Add Shazam to Control Center in three steps

Open Settings, tap Control Center, then tap the plus sign next to Shazam. That's it — Shazam will appear in your Control Center the next time you swipe up (or down, depending on your iPhone model) from the edge of your screen.

The Shazam app itself must be installed on your phone first. If you don't have it, download it free from the App Store before you start. Once Shazam is in Control Center, you can identify songs without opening the app — just tap the Shazam button and hold your phone near the speaker.

Key Takeaways

  • Shazam must be installed from the App Store before you can add it to Control Center.
  • Go to Settings > Control Center > tap the plus sign next to Shazam to enable it.
  • Once added, Shazam appears as a button in Control Center that you can tap to identify songs instantly.
  • You can rearrange the order of Control Center buttons by dragging them up or down in the same Settings menu.

Where to find the Control Center settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Control Center — it's usually near the top of the list, below Notifications and Do Not Disturb.

You'll see a list of controls you can add, organized into two sections: "Included Controls" (the ones already in your Control Center) and "More Controls" (the ones available to add). Shazam appears in the "More Controls" section if the app is installed.

The exact position of Control Center in Settings is the same across all iPhone models running iOS 13 or later, so you won't need to hunt for it if you've used Control Center before.

How to enable Shazam

In the Control Center settings, find Shazam in the "More Controls" list. Tap the green plus sign to the left of it. The button will move to the "Included Controls" section at the top, which means it's now active in your Control Center.

If you don't see Shazam in the list, the app isn't installed yet. Close Settings, open the App Store, search for Shazam, and tap Get to download it. Once installed, go back to Settings > Control Center and you'll see it available to add.

The process takes less than a minute from start to finish. You don't need to restart your phone or close and reopen Control Center — the change takes effect immediately.

Accessing Shazam from Control Center

On iPhone X and newer, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center. On iPhone 8 and earlier, swipe up from the bottom. You'll see all your enabled controls, including Shazam if you added it.

Tap the Shazam button (it looks like a blue and white circle with a lightning bolt) and hold your phone near the music. Shazam will listen for a few seconds and identify the song, artist, and album. The result appears on your screen, and the song is automatically saved to your Shazam library.

You don't need to keep the app open or stay in Control Center while Shazam listens. Once you tap the button, you can put your phone down and let it work.

Rearranging your Control Center buttons

If you want Shazam in a different position within Control Center, you can reorder it. Go back to Settings > Control Center and look at the "Included Controls" section. You'll see three horizontal lines to the right of each control.

Tap and hold those lines next to Shazam, then drag it up or down to the position you want. The order you arrange them here is the order they appear in Control Center, so put the controls you use most often near the top.

This is useful if you use Shazam frequently — moving it higher in the list means fewer swipes to reach it when Control Center opens.

Removing Shazam if you change your mind

If you decide you don't want Shazam in Control Center, go back to Settings > Control Center. Find Shazam in the "Included Controls" section and tap the red minus sign next to it. It will move back to "More Controls" and disappear from your Control Center.

Removing it from Control Center doesn't delete the Shazam app from your phone — you can still open the app directly and use it the same way. You can add it back to Control Center anytime by following the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be connected to the internet for Shazam to work?

Yes, Shazam needs an internet connection to identify songs. Make sure you have Wi-Fi or cellular data enabled. The identification happens quickly, usually within a few seconds of tapping the button.

Can I see my Shazam history from Control Center?

No, Control Center only lets you identify songs. To see your history and library of saved songs, you need to open the Shazam app itself. Your identified songs sync across all your devices if you're signed into the same Apple ID.

What if Shazam doesn't recognize the song?

If the music is too quiet, there's too much background noise, or the song is very new or obscure, Shazam may not find a match. Try moving closer to the speaker or reducing background noise, then try again.

Can I customize what happens when I tap Shazam in Control Center?

No, tapping Shazam in Control Center always opens the listening mode. You can't change this behavior. If you want more options, open the Shazam app directly instead.

Will Shazam work if my phone is locked?

Yes. You can access Control Center from your lock screen without unlocking your phone, so you can Shazam a song even when your phone is locked. This is one of the main reasons people add Shazam to Control Center instead of using the app.