To check your AirPods Pro firmware version, connect your AirPods Pro, then:
- Go to Settings > General > About
- Tap AirPods Pro
No way to force an update. Mine were updated by the time I checked.
See also, this Twitter thread from Gui Rambo:
I actually compared AirPods Pro running firmware 2C54 vs. 2D15 by putting one in each ear and there’s no difference in noise cancellation whatsoever.
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) May 5, 2020
I’ve not had a problem with my AirPods Pro, but I definitely feel like the phrase should be Noise Reduction and not Noise Cancellation. With Noise Cancellation turned on, I can still hear background noise, though it is definitely reduced.
If you are having issues with active noise cancellation, here’s Apple’s support article, for what it’s worth.