How do I turn off Active Noise Cancellation on Android?

What is Active Noise Cancellation?

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is an audio technology that reduces unwanted ambient sounds using microphones and speakers. As defined by Bang & Olufsen, “ANC uses microphones built into headphones to detect low frequency sound waves entering from the outside. The headphones then produce what is called ‘anti-noise’ – a sound wave mirrored to the incoming noise but with the opposite polarity, effectively cancelling it out before it reaches your ears” (Bang & Olufsen).

Essentially, ANC works by monitoring environmental sounds with microphones, generating opposite sound waves to cancel out the noise, and playing these anti-noise sounds through the speakers in real-time. This creates a quieter experience for the listener by reducing distracting ambient noises.

The main benefits of ANC technology are:

• Improves audio quality by eliminating ambient noise interference
• Creates a more immersive listening experience
• Reduces fatigue by lowering distracting sounds

Potential downsides include added cost to devices, minor sound quality issues when enabled, and possible discomfort when first adjusting to the pressure sensation created by ANC. Overall though, ACT provides a clear advantage for an improved listening experience in noisy environments.

Why Turn Off ANC on Android?

There are a few reasons why you may want to turn off Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on your Android device’s headphones or earbuds:

1. Save battery life – Having ANC enabled uses more battery power to run the microphones and process the ambient sound. Turning it off can help extend your battery life.

2. Hear ambient sounds clearly – With ANC on, nearby voices and environmental sounds are suppressed. Disabling ANC lets more of these outside sounds come through.

3. Use normal headphones mode – You may prefer using your headphones or earbuds without any additional processing. Turning off ANC provides a more natural listening experience.

ANC on Different Android Models

Many popular Android phones now come with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) features to block out unwanted background noise. Here is an overview of ANC capabilities on some top Android models:

Samsung Galaxy Phones

Several recent Samsung Galaxy models include ANC, especially on the higher-end flagship devices like the S22 Ultra (Android Authority). Galaxy Buds earbuds paired with Galaxy phones can tap into intelligent ANC that automatically detects ambient noise levels and adjusts cancellation accordingly.

Google Pixel Phones

The latest Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro include a Clear Calling feature to enable noise cancellation for phone calls, blocking background noise so conversations are easier to hear (The Verge). This builds on existing noise cancellation capabilities in Pixel Buds earbuds.

Other Android Models

Many Android phones from OnePlus, Motorola, Sony and other brands also provide ANC, especially on premium models and wireless earbuds. Popular options like the OnePlus Buds Pro offer adjustable ANC so users can fine-tune the noise blocking levels as needed.

Turn Off ANC on Samsung Galaxy

To turn off Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on Samsung Galaxy devices like the Galaxy Buds 2 or Galaxy Buds Pro, follow these steps:

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your connected Samsung Galaxy smartphone. You can find this in your list of installed apps.

2. Tap on the Buds you have connected.

3. Select “Touch controls and sensors”.

4. Tap the switch next to “Active Noise Cancelling” to turn it off. The switch will turn gray when disabled.

You can also use the volume buttons on your Galaxy Buds as a shortcut to turn ANC on or off when listening to audio. Press and hold the volume up button to disable Noise Cancelling mode.

For more information, check the Samsung support article: Use Active noise canceling on your Samsung earbuds.

Turn Off ANC on Google Pixel

To turn off Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on Google Pixel Buds, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Google Pixel phone or tablet, then tap Sound.

2. Disable the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) toggle switch. This setting can also be referred to as Noise Cancellation or Active Noise Reduction.

According to Google’s support article, you can also customize the touch and hold gesture on your Google Pixel Buds to toggle between Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode instead of between Noise Cancellation and Off.

Once ANC is disabled, your Pixel Buds will switch to regular, passive noise isolation without using the microphones. The setting persists unless you re-enable Active Noise Cancellation again through the touch controls or in your device’s Sound settings.

Turn Off ANC on OnePlus

To turn off Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on OnePlus devices, you’ll need to open your phone’s Settings and go to the Buttons & gestures menu:

According to the OnePlus community forums, you can disable the ANC shortcut in Buttons & gestures to effectively turn off ANC (source). Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your OnePlus phone
2. Tap on Buttons & gestures
3. Under Quick gestures, find Toggle noise cancellation
4. Toggle off the shortcut to disable ANC

With the ANC toggle disabled, Active Noise Cancellation will remain off on your OnePlus buds until you re-enable this shortcut under Buttons & gestures. You should immediately notice ambient background noises become more audible.

Keep in mind OnePlus also offers additional sound modes in Bluetooth settings, such as Wind noise reduction and Volume enhancer. But fully disabling ANC requires turning off the toggle under Buttons & gestures.

Check If ANC is Disabled

To check whether ANC is actually disabled on your Android phone, there are a couple of ways. First, when playing audio like music or a video, the sound quality will be different with ANC off. You will notice more ambient noises mixed in with your audio. Second, ambient sounds in your environment should sound louder and your surroundings can be heard more clearly. This is a sure sign ANC is turned off.

According to Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode on Apple.com, you can also check ANC status on compatible phones. However, Android devices don’t have official tools from manufacturers. Instead, pay attention to the audio changes in sound quality and surrounding noises. If ambient sounds become much more prominent, ANC is disabled.

Re-enable ANC When Needed

If you have turned off Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) but find you need it again, follow these steps to re-enable it:

On Samsung Galaxy devices:

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone
2. Tap the switch next to “Active Noise Canceling” to turn it back on
3. You will hear a confirmation beep indicating ANC has been reactivated

On Google Pixel devices using Google Meet:

1. Open the Google Meet app and join a meeting
2. Tap the screen and select “Settings”
3. Toggle on “Noise cancellation”

On OnePlus devices:

1. Go to Settings > Buttons & gestures
2. Toggle on “Enable noise cancellation”

Re-enabling ANC can be useful when you need noise reduction again, for example when moving from a quiet to a noisy environment. Just follow the appropriate steps above to turn this handy feature back on.

Use Airplane Mode

An easy way to turn off active noise cancellation on Android devices is to turn on airplane mode. Airplane mode disables software-based noise cancellation technology like ANC in wireless headphones. So when you turn on airplane mode on your Android device, the Active Noise Cancellation functionality will be switched off automatically.

Enabling airplane mode is often simpler compared to going through multiple settings menus to find the ANC toggle switch (which varies by device and model). Airplane mode acts as an overarching shortcut that applies system-wide. As soon as airplane mode is enabled, features relying on wireless signals like Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and cellular are shut off. This includes Active Noise Cancellation which requires a Bluetooth connection to function.

So if you want to quickly toggle between enabling and disabling noise cancellation, in many cases just turning airplane mode on and off can achieve this. Keep in mind that with airplane mode enabled, you won’t have access to wireless connectivity. But if you solely want a convenient way to turn off ANC temporaily, airplane mode is an easy option to try.

Considerations and Troubleshooting

There are a few considerations and potential issues when disabling Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on Android devices:

• Some headphones may not fully disable ANC even when toggled off in settings. There still may be some noise reduction applied (source). Try toggling Airplane Mode on as well if you want to fully disable any noise cancellation features.
• On certain Android models, like Samsung Galaxy devices, disabling ANC can sometimes get “stuck” and not respond in settings. Try rebooting the phone or re-pairing the Bluetooth headphones if this happens (source).
• Make sure your headphones and Android OS are fully updated with the latest firmware versions. There may be bugs with older versions that cause issues toggling ANC on and off.

If you continue having problems getting ANC to properly turn off on your Android device, you may need to contact the device or headphone manufacturer for troubleshooting help or hardware service.