Why Shazam doesn't work: causes and solutions

Music is a part of many people's lives. Musical accompaniment cleverly becomes the background for workouts, walks and loud parties. Sometimes you want to listen to some songs avidly several times in a row. But what if you don't know the name of the track?

Software developers have been puzzling over this for a long time. In the mid-2000s, a service appeared that recognized music by beat. The user had to tap the rhythm of the composition, after which the software determined its name. However, this technology turned out to be far from the most accurate, and its popularity waned with the advent of Shazam.

What is Shazam

Shazam is a special application that identifies sounds. The program allows you to determine a track based on the built-in music library. In the process, the software superimposes one music file on top of another, after which the smartphone owner receives a highly accurate song identification result.

Shazam is available on smartphones running Android and iOS operating systems, as well as cross-platform computers and tablets.

Why doesn't Shazam work for PC?

Previously, the program was exclusive to mobile platforms. More recently, the developers decided to port it to Windows and MAC OS. On desktop computers, problems with application stability have not gone away.

First of all, check the installed version. Different versions are supported for different operating systems. For example, for Windows 10 you only need to download the latest update from the official Windows Store.

If Shazam crashes on Windows 8/10, check the authorization in your Google account. Without this, you will not have access to the music search service, just like on an Android mobile device. If Shazam does not start on Windows 10, then try completely reinstalling the software using the Windows Store.

How does Shazam work on a phone?

In fact, Shazam is a feature-rich application. Its main function is to identify tracks. Therefore, a person holding a smartphone close to a sound source will most likely be able to identify the song playing. However, Shazam also has other capabilities that are constantly being updated.

For example, after identifying a track, the program prompts the user to play a short excerpt to ensure correct recognition. Shazam is also able to recognize a song not only by audio, but also by lyrics or the title of an album by a specific artist.

Also, after a successful identification, the owner of the smartphone will be able to get acquainted with comprehensive information about the track. Shazam also has its own chart, which calculates the popularity of songs based on the frequency of their recognition.

To put into practice the full functionality of Shazam on the phone, the user needs to download the application. It is available on both Android and iOS.

The program is absolutely free, but has built-in advertising, which is practically not annoying. Shazam offers in-app purchases for subscribing to various streaming services. You can easily refuse this and use Shazam exclusively for track recognition.

How to use Shazam on a computer

The principle is the same. But first you need to install the application. Since Shazam does not have a full version for the computer, you have to use an emulator of the Android operating system. And already install the application on it. We will use BlueStacks - this is the most popular emulator for Windows. Download and install it. The distribution is available below.

Also download the Shazam installation file.

You will find installation and configuration instructions in this article. Then we proceed by analogy. Let's launch Shazam. We bring the microphone connected to the computer closer to the sound source. And click on the “Shazam” button.

As a result, we will receive all the necessary information.

This process is explained in the video.

How to set up Shazam and identify the song

Having understood the principle of operation of the program, let's move on to its practical application. So, first you need to install the program through the application store. The screenshots will show the algorithm for Android, but it is exactly the same for iPhone.

Next you need to launch the application and log in to the system. In the future, this will help save all the Shazams for future use. If you don’t want to keep your own music library, you can skip this step.

After authorization, almost everything will be ready. The last step is to allow Shazam to record audio. Without this, music recognition will not work.

But now you can safely move on to recognizing a musical composition. To do this, you need to open Shazam, bring the phone to the sound source and press the center button. After this, the user will see a characteristic notification indicating that the song has been listened to.

As a rule, recognition takes a few seconds. So almost immediately the name of the track will be displayed on the screen, as well as additional options for familiarizing yourself with the lyrics or opening the song through one of the proposed services.

Provided that you have been authorized in Shazam, the song will be saved in your music library inside the application. Therefore, there is no need to rush to download the song. This can be done at any time by opening your own library.

Shazam may have trouble identifying songs with high bass levels. Therefore, it is not recommended to get too close to the sound source.

What is Shazam for iPhone and how does it work?

The music recognition program was originally intended for users of the Android operating system. Over time, the application appeared on Apple gadgets. The main purpose is considered to be music recognition based on a minimum segment. All you have to do is go into Shazam, activate it and bring it to the sound source.

With Shazam you can find out the name of any song in a few seconds

You can use the program anywhere, for example, in a car or a cafe, when you like a song.

During operation, “Shazam” records and analyzes the segment, sends it to the server, where the sound is processed and compared. If there is a match with the database, the name of the song and artist will be displayed on the screen. You can also add a download link or listen to the song online.

Program screen after a successful track search

Note! It's easy to launch the application even without an Internet connection. The program will save the recorded piece and find the melody the first time you connect to the Internet.

How to use Autoshazam on iPhone

Among the additional functions of the program, AutoShazam occupies a special place. It allows you to recognize songs without opening the application and pressing the corresponding button. Shazam will automatically detect the track and display the final result.

To activate the function, you need to launch the application and go to settings. Before doing this, do not forget to log in. Otherwise, Autoshazam will not work.

