What White Noise Is
White noise has the same energy at every frequency people can hear. That's why it sounds like a bright, even hiss, close to an untuned radio. Because it never changes, a sudden sound such as a door, a voice or a car outside stands out less against it.
If classic white noise sounds too sharp, choose Soft white noise or turn the tone down. Both take the hiss off the top.
White Noise for Sleeping
- Choose White noise for sleeping. It blends soft white noise with pink noise and turns the tone down.
- Set the timer to 60 minutes or 8 hours. The sound fades out over the last two minutes.
- Keep the volume just loud enough to cover the noises that wake you, and no louder.
White Noise for Babies
Many parents play white noise in a nursery. Researchers who measured infant sleep machines found that some get loud enough at full volume, close to the crib, to raise concerns about a baby's hearing (Hugh and colleagues, Pediatrics, 2014).
If you use this page for a baby, keep the volume low, put the phone or speaker across the room rather than in or beside the crib or cot, and use the timer. Follow your pediatrician's or health visitor's advice.
White, Pink or Brown Noise?
- White noise is the brightest: an even hiss across the whole range.
- Pink noise has the high end turned down, so it's closer to steady rain.
- Brown noise is mostly low rumble, like a distant waterfall.
To blend all three yourself, use the white noise generator.
FAQs
- Does the white noise loop?
- No. It's made live in your browser, so there's no recording to repeat and no seam to hear.
- Will it keep playing with my screen off?
- On iPhone and on computers, yes, including in another tab. If your phone ever pauses it, tap play when you come back.
- Does it use much data?
- Almost none. The noise is made on your device, so nothing streams once the page has loaded.
Last updated October 2026