iOS 18 Adds More Control Over Adaptive Audio on AirPods Pro 2

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro have an Adaptive Audio feature that includes Adaptive Noise Control, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness, which are all features that adjust sound and Active Noise Cancellation in response to the environment around you.

airpods adaptive audio
Right now, Adaptive Audio is an all or nothing setting, but that's set to change in iOS 18. Apple added a "Customize Adaptive Audio" menu that lets you adjust the setting to allow for more or less noise.

When the AirPods Pro 2 with the latest beta firmware are connected to an iPhone running iOS 18, you can open up the AirPods section of the Settings app to see a new Adaptive Audio section.

Tapping into it presents a slider bar where you can adjust Adaptive Audio for Less Noise or More Noise, impacting the Adaptive Audio settings. The feature will mostly apply to Adaptive Noise Control, a feature that blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation. It is designed to tweak the level of noise control based on changing conditions in the environment, so being able to set it to allow for more noise or less noise will come in handy.

The setting will also impact Personalized Volume, an option that adjusts the volume of the AirPods Pro 2 based on your personal volume preferences and environmental conditions.

These settings will be widely available to AirPods Pro 2 owners when iOS 18 launches in the fall. The earbuds will also be able to be adjusted using iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Here's When Tesla is Expected to Add Support for Apple CarPlay

Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months." This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles. As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...

Top Rated Comments

anthogag Avatar
19 months ago
There should be a list of things you can tune-out when wearing AirPods Pro. "Siri, silence stupid loud vehicles and motorbikes", "Siri, silence the barking dog", "Siri, silence the leaf blower",...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepIn2U Avatar
19 months ago

There should be a list of things you can tune-out when wearing AirPods Pro. "Siri, silence stupid loud vehicles and motorbikes", "Siri, silence the barking dog", "Siri, silence the leaf blower",...
Why?

I think its phenomenal that variable and automatic ambient was enabled long before announcement, even in the AirPods Pro 1, that brakes, public transit buses and even electric car reverse sounds came through even when I had ANC enabled. Its literary saved my ass while cycling on public roads about 3 times back in fall of 2022.

This is literary a life saving feature ... but I agree having the end user disable it would be nice. choice.

Probably one of THE most underrated announcements at WWDC 2024 is the simple head-tracking gesture of "no" and "yes" to deny or answer calls. It'll be JUST as hilarious to randomly see people in public not having any conversation or stoick voices nodding yes or no lol. Almost as funny as when Ericsson launched the first Bluetooth headsets and walking behind someone using one and thinking they've gone mad talking to themselves before they became publicly more common.

I recall walking 7 blocks behind some dude in a suit having the worst argument with his GF/mistress and finally at a stop sign approach him saying 'man you ok?' and him pointing to this HUGE honker of a headset. Then on the long intercity bus ride seeing him asking what headset was that, and through brief convo let me pair it with my Ericsson T28W. I was hooked on Bluetooth ever since. I think as more gifted programmers use the headtracking API we'll see more intuitive features we'd have wondered what we would've done without them over time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anthogag Avatar
19 months ago

Why?

I think its phenomenal that variable and automatic ambient was enabled long before announcement, even in the AirPods Pro 1, that brakes, public transit buses and even electric car reverse sounds came through even when I had ANC enabled. Its literary saved my ass while cycling on public roads about 3 times back in fall of 2022.

This is literary a life saving feature ... but I agree having the end user disable it would be nice. choice.

Probably one of THE most underrated announcements at WWDC 2024 is the simple head-tracking gesture of "no" and "yes" to deny or answer calls. It'll be JUST as hilarious to randomly see people in public not having any conversation or stoick voices nodding yes or no lol. Almost as funny as when Ericsson launched the first Bluetooth headsets and walking behind someone using one and thinking they've gone mad talking to themselves before they became publicly more common.

I recall walking 7 blocks behind some dude in a suit having the worst argument with his GF/mistress and finally at a stop sign approach him saying 'man you ok?' and him pointing to this HUGE honker of a headset. Then on the long intercity bus ride seeing him asking what headset was that, and through brief convo let me pair it with my Ericsson T28W. I was hooked on Bluetooth ever since. I think as more gifted programmers use the headtracking API we'll see more intuitive features we'd have wondered what we would've done without them over time.
If you're cycling you probably should hear all the noises. If I am walking or sitting somewhere I would cancel squealing brakes, loud diesel buses, EV low-speed beeping,...if I could. Give me a list I can check-off and AirPods Pro can target these noises.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
techyOS Avatar
19 months ago

Does anyone know how to install the beta for AirPods Pro 2? There is no more "developer mode" in settings as some instructions online have pointed out to do as a step.....?
You have to plug your iPhone into a Mac with Xcode to see the Developer tab in your iPhone Settings app.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Haiku_Oezu Avatar
19 months ago
Looks like the keyword this year was "customization" lol
Can't remember the last time so many news articles on MacRumors involved the word "customize" in one way or the other
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SDJim Avatar
19 months ago
I'm actually really excited about this. Conversation Awareness sucks because it triggers anytime I start singing along, but I need to be able to at least notice if someone is calling my name from the house while doing yard work. Adaptive often seems to let in too much noise as it is, so I welcome this ability!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)