Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) can make a huge difference, but only if it’s used correctly. If it feels like ANC isn’t working well, go through the steps below — most cases are easy to fix.
Your earbuds act like this:
- You still hear a lot of background noise with ANC on
- ANC feels weak when you try it for the first time at home
- ANC used to work well but now feels much weaker
1. Get a Good Seal
ANC is only effective if outside noise can’t leak into your ear. Make sure you use the right size eartips and that they fit snugly. Even a small gap between the tip and your ear canal lets noise through.
Tip: Clean the eartips and check for earwax or dust. Even a thin layer on the tips or mesh can break the seal and let noise in.
2. Test in a Noisy Environment
ANC can only reduce sounds that actually exist. If you test it in a quiet living room right after unboxing, you may think it’s not working. Try using ANC next to a running fan, in public transport, or on a busy street — then you’ll really notice the difference.
3. Configure ANC Correctly
Make sure ANC mode is actually turned on. If your earbuds have a companion app, check if you can adjust the ANC level or enable Adaptive ANC or Hybrid ANC for better results.
4. Reset if Needed
If ANC worked before but suddenly feels weak, try a factory reset. See all reset guides.
In most cases, improving the seal and testing in a noisy environment makes ANC perform as expected.