The next step is to activate the slider opposite the menu item of the same name.

Now the music will be automatically detected as soon as extraneous sounds are heard from the microphone. But keep in mind the fact that running an application in the background greatly affects the battery charge. Therefore, with AutoShazam, the iPhone will run out faster than without it.

If any problems arise during the process of activating the function, it is recommended that you once again read the instructions presented in the video.

How to Shazam music from Instagram

Heard a great song on one of your friends' Instagram stories, but can't find it? Of course, you can always ask the author of a story or post about the track, but why wait for an answer? Moreover, not everyone will answer.

You can Shazam music on Instagram. Below we will tell you how this is done.

Step 1 : First, open the Shazam app and long-press the big button in the center to turn on the AutoShazam feature.

Step 2 : Open Instagram. You will see a red bar at the top of the screen. This means that Shazam is listening to audio from your device and around you. Open the story or post with the song you want.

Step 3 : When Shazam recognizes a song, you will receive a notification with its name. Later, you can view all detected songs in the application itself.

• Music and videos do not play on the computer: the simplest methods to solve the problem

By the way, the method with the Autoshazam function works not only with Instagram, but also with other applications. However, please note that the function may quickly consume charging and mobile Internet traffic.

That's all. Now you know how to Shazam music from your phone, Instagram and other applications. We hope this instruction was useful to you.

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The Shazam app allows you to identify a song by excerpt. All you need to do is install it on your computer or phone. Then bring the microphone to the sound source and start the detection function. In a couple of seconds you will receive all the data about the song and artist. Below we will discuss in detail the process of working with the application.

If you don't have Shazam installed yet, use the "Installation Files" section to select the distribution for your device.

How to Shazam music from your phone

Most often, people use Shazam when they are indoors or outdoors where music is playing. It could also be a TV, a compact Bluetooth speaker, or a car interior. But what if the track is playing on your phone? For example, while watching a video on YouTube.

To do this, you will need to activate another Shazam feature. It was called "Pop-Up Shazam". Enabling it causes the Shazam icon to appear on the smartphone screen, regardless of what application is currently in use.

First you need to open Shazam, go to the application settings and activate the function we need. Now you can open any other program and tap on the circle to identify the track. Almost immediately, a photo of the artist will appear in place of the Shazam symbol along with the title of the song.

SoundHound - the application will help if Shazam did not identify the melody

The popular mobile application recognizes the sound of a melody in seconds. The database contains millions of free music tracks and videos. The principle of operation is almost the same as that of Shazam. Click on the orange button to instantly find the song you want and read its lyrics. The found composition will appear immediately with a link to Google Play, as well as information about the artist, his music albums and videos.

SoundHound and its track search capabilities

SoundHound even allows you to simply hum a song in the application and thereby start searching for it if Shazam does not recognize the song. By registering in the application, you will have permanent access to all the features of the program and your history of previous searches. SoundHound is a completely free application, but for this the user will have to put up with constant advertising.

How to Shazam a song from Instagram to iPhone

Recently, more and more interesting musical compositions have appeared on Instagram. Users post their videos, over which they put catchy songs. Unfortunately, the names of the tracks are not always indicated. But Shazam will easily solve this problem.

To Shazam a song on Instagram, you will need:

1. Enable the autoshazam feature in the Shazam settings.
2. Make sure that a red bar appears at the top of the screen when you open Instagram.
3. Open a story or video, then give Shazam a few seconds to listen to the song.
4. Review the result in the Notification Center.

After successfully recognizing a song, you can immediately disable Autoshazam so that the option does not affect the battery. You can also leave it active for further definition of musical compositions.

Shazam is not able to identify all songs from Instagram. He starts from his own music library, in which he may not find the desired track.

Doesn't work on iPhone

To use the program, you need a device with an iOS operating system lower than version 8. The fact is that in 2014, after the release of iOS 8, users learned that this application is no longer supported in new Apple devices. Shazam does not work on iOS because new versions of the operating system provide the Siri voice assistant. This service has a built-in music recognition function. You can install the program, but it is not necessary.

The program does not work on older versions for the following reasons:

• Lack of Internet connection;
• Insufficient memory for installation;
• Conflict with Apple ID account.

The Apple device platform is designed in such a way that there are too few software errors and shortcomings, so almost every application works properly and without any complaints.

Why Shazam doesn't work on iPhone

There are situations when such a useful application does not work or functions to a limited extent. Due to this, iPhone owners cannot identify the song that is playing. To fix the error, we suggest you read the advice of our expert.

Hermann

Expert in the field of digital technologies and the activities of mobile operators. I am engaged in constant monitoring of industry changes in Russia and abroad.

Ask a Question

Question to the expert

Why doesn't Shazam recognize music?

The first reason may be a clogged microphone. If dust gets into it, neither Shazam nor your phone interlocutor will be able to hear the sounds coming around. Therefore, the first step is to clean the microphone.

What to do if the microphone is clear?

