Your iPhone makes it incredibly simple to identify any song playing around you using the built-in Shazam feature, accessible directly from Control Center. This allows you to quickly discover the artist and title of a song with just a few taps.
Quick Song Identification with iPhone's Control Center
The fastest and most integrated way to identify a song on your iPhone is through the Music Recognition feature, powered by Shazam, within the Control Center. This feature leverages Apple's acquisition of Shazam to provide a seamless song-finding experience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Shazam in Control Center
To find out what song is playing:
- Add Music Recognition to Control Center (if not already enabled):
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on Control Center.
- Scroll down to "More Controls" and look for Music Recognition (it has the Shazam logo).
- Tap the green + icon next to it to add it to your Included Controls.
- For detailed instructions, refer to Apple Support on Control Center.
- Open Control Center:
- For iPhones with Face ID (no Home button): Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen.
- For iPhones with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen.
- Tap the Music Recognition (Shazam) button:
- Look for the button with the distinctive Shazam logo (an 'S' inside a circle).
- Once tapped, the button will glow, indicating your phone is actively listening.
- Allow your iPhone to listen:
- Your device will listen to the ambient music for a few seconds to analyze the sound.
- View the song details:
- A notification will appear at the top of your screen displaying the artist and title of the identified song. Tapping this notification will usually open the song in Apple Music or the Shazam app, offering options to listen or learn more.
Understanding Shazam's Integration
Since Apple acquired Shazam, its powerful music recognition technology has been deeply integrated into iOS. This means you don't always need a separate app open; the functionality is available system-wide, making it incredibly convenient for identifying songs playing in a store, on the radio, or even from a video on your device.
Other Ways to Identify Songs on iPhone
While Control Center is the quickest method, your iPhone offers other effective ways to identify music.
Ask Siri
Your intelligent assistant can also pinpoint playing tracks:
- Simply activate Siri by saying, "Hey Siri, what song is this?" or by pressing and holding the Side/Home button.
- Siri will listen for a few seconds and then display the song's artist and title.
Dedicated Shazam App
For more features and a history of identified songs, the standalone Shazam app is an excellent choice:
- Download the Shazam app from the App Store.
- Open the app and tap the large Shazam button in the center.
- The app will identify the song and save it to your "My Shazam" library for future reference.
Tips for Best Results
To ensure your iPhone accurately identifies the song:
- Reduce Background Noise: Try to minimize competing sounds around you.
- Ensure Good Audio Quality: Position your iPhone closer to the sound source if the music is faint.
- Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is required for the identification process, as the audio fingerprint needs to be sent to Shazam's database for matching.
Song Identification Methods Comparison
Here's a quick overview of the main methods:
| Method | Ease of Use | Setup Required | Key Features & Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control Center (Shazam) | Very High | Minor (add to CC) | Fastest, integrated, system-wide access |
| Siri | High | None | Voice-activated, hands-free convenience |
| Dedicated Shazam App | Medium | App download & install | Comprehensive history, lyric display, artist profiles |
