To use Shazam on iPhone, the fastest way is through the Control Center shortcut built into iOS. This method lets you identify a song playing around you with a single tap, without opening the Shazam app.
How to use Shazam on iPhone: the fastest ways to identify songs
Shazam is deeply integrated into iPhone and iPad, giving you several entry points to identify music instantly. The most direct method is the Music Recognition control in Control Center, which works for songs playing from any source, speakers, headphones, or even from another app.
Add Shazam's Music Recognition to your iPhone Control Center
Before you can tap to identify, you need to add the control. Follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Control Center.
- Tap Customize Controls.
- Scroll down to the Music Recognition control (the Shazam icon) and tap the green plus button next to it.
Once added, the Music Recognition button appears in your Control Center for immediate access.
Identify a song with a single tap
To identify a song, open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones with a Home button). Tap the Music Recognition button (a musical note icon). Shazam listens to the audio around you and displays the song title, artist, and other details in a notification at the top of the screen. If you are signed in with your Apple Account and have iCloud Sync and two-factor authentication enabled, the identified song is also saved to the Shazam app's Library and to your Music Recognition history in Control Center.
Use Auto Shazam for continuous music discovery
When you want to identify multiple songs in sequence without tapping each time, use Auto Shazam. In the Shazam app, touch and hold the Shazam button until Auto Shazam turns on. On iPhone and iPad, the app then continuously listens and identifies songs until you stop it. On Android, after touching and holding the Shazam button, you choose Single result mode or Continuous mode, then tap Confirm.
Other quick ways to access Shazam on your iPhone
Beyond Control Center, you can start identification without opening the app. Touch and hold the Shazam app icon on the Home Screen, then tap Start Shazam. You can also add a Shazam widget to the Home Screen for one-tap access. On Android, you can touch and hold the Shazam app icon in the app drawer and tap Shazam Now, or add a Shazam widget to the Home Screen and add Shazam to Quick Settings. On Android, if you use Notification bar, go to the Shazam app, tap or swipe to the Library, tap the settings icon, turn on Notification bar, then swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Tap to Shazam notification.
Find your Shazam history and sync with music apps
All identified songs are saved in the Shazam app's Library when you are signed in. On iPhone and iPad, you can sync your library to Apple Music or Spotify under Music app preference in Shazam settings. This makes it easy to listen to your discoveries on your preferred streaming service. For example, if you use Spotify mobile features, you can connect your Shazam account to automatically add identified songs to a Spotify playlist. On Android, you can set a default music app for playback by tapping the app icon on the track screen and selecting an available music app, or by going to settings and choosing a default under Music app preference. On Android, you can listen to identified songs from the track screen or Library by tapping the service under the song title, or tap Open song in if no service is connected.
Manage your Shazam app settings
To configure preferences, open the Shazam app and tap the settings icon in the top-right corner of the home screen. Here you can adjust Auto Shazam, connect your music apps (Apple Music or Spotify), and access Help. On Android, you can also enable the Notification bar feature from the Library settings to identify songs from the notification shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Shazam offline on iPhone?
Yes, Shazam has an offline mode. When you identify a song without an internet connection, Shazam saves the audio fingerprint and identifies it automatically once you reconnect.
Does Shazam work with Siri?
Yes, you can ask Siri "What song is this?" and Siri uses Shazam's music recognition to identify the song playing around you.
How do I view my Shazam history on iPhone?
Open the Shazam app and tap the Library tab.
Can I use Shazam in other apps on iPhone?
Yes, through ShazamKit, some third-party apps can integrate Shazam's music recognition, allowing you to identify songs without switching apps.
