TL;DR
Shazam is built right into iOS — one tap in Control Center identifies any song. No app needed.
How to do it
- Settings → Control Center → add Music Recognition (one-time setup).
- Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner).
- Tap the Shazam button (note icon with waves).
- The song is identified → you get a notification with title and artist.
- Find your history in the Shazam app or directly in Apple Music.
Why this works
Apple acquired Shazam in 2018 and integrated it directly into iOS starting with iOS 14.2. No need to open a separate app — the recognition even runs in the background, including when your screen is locked.
Good to know
- Internet required: Recognition runs via Shazam's servers.
- Noisy environments: Heavy background noise or live performances can reduce accuracy.
- Identify your own playback: Shazam works when you're playing music yourself (e.g., on your Mac) — just hold your iPhone close.
- Android: Install the Shazam app and add a similar widget to your home screen.