first come to MR for some reason. MR is the last place I came to. First I went to the official Apple community, then went to reddit. I found a lot of people having the same problem. It was then, and last that I came to MR to see if I could find anything further. I see here in my thread and other threads that some are also experiencing ANC problems...most of them starting after updating iOS and/or Airpods firmware.

I've seen similar pop up over on Reddit. There's definitely an issue of some sort. Weird that it's sporadic across users.

 

[Monque]

If it’s happening for some but not for others, could it be that the battery life is poor so performance automatically gets slightly reduced to help them last longer on a charge? I don’t know how much extra battery ANC uses though.

That would be consistent with the age of my AirPods. They must be around two and a half years old, now, and get daily use. Interesting point.

 

[bondr006]

If it’s happening for some but not for others, could it be that the battery life is poor so performance automatically gets slightly reduced to help them last longer on a charge? I don’t know how much extra battery ANC uses though.

That would be consistent with the age of my AirPods. They must be around two and a half years old, now, and get daily use. Interesting point.

Mine are only 10 months old so shouldn't be a battery problem. I use healthy, battery friendly charging practices.

 

[FranApple]

That would be consistent with the age of my AirPods. They must be around two and a half years old, now, and get daily use. Interesting point.

Could be. Would make sense. Would love for someone to test these with a new pair.

 

[Zest28]

Apple AirPods suck. The Bose QC Ultra earbuds are on an other level. The ANC is so good, it competes more with over-ear headphones.

 

[bondr006]

Apple AirPods suck. The Bose QC Ultra earbuds are on an other level. The ANC is so good, it competes more with over-ear headphones.

Well now we're talking subjective opinion. I don't think my AP 2's suck, just the anc function...which can be fixed. I don't even mind much that the anc doesn't work properly, as I don't use it often. I'd just like it to work well when I do need it. I actually love my AP 2's, the way they sound, and the way they integrate into the Apple ecosystem and work with my iPhone. So while I am not happy with the anc right now, I certainly am not of the opinion that my AP 2's suck.😉

 

[sparksd]

Well now we're talking subjective opinion. I don't think my AP 2's suck, just the anc function...which can be fixed. I don't even mind that much that the anc doesn't work properly, as I don't use it often. I'd just like it to work well when I do need it. I actually love my AP 2's, the way they sound, and the way they integrate into the Apple ecosystem and work with my iPhone. So while I am not happy with the anc right now, I certainly am not of the opinion that my AP 2's suck.😉

Yeah, in addition to the APP2's, I have the highly-rated Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds but far prefer the APP2's. The ANC is equivalent but the APP2's sound better and the integration with other Apple devices is unmatched. Rarely use the Sony's anymore. For that matter, I prefer my AirPod Max headphones over my Bose QC 45's.

 

[Flamingdeathbolts]

As a newer AP2 owner this isn’t great to find out but mine work like I want them to at the moment. One of my personal cars has a loud exhaust so I discovered the other day I can wear my AP2’s while driving it long distances. It worked great even made phone calls and people usually hate talking to me when I am in that car but they couldn’t even tell.

 

[Andy_2341]

As a newer AP2 owner this isn’t great to find out but mine work like I want them to at the moment. One of my personal cars has a loud exhaust so I discovered the other day I can wear my AP2’s while driving it long distances. It worked great even made phone calls and people usually hate talking to me when I am in that car but they couldn’t even tell.

I tried this this morning when driving on the interstate and it made my drive much nicer. Using Apple Watch noise measurements, my car is usually around 70 decibels without music playing and with the AirPods in they reduced it to around 35 in anc. Pretty impressive.

 

[Grayburn]

They **** with it every firmware update, nothing will beat how the very first ANC was on the original Pro's...it was amazing, bought them there and then after a demo in the 5th avenue store in NY in 2019.

 

[bondr006]

retracted