Ambient mode is a feature available on some headphones that allows the user to hear ambient sound even while wearing the headphones. This feature is designed to reduce the amount of sound blocked out by the headphones, making it safer to use headphones while walking or biking in urban areas. Ambient mode works by using the microphones built into the headphones to pick up external sounds and play them back through the headphones. The way ambient mode works differs depending on the headphones and the technology used. Generally speaking, the feature is either built into the headphones themselves or activated via a companion app. To switch between noise canceling and ambient sound modes, users can press a button on the headphones. It is important to note that ambient sound mode does not enable the user to hear all sounds around them, and ambient sound may not be heard well depending on the surrounding environment, type of music being played, or the volume level.