AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability

Hi guys! Same issue here. I contacted support and after all these boring steps like upgrading the iPhone resetting the Airpods trying another device I still got no improvement (as expected). The support suggested me taking my Airpods to service in order to check them but I really hope this is a firmware problem and not ANC microphones dying after a month's use.

Today I was in a crowded place (cafe) and I could hear everything around me as if I had no noise cancelling at all. The only sound that gets suppressed by ANC is my fridge. For now I am very disappointed with Airpods and hope they will fix this issue as I do not see any advantage over 1st and 2nd gen and ANC was a dealbreaker when thinking over the purchase.

BTW who else have noticed that when you turn ANC on you no longer get a "vacuum" feeling in ears?

I remember getting this one when I got them out of box. My wife felt uncomfortable with this feeling but I just enjoyed cutting the world off.

After Airpods Pro updated to 2b588, the capability of noise cancelling reduced. Now I use my wired in-ear phone instead of Airpods Pro, I am waiting the next update can return the capability of noise cancelling........Disappointed...........

Talked to Apple Support. Sent diagnostics from paired iPhone. Was told to pass the device to Apple engineers.

Yesterday it was replaced with one having firmware 2B584 (the one with stronger ANC). But this morning it turned into a pumpkin with the recent 2C54 firmware upgraded automatically.

I bought my AirPod Pros on day one. Was extremely happy with it, especially how well it blocked out all the noises. I only ever needed to have my volume set at half-way to enjoy my music. Sadly now the noise cancellation barely exists; I can hear footsteps, cars passing by, every tick of the pedestrian red light. It simply doesn’t work.

I’ve taken in my AirPod Pros for repair 3 times for other reasons and ended up getting a replacement, which had the old firmware at first, and the noise cancellation difference was seriously night and day. Only lasted until it automatically updated the firmware though.

I am extremely disappointed and frustrated at Apple for basically removing the single most important feature of the AirPod Pros. Can anyone tell me where I can file a complaint about this?

Contact AppleCare. Schedule a call or chat with them. They contacted me and asked for more information (as others on this forum mentioned happened to them). The rep that I talked to said he was logging all of the info and sending it up to Engineering. I have also been updating him on other parts such as the new version 2C54 that also has the same issue, etc.

I can confirm that version 2C54 does not fix the issue. The issue remains and I have sent this information over to the AppleCare rep that is handling my case.

Please fix the issue by restoring the Active Noise-Canceling settings to how they were on firmware 2B584 and prior to 2B588.

I tried the newest firmware on an airplane yesterday, noise level at around 67 dB, It does a decent job in cutting the engine low frequencies but the engine higher frequencies and the people around me were audible.

It fails big time when the situation is much less noisy like at home or in a quiet road.

Same thing here - I got them on day 1 and was really happy with the ANC, but the most recent firmware updates have drastically decreased its effectiveness. Instantly noticeable sitting in my usual coffee shop, in a car or on a plane. It almost sounds like partial transparency mode is now on while ANC is selected - voices, typing, footsteps etc are now getting through to a much larger degree than with the original firmware. Really hope they revert this change soon.

Yeah I hope they will fix this. I spoke with Apple two or three times now and they keep collecting information and I let them know that both 2B588 and the newest firmware have the same issue and they are forwarding it up the line... It seems like just a simple fix via another update. I just hope they will fix it (and soon)...

Active noise cancellation in the 2C54 firmware is absolutely useless! Apple deliberately spoiled the consumer qualities of the product I bought. And, unfortunately, I can't return it and get my money back. I'm very disappointed!

Agreed. I’m in constant contact with an AppleCare rep who is forwarding all of what I’ve been experiencing up for chain. They are also aware of this forum post since that rep referenced this post when contacting me. So I hope they will fix it. The ANC is now only 5-20% of what it was before!

Apple, please fix this soon. If downgrading firmware was possible, I would have done that immediately :(

2B588 and 2C54 are the only firmware versions with this issue thus far for me (and consensus on this forum).

Previous launch firmware did not have this issue. (Fact, not speculation. Please... stop editing the post...)

[Edited by Moderator]

Please bring back true noise cancelling as in stock firmware as soon as possible because you are disappointing your customers so much. Your customers paid a good fortune for the noise cancelling feature and you are taking out at least 50% of it without consent do you think it''s still justice? Creating a scale to let users choose their accepted level of noise cancelling is not that difficult right?

I have ordered the Airpods pro at a local shop.

I was really happy with the ANC. it 'was' working perfect.

the airpods pro did automaticly a firmware upgrade to 2C54.

This is a huge diff. i'm totally not happy anymore with it.

also have the feeling i'm getting a pressure on my ears in transparency mode.

If  don't fix it soon. i will send them back.

Please keep posting your experiences and reporting to AppleCare directly so we can find solutions.

Please post your specific circumstances when the ANC is bad. I’m sure it will help the dev team as they are apparently monitoring this. I spoke with Apple Support on Twitter also. They said my rep did forward my info (including this thread) upwards so it’s good to report on our new findings.

Apple really dropped the ball here but they need to know what to fix.

I’m seeing everyday just how bad the ANC is now. It’s maybe 20-50% of what it was before.

I can hear traffic now. Quiet bathroom fans. People speaking, coughing, sneezing, walking. Footsteps. Even wind is stronger now. My own voice (before it was well drowned out). Just the ANC overall almost all frequencies has seemed to take a hit.

Subway and bus sounds are very clear now. Need loud volume to attempt to cover them up.

It doesn’t have that feeling like you’re in space “vacuum” anymore when ANC is turned on. Before it felt like you went into another “world” where it was near dead-silent. But now it’s just very similar to when it’s turned off.

If anyone knows exactly which frequencies are the worst, it might be helpful to post here and also to tell AppleCare as well so they can forward it up. I just notice ANC overall is horrible now compared to stock firmware. I just want to downgrade!

It would be great if there were firmware change notes like in iOS updates too... but there aren’t and no way to prevent an update or to facilitate a downgrade. I really hope this is fixed.

Also, ear-tip test passed and always did. Fit is perfect. ANC was changed after the firmware update so it’s not a hardware or fit issue.

Post your symptoms and please contact Apple Support and they can make

a case for you and I hope the more helpful reports they get, the quicker we can get this solved.

bus and subway became more louder. when i bought APP, with ANC my volume was on 30-40% and it felt very comfortable to hear podcasts and audiobooks even in subway without damage on my ears. now I need to make volume minimum on 80% to hear smth during hearing the same files.