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Beats Studio Buds: Change Noise Cancellation & Controls

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Beats Studio Buds: Change Noise Cancellation & Controls

This guide shows you how to switch between Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode on your Beats Studio Buds, and how to customize what the press-and-hold button on each earbud does. You’ll also learn how to adjust the controls for skipping tracks and answering calls. All changes are made in the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device—no extra app needed.

What You’ll Need

  • Beats Studio Buds (original or USB-C version) with at least some battery charge
  • An iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with Bluetooth enabled
  • For iPhone/iPad: iOS 14.6 or later (or iPadOS 14.6 or later)
  • For Android: the Beats app (free, from Google Play) is required to change settings
  • The earbuds must be paired to your device already

Step-by-Step

Switching Between Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

  1. Put both earbuds in your ears.
  2. Press and hold the “b” button on the stem of either earbud until you hear a chime. Each press-and-hold toggles between Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode.
  3. You can also switch modes from your device:
    • iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the “i” icon next to your Beats Studio Buds, then tap Noise Cancelling, Transparency, or Off under “Press and Hold Buds” (or directly in the “Noise Control” section).
    • Android: Open the Beats app, tap your earbuds, then select Noise Cancelling, Transparency, or Off from the “Press and Hold” menu.
  4. To turn off both modes (so you hear everything naturally), select Off in the same menu. Note that “Off” does not disable the microphones completely; it just disables the active processing.

Customizing the Press-and-Hold Button Controls

  1. On your iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” next to your Beats Studio Buds.
  2. Under the “Press and Hold Buds” section, you’ll see two options: Left and Right.
  3. Tap Left or Right to choose what that earbud’s button does when you press and hold it:
    • Noise Control: Toggles between ANC and Transparency (default).
    • Volume Down / Volume Up: Press and hold to lower or raise volume continuously.
  4. If you set one side to volume, the other side remains on Noise Control unless you change it too.
  5. On Android, open the Beats app, tap your earbuds, then tap Press and Hold to assign each side.

Changing Other Button Controls (Play/Pause, Calls, Siri)

  1. The “b” button on each earbud also handles media and calls, but these are fixed (not customizable):
    • Single press: Play or pause audio, or answer/end a call.
    • Double press: Skip forward to the next track.
    • Triple press: Skip backward to the previous track.
    • Press and hold (when not changing volume): Switch between ANC and Transparency, or activate Siri/voice assistant if you have set that in the Beats app (Android) or in iOS’s Bluetooth settings under “Press and Hold” (choose “Voice Assistant” instead of Noise Control).
  2. To make the press-and-hold trigger Siri instead of noise control, go to the same “Press and Hold Buds” settings and select Voice Assistant for that side.
  3. To change the volume with the button, you must assign one side to volume—there is no separate volume rocker.

Common Mistakes

  • Pressing the button too quickly: A quick press does not switch modes; you need to press and hold for about one second until you hear the chime.
  • Only one earbud in your ear: Some users think the mode didn’t change because they only hear from one bud. The mode applies to both, but the chime may be quieter if only one is in.
  • Confusing “Off” with Transparency: “Off” disables both ANC and Transparency, so you hear ambient sound just like with Transparency, but without any processing. It’s not the same as Transparency, which uses microphones to enhance certain sounds.
  • Assigning volume to both sides: You can’t have volume on both; one side must remain on Noise Control or Voice Assistant, otherwise you lose the ability to switch modes.
  • Forgetting to update firmware: Older firmware may not show the volume control option. Check for updates in the Beats app (Android) or in iOS Settings > Bluetooth > your Beats > Firmware Version.

Tips

  • Use Transparency mode when you need to hear traffic or conversations; use ANC for noisy environments like airplanes or open offices.
  • If you frequently need volume changes, assign the left earbud to volume down and the right to volume up—but remember you’ll lose the quick ANC toggle on that side. You can still switch modes from your phone.
  • To quickly check which mode is active, look at the status light on the charging case when you open it—it may flash white for ANC, green for Transparency (depending on firmware), but the most reliable way is to check your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
  • Keep the earbuds clean; blocked microphones can affect ANC and Transparency performance.
  • On Android, the Beats app also lets you rename your earbuds and check battery levels.

Troubleshooting

  • No sound change when pressing and holding: Make sure you’re pressing the flat “b” area on the stem, not the top or bottom. Also ensure the earbuds are properly seated in your ears—if they’re loose, the seal is poor and ANC may not seem effective.
  • Mode toggles but no chime: If you don’t hear the chime, the earbuds may be low on battery. Charge them.
  • Settings don’t appear on iPhone: Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the “i” next to your Beats Studio Buds. If you don’t see “Press and Hold Buds,” tap “Forget This Device,” then re-pair the earbuds by holding the button on the case until the LED blinks.
  • Android can’t change settings: Install the Beats app from Google Play. If it doesn’t detect your earbuds, make sure they’re connected via Bluetooth and the app has location permission (required for Bluetooth scanning on Android 12+).
  • Volume control doesn’t work: After assigning a side to volume, press and hold the button—don’t just tap. The volume will change continuously as you hold. If it still doesn’t work, restart your phone and re-pair.
  • ANC sounds weak: Try a different ear tip size—the Beats Studio Buds come with three sizes. A proper seal is essential for ANC to work effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the button controls on my Beats Studio Buds?

Yes, you can customize the press-and-hold button action for each earbud: either Noise Control (ANC/Transparency) or Volume Up/Down. The single, double, and triple press actions are fixed.

How do I turn off noise cancellation completely?

Press and hold the button until you hear a chime, or go to your device’s Bluetooth settings and select “Off” under Noise Control. This disables both ANC and Transparency.

Why does my Beats Studio Buds only have ANC and Transparency, no “Off” option?

Some firmware versions hide the “Off” option. Update your earbuds via the Beats app (Android) or check for iOS updates. If it still doesn’t appear, you can cycle through modes by pressing and holding—it may go ANC → Transparency → Off.

Can I use the button to activate Siri?

Yes, you can set the press-and-hold action to “Voice Assistant” instead of Noise Control. On iPhone, go to Bluetooth settings; on Android, use the Beats app.

Do the Beats Studio Buds have volume controls on the earbuds?

Yes, but only if you assign one earbud’s press-and-hold to Volume Up or Volume Down. You cannot have both volume up and down on the same earbud.

Will these settings work on both iPhone and Android?

Yes, but on Android you must use the Beats app to change settings. On iPhone, the settings are built into the Bluetooth menu.

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