Adaptive audio, part of adaptive audio features, is the main feature for the AirPods Pro 2nd generation and AirPods 4th generation with noise cancellation. This feature combines the existing transparency mode and noise reduction using artificial intelligence.
Based on your environment, the AirPods Pro automatically chooses the best degree of transparency or noise reduction at that moment. So you no longer have to manually switch between these two different modes.
Conditions and availability
To use adaptive audio, you must have AirPods Pro 2nd generation or AirPods 4 with noise cancellation. In addition, you must have at least iOS 17, iPadOS 17 or macOS Sonoma. From iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia you can adjust the Adeptive audio.
Adaptive audio
Adaptive audio combines active noise cancellation and transparency mode to adjust the noise cancellation level for you based on the conditions in your environment.
Use adaptive mode
- Open Control Center while playing music on the AirPods
- Place your finger on the volume slider for AirPods
- Tap the current mode (Off / Transparency / Adaptive / Noise Reduction)
- Choose a desired mode
You can also press and hold the stem of the AirPods to switch between modes. You can disable Adaptive via Settings ▸ AirPods ▸ Press and hold AirPods ▸ Left or Right.
Change adaptive audio
Since iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, you can decide for yourself whether the audio should let in more sound or filter it out. Automatically adjusting the audio continues to work, but you can decide for yourself whether you want more noise control or more transparency.
- Connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad or Mac
- Navigate to ‘(system) settings’
- Tap or click the AirPods Pro in the list
- If necessary, open ‘Adaptive audio’
- Choose the option you want using the slider
‘Adaptive audio’ responds dynamically to your environment and can cancel or allow external noise. Using the slider you can adjust the mode to allow more or less noise.
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