How To Shazam a Song on TikTok: Learn More About Your Music

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024

TikTok 101

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What happened to the sound tags on TikTok? Sound tags helped people quickly identify the sound used in a video, but they’ve been missing for a while now. If you’re looking for another way to identify music, keep reading to learn how to Shazam a song on TikTok! 

How Does Shazam Work?

The Shazam music recognition app can identify music from any short segment of a piece played via the device’s microphone. Just play the music, and the Shazam app will immediately find the music information you want!

We’ve all been there. We hear a familiar or new tune, and we want to identify it immediately. Before AI assistants like Siri and Alexa came into existence, Google helped us learn the titles of songs. The catch was that we needed at least a few lines of the song to perform a Google search. 

Imagine the frustration of many when they get the lyrics wrong or, worse, want to learn the title of a classical piece!

And then we had Siri and her AI counterparts. We still had to play the music via a separate device so they could identify it. Or we could sing or hum it. The process got easier, but it could be better. What if you had an app that could identify music as it played on the same device? 

The app gods heeded our need, and now we have Shazam! With Shazam, you can “identify music playing around you. Explore the music you love. Discover songs, lyrics, and artists.”  

A woman wearing headphones has a big smile as she listens to music.

Learn How To Shazam a Song on TikTok

Sound is often an important component in TikTok videos. Many new artists and music singles rose to fame, thanks to the platform and its massive Commercial Music Library

These days, the app doesn’t always show sound tags on videos. It has replaced the sound tag with a sound thumbnail in the lower right corner, below the Share button. Want to find out more about a sound piece on TikTok? It would be much simpler to know how to use Shazam on TikTok!

With the Shazam app, you can quickly discover the name of trending songs on TikTok. The app was created by Shazam Entertainment, a British company based in London, and Apple has owned the app since 2018. But you can also use it on Android devices. 

Here’s a quick guide on how to Shazam TikTok songs:

  1. Download the Shazam app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store
  2. Open the app and tap the blue Shazam button. Alternatively, on your Home Screen, you can long-press on the Shazam icon.  
  3. Tap Auto-Shazam
  4. Launch your TikTok app and watch videos as usual. The Auto-Shazam feature automatically keeps track of the songs your device plays. Auto-Shazam’s song recognition software is always listening for songs around you. It works in the background even if the app isn’t active or if your device is locked. 
  5. Open the Shazam app any time and go to My Music to find a list of all the songs it has identified. You can also filter the results by date. 

Shazam Tips for Apple and Android Users

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your Shazam experience:

  • If you’re an Apple user with multiple devices, make sure you’re signed into all of them using the same Apple ID. Turn on iCloud Sync and join Apple Music so you can easily add all identified songs to your Apple Music playlists
  • If you enjoy classical music, you should also get the Apple Music Classical app for quicker access to identified classical songs. 
  • If you’re an Android user, sign in to the Shazam music app with your email or Google account
  • Add a Shazam widget to your Apple device’s Today View, Home Screen, or Lock Screen or your Android device’s Home Screen. You can quickly tap the widget to identify a song or preview or play a recent song in the widget.  

Is Shazam a Good Music Recognition App? Frequently Asked Questions

Shazam has become a popular music recognition and streaming app not only among Apple users, but Android users as well! Let’s answer a few frequently asked questions to help you decide if the app is right for you!

Can you use Shazam in TikTok?

Yes, Shazam can identify songs from other apps, including TikTok. The app’s sound-recognition capabilities can also keep track of songs playing on other devices. 

With the Auto-Shazam feature, it can listen to and catalog songs even while the app is inactive. It also works while your device is locked or if you have no WiFi connection. 

Does Shazam always work on TikTok?

There are also some limitations to the app’s music discovery capabilities. Shazam has an extensive music catalog and it also functions as a music streaming platform. 

However, many songs on TikTok are fairly new and from relatively unknown artists. So some TikTok songs may not be in Shazam’s library. 

How can I identify a song from TikTok?

To identify a song in a TikTok video, you can look for the sound tag at the bottom of the video. You can identify the sound tag by the music note symbol attached to it. If there’s no sound tag, tap the round thumbnail in the bottom right corner, below the Share icon. This should take you directly to the video’s sound’s dedicated page. 

Alternatively, you can use music discovery apps, like Shazam, to learn song information.  

Discover the Perfect Soundtrack for Your TikToks

Make sure you learn how to Shazam a song on TikTok to enjoy a wider variety of music discovery opportunities. Finding the right sounds for your TikTok videos goes a long way toward driving higher video visibility, views, and engagement! And to further boost your audience-targeting power, sign up for a High Social plan too. 

High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI targeting solution is the perfect reinforcement to TikTok’s own recommendation algorithm. Instantly connect with more suitable viewers who’ll immediately hit your follow button and become engaged fans. 

Start growing your TikTok today

TikTok 101