Shazam for iPhone

Identify a Song in Seconds

Heard a tune at a party or on the radio but can’t place the artist or title? Shazam instantly recognizes music playing around you so you don’t have to hum or guess. Millions of people use this app to quickly find what’s playing and get details about the track.

Quick Overview and Alternatives

Shazam listens to a brief audio sample, creates a digital fingerprint, and searches its catalog for a match. If you prefer something else, you can try Music Discovery (a free alternative) for similar functionality.

How the Recognition Works

Record about 10 seconds using your device’s microphone. The app converts that snippet into an acoustic fingerprint, compares it to entries in its database, and then displays the song’s metadata — such as performer, track name, and album — once a match is found. Shazam’s catalog contains over 11 million tracks, with links to purchase or stream the music.

Where It Can Hear Music

Shazam works in many listening situations, though very loud backgrounds can interfere with accurate matching:

• Radio broadcasts
• Cinema soundtracks
• Television audio

Visual Search and Camera Features

If you don’t have an audio sample, Shazam can use visual recognition. Tap the camera icon to scan posters, magazine pages, book covers, or any surface displaying the Shazam camera logo. This visual mode can also act as a QR-code reader when needed.

Useful Extras: Lyrics, Videos, and Playback Links

Beyond identifying songs, Shazam offers several helpful extras:

• Add the track directly to your Spotify playlists or preview it there
• Buy songs on iTunes
• Open tracks in Groove Music
• Watch the song’s video on YouTube

Follow Artists and Stay Updated

You can follow artists inside the app to see what they’re tagging and receive updates when they release new singles, albums, or videos. Shazam also recommends tracks and shows real-time charts so you can discover trending music.

Share and Save Your Finds

Once you’ve identified a song, share it with friends or save it for later:

• Send discoveries via WhatsApp
• Post on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Why It’s Handy

Shazam provides a fast, user-friendly way to identify songs and expand your music collection. With its large database and integrations, it’s a practical tool for anyone who enjoys discovering new music.