The present discloser relates to a method for active noise cancellation. An example method includes: capturing an ambient sound to determine an ambient audio signal; and determining a working status, determining at least one corresponding wanted signal based on the working status, and then removing the at least one wanted signal from the ambient audio signal, to obtain a reference signal, where the wanted signal includes content of interest. The example method further includes determining a to-be-played signal based on the reference signal.