How to remove noise cancellation on Xiaomi headphones: 5 working ways

Noise reduction in Xiaomi headphones is a useful feature for concentrating in noisy places, but sometimes it interferes with hearing ambient sounds or impairs the quality of playback (ANC) It can create the effect of "stuck" ears, and algorithms ENC (Mik noise suppression) distort voice during calls, and in this article we will discuss how to completely turn off or adjust noise cancellation on all popular models. Xiaomi/Redmi Headphones from budget Redmi Buds 3 Up to the flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro.

It's important to understand that the manufacturer doesn't always provide a direct "turn off ANC" option. In some cases, you'll have to use workarounds: resetting settings, rolling back the firmware, or even physically disabling sensors (for advanced users). We've compiled all the current methods, including hidden MI-app features and alternative firmware. If your model doesn't support noise reduction by standard means, there's a section at the end of this article with radical solutions.

1. Disable noise reduction via the official Mi Home/Xiaomi Wear app

Most modern Xiaomi headphones are managed through proprietary applications: Mi Home (for older models) or Xiaomi Wear (for new ones). The interface and available options depend on the version of the headphone firmware and regional firmware of the smartphone.

Step 1. Connect your headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth and open the Xiaomi Wear app (you can download from Google Play or the App Store).

Step 2. Find your headphone model in the list of connected devices. If the headphones don't show up, update the app or manually reconnect them through Settings → Bluetooth.

Step 3. In the device card, find the section Sound settings or Sound Effects. Depending on the model, the option may be called:

• 🔇 ANC (Active noise reduction for hardware-supported models (FlipBuds Pro, AirDots 3 Pro)
• 🎤 ENC (Microphone noise suppression – only affects the quality of calls
• 🌐 Transparency mode – sometimes turning it off automatically deactivates ANC
• 🔄 Adaptive noise cancellation – a hybrid mode that can be turned off completely

Are the headphones connected to the app?|Has the Xiaomi Wear app been updated?|Is Bluetooth enabled on your smartphone?|Are the headphones charged (minimum 20%)?-->

Step 4: Translate the slider or select the Off option for the desired mode. In some models (for example, Redmi Buds 4 Pro) you will have to turn off the transparency mode first, and then ANC.

⚠️ Note: On headphones Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro and FlipBuds Pro when disconnected ANC You can reset the equalizer through the app. Save the user settings in advance!

2. disable noise reduction through touch gestures (for models with support)

Some Xiaomi headphones allow you to control noise cancellation directly from the body — this is convenient if you don't have access to the application.

• 🎧 Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro (touch and hold the touch panel)
• 🎧 Redmi Buds 4 Pro (Double Touch Left-Earphone)
• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro (triple touch of right earphone)

Instructions:

1. Put on your headphones and turn on music playback (optional).
2. For FlipBuds Pro: Touch and hold the touchpad on the left earphone for 2 seconds. Voice assistant will report a change of mode ("Noise Cancel is off").
3. For Redmi Buds 4 Pro: Tap your right earphone twice – each click cycles to switch modes (ANC → Transparency → Off).
4. For AirDots 3 Pro: Tap any headphone three times to turn off the ANC.

If gestures don’t work, check the settings in the Xiaomi Wear app under Gesture Management.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro|Redmi Buds 4 Pro|Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro|Redmi Buds 3 Lite| Another model |I don't know-->

3. Resetting headphones to factory settings (if noise cancellation is not switched off)

If the ANC/ENC doesn't turn off through the app or gestures, try resetting the headphones, which will remove all user settings, including device binding, but often solves software failures.

Universal instructions for most models:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Open the case cover - the headphones will automatically reboot.
4. Connect the headphones to the smartphone again through Settings → Bluetooth.

For models without a physical button on the case (e.g. Redmi Buds 3 Lite):

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Hold the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until you hear the reset sound.

