How to Identify Any Song Using Your Phone

Music is everywhere. You could be in a cab or a café, or sitting on your couch, when a new song finds its way into your head and takes up residence. But the sweet joy of discovering a fresh favorite can turn bitter in an instant when you can’t name that tune. Luckily, you can get help. Here’s how to use your smartphone to identify a song.

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Google has offered some form of song recognition for years now, but it has improved significantly over time. Even if the song you want is no longer playing, you can try humming or singing it. Here’s how:

1. On an Android device, say, “Hey Google,” or touch and hold the home button. On an iPhone, open the Google app and tap the microphone button.
2. Ask, “What’s this song?”
3. If the song is playing, Google Assistant will name it and give you a YouTube link. You can also hum, whistle, or sing the melody, and Google will suggest potential matches.

Sadly, this doesn’t work on Wear OS smartwatches, but you can try Shazam (see below) to get song recognition on your wrist. 

Siri (iPhone)

You can use Siri to identify a song on most Apple devices, including the Apple Watch, but it has to be the original version. It won’t recognize your humming or singing.

1. Say, “Hey Siri,” or long-press the power button on an iPhone or the digital crown on an Apple Watch.
2. Ask, “What’s this song?”
3. If the song is playing, Siri will name it and give you an Apple Music link.

Shazam (Android or iPhone)

Shazam was the original music-recognition service and it offers handy extras like synced lyrics, links to some of the best music streaming services, and easy sharing on social media. Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, but the app is still available for Android, as well as iOS. It also works on many of our picks for the best smartwatches.