Run Headphones Without Noise Cancelling

Question

Can I adjust my headphones to work without noise canceling?

Answer 1

Hello

Do you want to turn off noise canceling so you can hear your surrounding, or do you actually meant, you want your meeting participants to hear your background noises, this is usually useful when you are a music teacher teaching instrument, for example.

If it is the first scenario, that depends on your headphone, the operation can be done typically on the headphone itself, instruction can vary depending on model.

If you are talking about the latter, you can go to Teams Settings > Devices > turn off Noise suppression. Your computer itself might also have other software like Intel Smart sound or others that requires further adjustment, but see if that works first by turning it off on Teams first.

Answer 2

Yes. On Surface Headphones, Surface Headphones 2, and Surface Headphones 2+ noise cancellation can be reduced to minimum so they effectively work without active noise cancelling.

Use the left ear dial to turn noise cancellation down:

• Turn the left dial backward to decrease noise cancellation.
• When noise cancellation is turned off, outside sound is amplified so surrounding sounds can be heard clearly.

Noise cancellation can also be adjusted in the Surface app:

On Windows 10/11

1. Open the Surface app and select Surface Headphones.
2. Under Noise cancellation, choose a lower level (for example Low) or turn it off.

On iOS or Android

1. Open the Surface app and make sure it is connected to the headphones.
2. Tap Account > Surface Headphones.
3. Tap Noise cancellation and select a lower level or turn it off.

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References:

• Use Surface Headphones
• Fix problems with using your Surface Headphones
• Surface Headphones 2+ overview