Free tool
White noise for tinnitus
White noise has equal energy at every frequency, so it sounds bright and hissy, like a detuned radio. It is one of the most-used sounds for making tinnitus less noticeable, and it is often chosen for high-pitched ringing or hissing, and for people who find it clean rather than harsh.
Last reviewed 22 August 2026 · Sources listed below · Not medical advice
What white noise sounds like
White noise is broadband noise — every frequency is present — with all frequencies equally. Compared with white noise it is the reference: flat and bright.
When white noise helps with tinnitus
It tends to suit high-pitched ringing or hissing, and for people who find it clean rather than harsh. Some people find the high frequencies sharp or tiring; pink noise is the usual next step.
Is it better than the other noise colours?
Probably not in general. Controlled comparisons of noise and nature sounds for tinnitus have not found a reliably superior sound; comfort over a long session is what matters. The honest advice is to try all three — white, pink and brown — at the same low level and keep the one you notice least. Our comparison article, white vs pink vs brown noise for tinnitus, goes deeper.
How loud?
Low. Raise it slowly until it just blends with your tinnitus, then stop. If you need it loud to get any effect, it is probably not the right sound for you. See how loud should tinnitus masking be?
At night
White noise is a common bedtime choice because it is steady and has no events to wake you. Use the sleep timer with a gradual fade, or leave it on all night at a very low level.
About the player
Find My Quiet Sound generates white noise live with the Web Audio API, so there is no loop seam and no file to download. The level starts low, fades in over about a second, and never jumps.
Sources
- A mixed-methods trial of broad band noise and nature sounds for tinnitus therapy (2017)
- Sound therapy (masking) in the management of tinnitus in adults — Cochrane Review (2018)
- NIDCD — Tinnitus (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
- WHO-ITU standard: Safe listening devices and systems
Important: Find My Quiet Sound is designed for sound masking, relaxation and tinnitus management support. It does not diagnose, treat or cure tinnitus and is not a substitute for professional medical care. If your tinnitus is new, in one ear only, pulsing with your heartbeat, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness, see a doctor or audiologist.
Written from the sources above by the Find My Quiet Sound project; no clinician has reviewed this page. See Research & Sources and the medical disclaimer.