Add Shazam to Control Center on iPhone & iPad

Adding Shazam to Control Center gives you one-tap access to identify music playing around you without opening the app. This guide walks you through adding the Shazam toggle to Control Center on both iPhone and iPad, and covers what to do if the option is missing or the button doesn’t work.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad running iOS 14 or later (the Shazam shortcut has been available in Control Center since iOS 14).
• The Shazam app installed (free from the App Store) — though the Control Center toggle can work even if you haven’t opened the app yet, having it installed ensures full song history sync.
• Internet connection (cellular or Wi-Fi) for Shazam to match the audio against its database.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. It’s the gray gear icon on your home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap “Control Center.” This is usually about a third of the way down the Settings list, between “Focus” and “Display & Brightness.”
3. Look for the “More Controls” section at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see a list of controls that aren’t currently in Control Center, such as Alarm, Calculator, and Shazam.
4. Find “Shazam” in the list. If you don’t see it, make sure the Shazam app is installed (see Troubleshooting below).
5. Tap the green plus (+) button to the left of “Shazam.” The row will move up into the “Included Controls” section at the top.
6. Optional: reorder the Shazam button. In the “Included Controls” section, touch and hold the three horizontal lines on the right side of the Shazam row, then drag it up or down to position it where you want. The topmost controls appear first when you swipe down.
7. Exit Settings. Your change saves automatically.
8. Test it. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (on iPhones with Face ID or iPads without a Home button) or swipe up from the bottom edge (on iPhones with a Home button) to open Control Center. You should see the Shazam icon — a white “S” on a blue background.
9. Tap the Shazam button to start listening. The icon will turn blue and pulse while it listens. When it identifies the song, a notification banner appears with the song title and artist.

Common Mistakes

• Looking in the wrong Settings section. Control Center settings are under Settings → Control Center, not in the Shazam app’s settings or in the App Library.
• Confusing “Shazam” with “Music Recognition.” On some older iOS versions, the toggle was labeled “Music Recognition” instead of “Shazam.” Both do the same thing — if you see “Music Recognition,” add that one.
• Not scrolling down far enough. The “More Controls” list can be long. Shazam is usually near the bottom, so keep scrolling.
• Tapping the icon instead of the plus sign. Tapping the Shazam icon itself does nothing in the Settings list; you must tap the green + button.
• Expecting the button to work without an internet connection. Shazam needs to send audio to its servers. In Airplane Mode or with Wi-Fi off, the button will appear to do nothing.

Tips

• Use Shazam from the Lock Screen. Once the toggle is in Control Center, you can access it from the Lock Screen by swiping down from the top-right corner (Face ID models) or swiping up from the bottom (Home button models). This works even before you unlock your device.
• Check your history. Every song you identify via the Control Center button is saved in the Shazam app’s “My Music” section, and also in your Apple Music library if you have “Sync to Apple Music” enabled in Shazam’s settings.
• Auto-identify in the background. If you want Shazam to listen continuously without tapping repeatedly, open the Shazam app and enable “Auto Shazam” — but note that this drains battery faster than the one-tap Control Center button.
• Add other useful controls. While you’re in Control Center settings, consider adding Screen Recording, Low Power Mode, or Notes for quicker access.
• Use it with headphones. Shazam can identify music playing through your headphones. Just make sure the volume is high enough for the microphone to pick it up.

Troubleshooting

Shazam is not listed in “More Controls.” This usually means the Shazam app isn’t installed. Go to the App Store, search for “Shazam,” download the free app, then return to Settings → Control Center. The toggle should appear. If it still doesn’t, restart your device and check again.

The Shazam button is grayed out or unresponsive. First, make sure you have an internet connection. If you do, try toggling Wi-Fi off and on, or switch between Wi-Fi and cellular. Then close Control Center and reopen it. If the issue persists, restart your iPhone or iPad by holding the power button and volume button (Face ID models) or the power button alone (Home button models) until the slider appears, then slide to power off and turn it back on.

The button is in Control Center but doesn’t identify songs. Check your microphone permissions. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, and make sure Shazam is enabled. Also, check that nothing is covering the microphone — on most iPhones it’s at the bottom, and on iPads it’s often on the top edge. If you’re in a very noisy environment, move closer to the sound source.

I added it, but it disappeared. This can happen after an iOS update or if you reset your Control Center settings. Simply go back to Settings → Control Center and add it again. If it keeps disappearing, try restarting your device after adding it.

Shazam identifies songs but they don’t appear in my history. Open the Shazam app and make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID you use on your device. Also check that the app isn’t restricted by Screen Time — go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Allowed Apps and ensure Shazam isn’t blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the Shazam app installed to use the Control Center button? Yes, the toggle appears in Settings only after the Shazam app is installed. The app itself is free and doesn’t require an account to identify songs.

Does the Control Center Shazam button work on iPad? Yes, the steps are identical on iPad. The only difference is how you open Control Center: swipe down from the top-right corner on iPads without a Home button, or swipe up from the bottom on older models with a Home button.

Will Shazam use a lot of battery? The one-tap button only listens for a few seconds while it identifies a song, so battery impact is minimal. If you use Auto Shazam (continuous listening), battery drain is noticeably higher.

Can I identify music without opening Control Center? Yes, you can ask Siri “What song is this?” or open the Shazam app directly. The Control Center button is simply the fastest way if you’ve added it.

Does Shazam work offline? No, Shazam requires an internet connection to match the audio fingerprint against its database. It won’t identify anything in Airplane Mode.

Can I remove the Shazam button later? Yes, go to Settings → Control Center, find Shazam in the “Included Controls” list, and tap the red minus (−) button. It will move back to “More Controls” and can be re-added anytime.

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