Shazam Now Identifies Songs in Other Apps When Using Headphones - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Shazam Now Identifies Songs in Other Apps When Using Headphones

by

Apple-owned Shazam has released an updated version of the app with a new feature that can identify songs from other apps while you're listening using headphones.

shazam for mac
Shazam has been able to recognize songs from other apps for some time, but if headphones were connected to your iPhone, the feature wouldn't work, until now. The latest version of the app, v17.3, fixes that limitation.

The feature works when wired or bluetooth headphones are connected, and they don't have to be Apple-made accessories, so third-party headphones are also supported.

To use the feature, open the Shazam app, check for the headphone icon to confirm your headphones are connected, and then you'll be able to start recognizing music around you or within apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, and has been gradually bringing the app into closer alignment with ‌Apple Music‌ ever since, offering trials to the streaming service through the app and the ability to sync Shazams directly to ‌Apple Music‌.

Shazam can be downloaded from the App Store for free. It can be accessed through the Control Center on ‌‌iPhone‌‌ and ‌‌iPad‌‌, through ‌Siri‌ commands, or on the Mac, as well as via widgets.

Tag: Shazam

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Read Full Article
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
Read Full Article • 54 comments
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

B
bikrrr
30 months ago
This is not a new feature for anyone who initiates music recognition from Control Center, as it already recognizes music in headphones.

I almost exclusively use Control Center to start my Shazams and thought it was a bug that it didn't recognize music over headphones from the app itself. I even submitted feedback FB12222866 back in June on this.

Attachment Image
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
InnSuu
30 months ago
shazam recently 'lost' my shazams, well over a decade of shazams. That's a lot of iphones and a lot of updates all free from shazasters.

As shazams are tied to my email it is galling to be told they are lost.

After a shazam update towards the end of last year my shazam count was zero. I'm not the only one. Deeply disappointing responses from Apple support, at all levels, unfortunately (to me, a sure sign they messed up).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
coffeemilktea
30 months ago
Shazam being able to listen in on whatever audio is going through your headphones does seem like a bit of a privacy concern somehow. 🤔
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
WarmWinterHat
30 months ago

This is not a new feature for anyone who initiates music recognition from Control Center, as it already recognizes music in headphones.

I almost exclusively use Control Center to start my Shazams and thought it was a bug that it didn't recognize music over headphones from the app itself. I even submitted feedback FB12222866 back in June on this.
If you want Shazam to add your finds to a playlist, the control center option only work with Apple Music. You have to use the full app for them to be added to Spotify.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3
3975260
30 months ago
Looking back when Apple purchased Shazam I was very excited at the possibilities of whatever may come. Now all these years later I can say, from a user experience, not much has changed and the OS integrations across Apple platforms are really minor.

It be weird like that.

Perhaps the core technology benefits background systems more than end users? Has Apple done anything significant with Shazam at all?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
svish
30 months ago
Nice to see this finally available. Will be really useful
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments