Xiaomi AirDots headphones are among the most popular wireless gadgets due to a combination of price, quality and functionality. However, built-in noise cancellation (ANC or ENC) does not always work perfectly: some users complain of sound distortion, delay or simply prefer natural sound without processing. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not always provide an obvious way to turn this feature off through the standard menu.
In this article, we’ll look at all possible methods for deactivating noise cancellation across AirDots models, from basic AirDots Basic to flagship AirDots Pro 3. You’ll learn how to check the current status of ANC/ENC, what settings are hidden in the proprietary Mi Home app, and what to do if your model doesn’t support software shutdown. We’ll also look at alternative solutions, from resetting to using third-party firmware (for advanced users).
Which Xiaomi AirDots models support noise reduction?
Not all Xiaomi headphones are equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC) or external noise suppression technology (ENC).
- 🔹 AirDots Basic / Youth Edition – Passive soundproofing only ANC/ENC).
- 🔹 AirDots Pro / Pro 2 / Pro 2s — eat ENC for microphones, but not fully ANC.
- 🔹 AirDots Pro 3 / Air 3 Pro – support hybrid ANC (can be turned off).
- 🔹 AirDots 3 / Air 2s / Air 2 Pro — ENC present, ANC Only in the Pro versions.
If your model is not on this list, it probably doesn’t have hardware noise cancellation – the distortions of the sound can be related to other settings (e.g. eQUALizer or Bluetooth codec).
How to Check if Noise Reduction Is On on Your AirDots
Before you try to disable the ANC/ENC, make sure the function is actually active. Here are 3 ways to diagnose:
- Sound test: Turn on the music at medium volume and cover the earphone with your finger. If the sound becomes much quieter, passive isolation works. If the sound is distorted or artifacts appear, active noise cancellation is activated.
- Microphone test: Call a friend and ask them to rate the quality of your voice. With an active ENC, background noises (wind, street) will be suppressed, but the voice may sound unnatural.
- In-app check: open Mi Home → find your headphones → Settings for sound. If there's an ANC or ENC switch, the function is supported.
Important: On non-ANC models (like AirDots Basic), any audio distortion is due to Bluetooth codec settings (AAC/SBC) or phone firmware, not noise cancellation.
Method 1: Disable noise reduction through the Mi Home app
The easiest method is to use the official Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models), the instructions are relevant for AirDots Pro 3, Air 3 Pro and other devices with ANC:
Open the Mi Home app and plug in your headphones | Go to Devices → select your AirDots |Tap “Sound Settings” or “Sound Effects” |Find the “ANC” or “Noise Canceling” switch and deactivate it |Save changes and reconnect your headphones
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If your app doesn’t have an ANC item, try:
- 🔄 Update Mi Home to the latest version (Google Play or App Store).
- 📱 Connect your headphones to another smartphone (sometimes the settings are hidden due to regional restrictions).
- 🔧 Reset the headphones to factory settings (press the button on the case for 10 seconds).
⚠️ Note: Some AirDots Pro firmware 2s option ENC The microphone can be linked to a conversation mode, and you can't turn it off separately, you'll have to use alternative methods (see section below).
Method 2: Manually shut down via button combinations (for older models)
On Xiaomi AirDots Pro and AirDots Pro 2 headphones (without ANC), you can try disabling the ENC for the microphone using hidden combinations. This method is not officially documented, but works on some firmware:
- Put both earbuds in the case.
- Open the case cover and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red-white-red.
- Close the lid, wait 10 seconds and remove the headphones.
- Connect to your phone and check the quality of the microphone (ENC must be turned off).
If the combination doesn’t work, try repeating the process by holding the 20 second button, which resets the microphone settings to factory settings (without ENC).
| Model headphones | Supports the ANC | Supports the ENC | You can switch off software |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirDots Basic | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ❌ Inapplicable. |
| AirDots Pro | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Only through the dumping. |
| AirDots Pro 2s | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Through Mi Home. |
| AirDots Pro 3 | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Total shutdown |
| Air 3 Pro | ✅ Yes (hybrid) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Through Xiaomi Wear |
Method 3: Alternative methods for advanced users
If standard methods don't work, you can try more radical solutions, and be careful, these methods can lead to loss of warranty or unstable headphones.
Firmware via ADB (for power users only)
A safer option is to use third-party applications to control sound:
- 🎧 Wavelet (to configure the equalizer and Bluetooth codecs).
- 🔊 SoundAssistant (allows you to disable audio processing at the Android level).
- 🛠️ Developer Options (enable Disable Bluetooth) A2DP hardware offload).
⚠️ Note: Apps like Wavelet only work on smartphones with root rights or unlocked bootloaders. On iPhones, these methods are not applicable due to iOS restrictions.
What to do if the noise reduction cannot be turned off?
On some models (such as the AirDots Pro 2), the microphone noise cancellation (ENC) is rigidly sewn into the firmware, in which case there are workarounds:
- Use an external microphone: connect a headset with a separate microphone to your smartphone (ENC headphones will be ignored).
- Turn off the microphone in the app: in Mi Home, find the Microphone option during calls and select Phone Microphone.
- Reduce sensitivity: In the phone’s sound settings, lower the microphone amplification level (this will reduce the effect of ENC).
If the problem is with the sound distortion (not the microphone), try:
- 🔄 Switch the Bluetooth codec to AAC on SBC (in the settings of the Android developer).
- 🎵 Disable all equalizers and effects in the player (for example, in Spotify or YouTube Music).
- 🔋 Check the charge of the case - at a low level of the battery ANC/ENC may work unstablely.
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If you use AirDots from a PC (Windows/macOS), try disabling audio processing in your Bluetooth device settings. In Windows, this is done through Control Panel → Sound → Device Properties → Improvements (uncheck all ticks).
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you try to turn off noise cancellation, users often face typical problems. Here's how to solve them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No ANC point in Mi Home | An outdated version of the app or headphone firmware | Update Mi Home and AirDots firmware through Settings → Software Update |
| After reset, the ENC is activated again. | Settings synchronized with the cloud Xiaomi | Turn off sync in your Mi Account or use headphones without linking to your account |
| Sound became quieter after ANC shutdown | Active noise cancellation artificially increased the volume | Increase the volume manually or adjust the equalizer (amplify the low frequencies) |
| The microphone does not work after manipulation. | Firmware failure or Bluetooth conflict | Reset the headphones to factory settings (hold the button on the case for 20 seconds) |
Critical information: On Xiaomi AirDots Pro 3 headphones with firmware version 1.4.0.3 and below, disabling the ANC via Mi Home can cause a connection failure. Before changing your settings, update your firmware to 1.7.0.1 or later.