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Shazam Now Identifies Songs in Other Apps When Using Headphones

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

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Top Rated Comments

28 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.

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Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
28 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
28 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
28 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)
28 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)
28 months ago
Nice to see this finally available. Will be really useful
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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