How to use Shazam on iPhone without downloading the app

With this feature, there is no need to unlock the screen to identify any song anywhere

Shazam is the quintessential application that helps users identify a song they don't know and is playing at the moment. To use it, like other platforms, it is necessary to download it, or at least it is what most people thought, since those who have an iPhone can use it without needing to download the app.

Since 2020 this function can be used. It came when Apple released iOS 14.2 and introduced some new iconic emoji, such as the “frustrated Italian hand gesture” and bubble tea. Among the novelties, it introduced the function of using Shazam without needing to install the app.

This is thanks to the fact that it has the ability to add Shazam song identification to the iPhone Control Center. This feature can be accessed directly from the lock screen with just a couple of simple steps.

When Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, it made the app ad-free for everyone and eventually incorporated its song identification feature directly into iOS; you don't even need to download the app to identify a song.

Shazam can be used without downloading the app (Photo: iStock)

Because you don't need to unlock your phone to access Shazam, you can identify a song on the radio (even if you're listening to it with headphones) or the street while you're walking, without it ending.

All that is required is to have iOS 14.2 or later, and follow these steps to impress everyone with 'extensive music knowledge' and use Shazam from the lock screen:

First you need to make sure that Control Center is available on the lock screen:

- Go to Settings > Face ID and password (or Touch ID).

- Scroll down to “Allow access when locked” and make sure Control Center is turned on.

Then add Shazam to the Control Center:

- Go to Settings > Control Center

- Scroll down to “More Controls” and tap the green icon next to Music Recognition to add it to the “Included Controls” list.

- Change its position in Control Center by moving it up or down in the list (touch and hold the three bars to the right of the icon).

Shazam is owned by Apple (Photo: EP)

The Shazam icon will be visible in the Control Center at the end of the setup. To access from the lock screen, you must swipe down from the top of the screen on a phone with Face ID, or swipe up from the bottom on a phone with Touch ID.

Then tap the Shazam icon to activate music recognition: the icon will light up and flash while listening. A notification will appear in a few moments with the song and the artist or a message that no result was found.

You can also ask Siri to use Shazam to identify a song, which will go a long way if your hands are full at that time. To use this iPhone benefit, you need to follow the steps above and verify that Siri is enabled on the lock screen. Otherwise, you just have to say “Hey Siri, what song is playing?” , or something like that. She will respond that she is listening and a notification will be received from Shazam when the song has been identified.

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