⚠️ Attention: Headphones Xiaomi Air 2 SE Redmi AirDots 2 reset does not disable ANC — This is a hardware function that is controlled only through firmware. For these models, read the alternative firmware section.

4. Disable noise reduction through the engineering menu (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try disabling ANC through hidden settings, which is suitable for models on a Qualcomm chip (for example, FlipBuds Pro, AirDots 3 Pro) and requires additional software installation.

You'll need:

• 📱 Smartphone on Android (on iOS the method does not work).
• 🔌 NRF Connect application (for download).
• 💻 PC with Python installed and bleak library (for advanced users).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
2. Open nRF Connect and find your headphones in the list of devices (usually displayed as MI_TWS_...).
3. Connect to the device and go to the Unknown Service tab.
4. Find service with UUID 0000fff0-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb is the standard protocol for managing Xiaomi headphones.
5. Send the command A5 05 01 00 00 AA (in hexadecimal format) - this disables the ANC. Use the A5 05 01 01 00 AB to enable.

To automate the process, you can use a script in Python:

from bleak import BleakClient



async def disable_anc(address):




async with BleakClient(address) as client:




await client.write_gatt_char(




"0000fff1-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb",




bytearray.fromhex("A5 05 01 00 00 AA")




)




print("ANC disabled")




Replace MAC_ADDRESS with your headphones’ real address


You can find it in nRF Connect or through the command `hcitool lescan` on Linux.



await disable_anc("MAC_ADDRESS")

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect commands in the engineering menu can lead to loss of communication with the headphones or reset all settings. If you are not sure about your actions, use this method only under the guidance of an experienced user.

5. Alternative firmware and modifications (for enthusiasts)

If none of the above methods worked, you'll still have the option of flashing your headphones. It's a risky method, but it allows you to completely disable it. ANC/ENC It's at firmware level. It's on Xiaomi AirDots headphones. 3 Pro and FlipBuds Pro after firmware modified software noise reduction is permanently disabled, but lost support for official updates.

Popular modified firmware:

Instructions for firmware (on the example of FlipBuds Pro):

1. Download the archive with firmware and unpack it on the PC.
2. Install Qualcomm QCC drivers (attached in the archive).
3. Connect your headphones to your PC via Bluetooth (use a CSR or Qualcomm adapter for stability).
4. Launch the file. flash_tool.exe From the archive and select the firmware file (.bin or.hex).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen. It'll take 2-5 minutes.

💡

Before you run the firmware, back up the original software! For this, the firmware archive usually has a utility. backup_fw.bat. Run it before the firmware starts to save the current version in case of rollbacks.

After a successful firmware:

• 🔄 ANC/ENC It will be permanently disabled (until you sew back the official software).
• 🎛️ There will be additional settings equalizer.
• ⚠️ The headphone guarantee burns out.
• 🔋 Possible increase in battery consumption (depending on firmware).

Physical shutdown of noise cancellation (extreme case)

If the software methods didn't work, and the firmware is too risky, you can physically shut down the microphones that control the ANC, which is irreversible, and requires disassembling the headphones, but it's guaranteed to remove noise cancellation.

What you need:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross, flat, dimensions 0.6-1.0 mm).
• 🧲 Tweezers and a suction cup.
• 🔥 Dryer or soldering iron (for brazing microphones).
• 📸 A magnifying glass or microscope (microphones are very small).

The following is the example of Redmi Buds 3 Pro:

1. Carefully tweez the grille on the outside of the headphone (there are ANC microphones).
2. Unplug the protective film and find two microphones: one is responsible for capturing external noise, the second is responsible for feedback.
3. Seal off the microphone contacts or cut the tracks leading to them (use a soldering iron at minimum power!).
4. Put the headphone back together, check it's working.

⚠️ Warning: After physical microphone shutdown: - Call quality will deteriorate (ENC - There may be background noise in the music (due to leakage violation). - The warranty is canceled, and the headphones cannot be exchanged.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off noise reduction on Xiaomi