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How to use white noise for sleep and focus

A steady noise covers sudden sounds such as traffic, neighbours or a snoring partner, which helps many people fall asleep or concentrate. You will pick a noise colour, set a gentle volume, add a sleep timer and keep it playing. It is generated in your browser tab.

4-minute read

Today's result A steady, comfortable sound that masks the noises around you and stops by itself when you are asleep.

Noise masks sound; it does not treat insomnia or tinnitus. Keep the level low, especially for babies, and ask a doctor about ongoing sleep or hearing problems.

Open White noise generator
Contents

  1. Open the White noise generator on cv.cm

    Use headphones or a speaker you can place across the room. A phone speaker on the pillow is louder than it sounds.

    Open White noise generator

  2. Choose a noise colour

    In Noise colour, pick White noise (bright hiss), Pink noise (rain), Brown noise (deep rumble) or Green noise (mid hum). Many people find pink or brown noise easier to sleep with than white.

    How the energy of each noise colour spreads from low to high frequencies.
    How the energy of each noise colour spreads from low to high frequencies.

  3. Start quiet

    Set Volume low and press Play. Raise it only until the sounds you want to cover fade into the background. It should be quieter than a normal conversation.

  4. Set a sleep timer

    Pick a Sleep timer such as 30 minutes or 1 h, or leave Off (play until stopped). The sound fades out over the last 30 seconds, so the end does not wake you.

    The sleep timer plays at full level, then fades out over the last 30 seconds.
    The sleep timer plays at full level, then fades out over the last 30 seconds.

  5. Keep it playing

    You can switch to other tabs or lock the screen on a computer; the sound keeps going. On phones, keep the browser open, since some phones pause web audio when the screen locks.

  6. Adjust or stop

    Change the colour or volume while it plays; the switch crossfades smoothly. Press Stop to end it.

Use with these tools

FAQ

Is white noise or brown noise better for sleep?

It depends on the person. Brown and pink noise have less treble, so many find them softer; white noise masks high-pitched sounds better. Try each for a few nights.

How loud should white noise be?

Just loud enough to cover background sounds, below a normal conversation (about 60 dB). For babies, keep it lower and the speaker away from the cot.

Can I play it all night?

Yes, choose Off (play until stopped) or an 8 h timer. Use a low volume if it plays for many hours.

Why does the sound stop when my phone locks?

Some mobile browsers pause web audio in the background. Keep the screen on, or use the page on a computer or tablet.

Is anything downloaded or uploaded?

No. The noise is calculated in the page, so nothing is downloaded and nothing is uploaded.