The quickest way to identify songs

Adding Shazam to your Control Center puts a music identification button within one swipe of your lock screen. Instead of opening the Shazam app separately, you tap the Control Center icon and Shazam listens to whatever is playing around you — in a coffee shop, on the radio, in a store — and tells you the song name and artist in seconds.

The process takes about two minutes and works on any iPhone running iOS 14 or newer. You do not need to read anything extra; Shazam comes built into iOS.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Control Center, then tap the plus sign next to Shazam to add it to your quick-access buttons.
  • Once added, swipe up from the bottom of your lock screen (or down from the top right on newer iPhones) to see the Shazam button.
  • Tap the Shazam button and hold your phone toward the sound source for a few seconds while it listens and identifies the song.
  • Identified songs appear in your Shazam history, which you can access through the Shazam app or by tapping the Shazam button again.

Step-by-step: adding Shazam to Control Center

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Control Center.

You will see two sections: "Included Controls" at the top (the buttons already in your Control Center) and "More Controls" below (buttons you can add). Look for Shazam in the "More Controls" section and tap the green plus sign next to it. That is all — Shazam is now part of your Control Center.

If you want to change where Shazam appears in your Control Center, go back to Settings > Control Center and look at the "Included Controls" section. You can drag the three horizontal lines next to Shazam up or down to reorder it.

How to use Shazam from Control Center

Access your Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your screen (iPhone 8 and earlier) or swiping down from the top right corner (iPhone X and newer). You will see a grid of quick-access buttons. Find the Shazam icon — it looks like a white circle with a blue and white pattern inside — and tap it.

Hold your iPhone toward the sound you want to identify. Shazam listens for about 10 to 15 seconds. You will see a waveform animation on your screen while it is listening. When Shazam recognizes the song, the song title, artist name, and album cover appear on your screen.

From there, you can tap the result to open it in Apple Music, Spotify, or another music app you have installed. You can also share the song with someone else or add it to a playlist.

Where your Shazam history lives

Every song you Shazam gets saved automatically in your Shazam history. Open the Shazam app (the icon looks the same as the Control Center button) and tap My Library at the bottom of the screen. You will see a list of every song you have identified, with the most recent at the top.

You can also see your history by tapping the Shazam button in Control Center again — it will show you your recent identifications without opening the full app. If you have an Apple Music subscription, your Shazam history syncs across all your devices, so songs you identify on your iPhone appear in your history on your iPad or Mac as well.

Removing or rearranging Shazam in Control Center

If you decide you do not want Shazam in your Control Center, go back to Settings > Control Center. Find Shazam in the "Included Controls" section and tap the red minus sign next to it. It will move back to "More Controls" and disappear from your Control Center.

You can add it back anytime by following the same steps in the "Step-by-step" section above. Removing it from Control Center does not delete your Shazam history or the Shazam app itself — it just hides the quick button.

Why Control Center is faster than the app

Opening the Shazam app means unlocking your phone, finding the app icon, and waiting for it to load. Using Control Center means one swipe and one tap. For moments when you hear a song and want to identify it right away — in a store, at a party, on the street — Control Center saves you several seconds.

Control Center also works from your lock screen without unlocking your phone, so you can Shazam something the when ready you hear it. The app requires you to unlock first.

Troubleshooting: Shazam is not working

If you tap the Shazam button and nothing happens, first check that your iPhone has microphone access. Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and make sure Shazam is listed and toggled on. If it is not listed, toggle it on.

If Shazam is on but still not working, try restarting your iPhone. Hold the power button until you see "slide to power off", slide it, wait a few seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo. After your phone restarts, try Shazam again.

If you are still having trouble, make sure you are connected to the internet — Shazam needs either Wi-Fi or cellular data to identify songs. If your connection is slow or unstable, Shazam may time out before it finishes listening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Shazam a song if I do not have the Shazam app installed?

Yes. The Control Center button works independently of the app. You can use Control Center to identify songs without ever opening the Shazam app. However, you will not see your full history unless you open the app or use iCloud to sync your library.

Does Shazam work without internet?

No. Shazam sends audio to its servers to match it against a database of millions of songs. You need Wi-Fi or cellular data for it to work. If you are offline, the button will not identify anything.

What if Shazam cannot identify a song?

If the song is too quiet, there is too much background noise, or it is a very new or obscure song, Shazam may not recognize it. Try holding your phone closer to the sound source and making sure the environment is as quiet as possible. If it still does not work, the song may not be in Shazam's database yet.

Can I see what songs my family members have Shazamed?

No. Your Shazam history is private to your account. Family members cannot see your history, and you cannot see theirs, even if you share an Apple Music Family plan. Each person's Shazam library stays separate.

Does Shazam cost money?

No. Shazam is free to use. You do not need an Apple Music subscription or any paid account to identify songs. The app and Control Center button are available to everyone with an iPhone.