Galaxy Buds · Display & Sound
Turn on and tune Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)
ANC-capable Galaxy Buds models block out background noise using onboard microphones, with adjustable intensity and an Adaptive mode that reacts to how loud your surroundings are in real time.
What you should know
- Open Galaxy Wearable, tap the earbuds image on the home screen, then tap the ANC/Ambient sound icon at the top of the card.
- Choose Noise Cancelling, Adaptive, or Off; Adaptive automatically raises or lowers cancellation strength as ambient noise changes.
- Under Noise Cancelling, pick High or Low intensity depending on how much outside sound you want blocked.
- Assign a touch gesture (Touchpad settings > Long press to control > Noise controls) so you can cycle ANC modes on the earbud itself without opening the app.
Why it matters
ANC intensity directly trades off noise blocking against battery life and awareness of your surroundings, so picking Adaptive rather than always-on High keeps runtime longer for buds that aren't in a constantly loud environment.
Best practices
- Use Adaptive mode for mixed environments like commuting, where noise levels change between a quiet platform and a loud train.
- Confirm both earbuds are seated firmly in your ears — a loose fit is the most common reason ANC feels weaker than expected.
- Switch to Ambient Sound mode instead of turning ANC fully off when you need to hear traffic or announcements.
Common problems and fixes
- ANC feels weak or barely noticeable
- Try a different eartip size from the included set — a poor seal lets outside noise leak in around the noise cancellation.
- ANC option is missing from the app
- Confirm your model actually supports ANC (base Galaxy Buds/Buds2/Buds3 don't include it) and that firmware is up to date.
Tips and tricks
- Wind noise can trigger Adaptive ANC to sound 'pumping' — switching to a fixed High or Low setting is often steadier outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
Does ANC drain the battery faster?
Yes, noticeably — expect meaningfully shorter playback time with ANC on High compared to ANC off or Ambient Sound mode.
Related settings
- Ambient Sound / Voice DetectAmbient Sound uses the earbuds' external microphones to pipe in outside noise so you can stay aware of your surroundings, while Voice Detect automatically pauses noise cancelling and boosts ambient audio when it senses you've started talking.
- Touch Control CustomizationEach Galaxy Buds earbud has an independently configurable touchpad, letting you assign playback, volume, assistant, or noise-control actions to taps and long presses on the left and right earbud separately.