Most likely you do not have an Internet connection. Without online access, Shazam will not be able to sync with its music library. It is clear that in such conditions, identifying a song is impossible. In this regard, it is recommended to ensure that you have access to the Internet

Why aren't tracks saving to my Shazam library?

Adding certain songs to your personal list is only possible after authorization. Even after successfully completing the operation, problems with Shazam's settings may appear in the future. Try logging in again and bringing your smartphone close to the sound source again.

How to launch the Instagram application on your phone

To use Shazam on a mobile gadget, you must first download it. Installation is very fast, the application is provided free of charge for any model of mobile device.

Technical requirements

You can download Shazam on your smartphone, iPhone and computer. Before installing on a mobile device, you must check compatibility. Today there are the following requirements:

• Shazam for iPhone version 4 and above;
• Shazam for Android version 4.1 and higher.

The license is free, the size of the application depends on the resource from which installation takes place and the model of the mobile gadget. It is recommended to carry out a secure installation from the official resources of the developer or application stores: Play Market and App Store.

Note! MIPS-based devices are not supported. Access to functionality depends on geolocation, as well as device version.

Installation

The entire process of launching, registering and configuring the service on a modern gadget takes place in a few simple steps:

1. Open the official application store, log in using your e-mail, if you do not have an account, register.
2. Go to the store, enter Shazam in the search.
3. Look at the result in the search results, find the application icon, click the “Install” button.
4. After installation, the application icon should appear on the device screen; double-click to start the final unpacking on the device.

Shazam will automatically complete the installation process and select the correct settings by default. Everything is ready, the application can be used.

Registration and setup of autoshazam

After installation, we immediately proceed to detailed settings and registration in the application. These simple steps will not take much time, but using AutoShazam will become much more comfortable.

1. Open the application through the installed icon, in the main interface in the upper left corner there is the “My Shazam” icon, click on it.
2. “Login” button and create your own profile, which will allow you to save the entire search history of recognized songs and create your own recommendation database.
3. Authorization at the user's discretion via e-mail or Facebook account.
4. After authorization, you will need to confirm your identity using simple verification and follow the active link that the application will send by e-mail.

After authorization and confirmation, the included application opens a wide range of functionality for free use.

Start music recognition

It's time to familiarize yourself with step-by-step instructions on how to Shazam and find music from a video, start recognition and saving. The most important button takes up almost the entire application screen and is hard to miss. How the process works:

1. Open the application and click on the prominent “Shazam” button. When you use the service for the first time, it will request access to use the microphone on the device, click “Allow”.
2. After launch, the program immediately begins to “listen” to the music that you turn on for recognition. If the track is played on a mobile gadget, for example from Instagram, increase the volume for better perception. If the music is from another source, it is recommended to bring the mobile phone closer to the sound source.
3. At the time of operation, the main screen will display the inscription “Listen,” at which time Shazam will search for all the information on the given track.
4. As soon as the result is ready, usually after 3-5 seconds Shazam will display all the data: the name of the singer, the title of the track, even the number of Shazams (how many times other users have run the track recognition).
5. All collected information is stored in the “Library” section directly in the service itself, which is very convenient and allows you to quickly find all the results.

You can listen to a fragment of the song immediately in the main window. Additionally, the service shows all available resources where you can buy the track, listen to it or download it to your device.

Important information! The Shazam application does not take up much space on a mobile gadget, but it consumes charging and mobile traffic, this is worth taking into account.

Bonus: music recognition software

Oddly enough, Shazam is not the only program that can recognize music tracks. This is only the most popular application, which has a huge number of analogues. Moreover, some of them have a more extensive music library and additional functions.

A variety of voice assistants have a built-in “music recognizer”: from Siri to Alice. You just need to ask the assistant to identify the song, after which artificial intelligence will enter the battle.

There are also clearly targeted applications, among which the following are worth highlighting:

• Midomi;
• AudioTag;
• SoundHound;
• Audiggle;
• Musipedia.

All of them have a built-in music library containing millions of tracks. But for those who prefer Russian-language music, it is recommended to turn to the help of the Yandex service. Music. It also has an option to identify songs, so even little-known compositions will always find their author on the smartphone screen.

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Author

Hermann

Expert in the field of digital technologies and the activities of mobile operators. I am engaged in constant monitoring of industry changes in Russia and abroad.

Search for ringtones using Google and Siri

Owners of smartphones on the Android and iOS platforms do not have to install various applications, but use the built-in capabilities for searching for music tracks:

• Google application opens;
• the user says Ok, Google or clicks on the microphone image
• then a song is sung or the phone is brought to the device, which plays a melody.

Google provided search results.
The results show us the title of the song, the artist, and his video clips on YouTube. You can also switch between the Videos, Pictures, News, etc. tabs to get more information about the artist.

If the Google Assistant is connected, the results will look different.

Google Assistant found the song

Here you can click on the video clip image and view it on YouTube. Owners of iOS devices need to turn on the Siri assistant with built-in Shazam capabilities and ask him the question “Who’s singing?” or “What song is playing?” The song will be found with a link to Apple Music.