In an increasingly noisy environment, finding moments of focus and calm has become a priority for many of us. The AirPods Pro, with their active noise cancellation technology, offer us an ideal solution by allowing us to isolate ourselves from our surroundings and fully immerse in our music, podcasts, or any other audio content.
It's uncommon, but in this context, we don't always need, want, or can use both AirPods. Fortunately, Apple has thought of this and provides us with a simple way to activate noise cancellation even when we are using just one AirPod.
Noise Cancellation on a Single AirPod
It might seem counterintuitive to use just one AirPod with active noise cancellation, but there are scenarios where this functionality is extremely useful. Whether we need to keep one ear free to stay aware of our surroundings but want the musical clarity of noise cancellation, or we have special hearing requirements, the ability to activate ANC on a single AirPod is interesting.
The steps are really simple thanks to the accessibility options integrated into Apple devices. Here's how we do it:
- Take the AirPods out of the charging case, put them on, and play something to make sure they are connected to the iPhone.
- On the iPhone, open the Settings app.
- Tap on the AirPods section at the top.
- Enter Accessibility.
- Activate the option for Noise Cancellation with One AirPod.
Once this adjustment is made, we can activate noise cancellation in the usual way, even if we are using just one AirPod. Note that if it was previously necessary to have both AirPods in to be able to access the noise cancellation option from the iPhone's Control Center, now it will always be available. Simply hold down the volume slider in the Control Center, and we will have the option available.
The possibility of activating noise cancellation on a single AirPod mainly highlights its utility for accessibility needs but also offers us greater flexibility in using our headphones. Just like equalizing the sound of the AirPods to make them sound better than ever, in situations where we only need or prefer to use one earbud, this small adjustment ensures that we can enjoy a high-quality auditory experience, free from external distractions.
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