White noise is random noise with the same power at every frequency you can hear, from the lowest to the highest. Each octave up holds twice as many frequencies as the one below it, so white noise carries more and more of its power toward the treble, and the ear hears a bright, even hiss. Background Noises plays it under Noise: on Premium for up to 12 hours, and as a 60-second sample on the free plan.
Synthesized by eleMusic. How the sound is made.
Where does the name come from?
From light. White light holds every visible color in equal measure, and white noise holds every audible frequency in equal measure. The other noise colors borrowed the idea: pink noise leans toward the low end the way pink light leans toward red.
Is white noise the same as a fan?
Close, but not the same. A fan adds a hum at its motor's speed and a whoosh that rises and falls as the blades turn and the air moves. White noise has no tone and no pattern at all, so the fortieth minute sounds like the first. If the hiss feels sharp, pink noise keeps the evenness with less treble, and grey noise reshapes it so that no range stands out.
Why does white noise seem so loud?
Because so much of its power sits in the upper middle of the range, where hearing is most sensitive. At the same setting, white noise usually seems louder than brown or pink. Start low and raise it only until the sounds you want to cover fade into it.
How do I play it?
Tap White Noise under Noise and it plays at once: the 60-second sample on the free plan, and on Premium for up to 12 hours. The sleep timer stops it at the time you choose.
Is white noise safe to leave on for a long time?
Volume is what matters for your ears, not the color of the noise. Keep it low, give your ears breaks from headphones, and stop if you notice ringing or discomfort afterward. If you are thinking of playing it near a baby, read white noise and babies first.
Which sound should I try next?
If white noise is too bright for you, try pink. For something deeper, try brown noise. And if you want a sound with more texture than noise, try Rain or a music station. Noise colors compared puts white, pink, brown and grey side by side.
Press play.
The Free plan plays a 60-second sample of everything. Premium plays the eight music and four nature stations, the noise colors and the tones for hours.
