Spotify has become a central hub for music streaming and discovery, offering a wide array of features to enhance user experience. One such feature is the ability to identify songs, making it a convenient tool for users to find music they’ve heard but don’t know the title or artist. By using the lyrics search function or integrating with apps designed for music recognition, Spotify enables users to connect with the music they encounter in their daily lives.
The platform’s search functionality is not limited to artist names or song titles but also extends to lyrics. This proves invaluable when a melody is stuck in your head, but the name of the song evades you. The Spotify community can easily find songs by entering a few words from the lyrics, illustrating the app’s commitment to accessible music discovery. Moreover, this feature is regularly updated and available on both iOS and Android devices, ensuring users have the latest capabilities at their fingertips.
Additionally, Spotify’s collaboration with other applications like Shazam simplifies the song identification process. By linking Spotify with Shazam, listeners can quickly switch to Spotify to listen to the full track once it is identified. This seamless integration facilitates an uninterrupted listening experience and helps users to expand their playlists with new and previously unknown tracks.
Can Spotify Identify Songs? Everything You Need to Know
If you’ve ever heard a song playing and wondered whether Spotify can identify it—similar to Shazam—you’re not alone. Spotify is one of the world’s most popular music streaming platforms, but can Spotify actually identify songs playing around you?
This guide explains what Spotify can and can’t do when it comes to song identification, plus the best alternatives and workarounds.
Short Answer: Can Spotify Identify Songs?
No, Spotify cannot directly identify songs playing in your environment.
Unlike apps such as Shazam or SoundHound, Spotify does not have a built‑in “listen and identify” feature.
However, Spotify does offer indirect ways to find songs and integrates well with third‑party identification tools.
Why Spotify Doesn’t Have a Song Identification Feature
Spotify focuses on:
- Music streaming and discovery
- Personalized playlists
- Algorithm‑based recommendations
Song identification requires real‑time audio fingerprinting, which Spotify has chosen not to build into the app—likely to keep the app lightweight and focused.
Ways to Identify Songs Using Spotify (Workarounds)
While Spotify can’t listen and identify songs on its own, you can still use it effectively once a song is identified.
1. Use Shazam and Open the Song in Spotify
This is the most popular method.
How it works:
- Open Shazam
- Let it identify the song
- Tap Open in Spotify
- Save it to your playlist or library
✅ Works seamlessly on both Android and iOS.
2. Use Google Assistant or Siri
Voice assistants can identify songs and send them to Spotify.
Example commands:
- “Hey Google, what song is this?”
- “Hey Siri, identify this song”
After identification, you can:
- Open the track in Spotify
- Add it to your liked songs
3. Search by Lyrics in Spotify
Spotify allows lyric‑based searching.
Steps:
- Open Spotify
- Go to Search
- Type a line of lyrics you remember
- Select Songs under results
✅ Best if you know even a short lyric phrase.
4. Check Spotify’s “Recently Played” (Limited Use)
If a song was played:
- On a connected device
- In a shared playlist
- Via a Spotify radio session
You might find it under Recently Played, but this does not work for ambient music.
Can Spotify Identify Songs Playing on the Same Device?
❌ No.
Spotify cannot recognize songs:
- Playing on YouTube
- Playing in another app
- Playing on TV or radio nearby
It does not listen to microphone input for song detection.
Best Apps for Song Identification (Compared)
| App | Can Identify Songs? | Works with Spotify | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shazam | ✅ Yes | ✅ Open/save to Spotify | iOS / Android |
| SoundHound | ✅ Yes | ✅ Spotify integration | iOS / Android |
| Google Assistant | ✅ Yes | ✅ Opens in Spotify | Android |
| Siri | ✅ Yes | ✅ Apple Music / Spotify | iOS |
| Spotify | ❌ No | N/A | iOS / Android |
Will Spotify Add Song Identification in the Future?
Spotify has not officially announced plans to add native song recognition. However, Spotify continues to improve:
- AI recommendations
- Audio analysis
- Music discovery tools
For now, third‑party integrations remain the best solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Spotify listen through my microphone?
No. Spotify does not use your microphone to identify songs.
Can Spotify recognize humming or singing?
No. Use Google Assistant or SoundHound for humming recognition.
Does Spotify show song info for background music?
Only if Spotify itself is playing the music.
Final Verdict
While Spotify cannot identify songs on its own, it works extremely well with tools like Shazam, Siri, and Google Assistant. The fastest way to identify a song and save it to Spotify is still:
✅ Shazam → Open in Spotify → Save
Quick Summary
- ❌ Spotify does not identify ambient songs
- ✅ Use Shazam or voice assistants
- ✅ Search lyrics directly in Spotify
- ✅ Easily save identified songs to Spotify
Key Takeaways
- Spotify users can identify songs using lyrics or by connecting to apps like Shazam.
- Searching with lyrics on Spotify helps users discover music whose titles they do not remember.
- The integration of Spotify with other apps enhances user experience and music discovery.
Spotify’s Song Identification Features
Spotify offers users the ability to find songs in a variety of ways. These methods make it simple for anyone to track down their favorite tunes or discover new music effortlessly.
Identify Tab and Search Functionalities
The search feature in Spotify lets users find songs by entering lyrics directly into the search box. If you remember a line or two from a song but not its title, you can type these lyrics in. Spotify will display a list of tracks that match the input. This feature is handy when a song’s name escapes you. The search results will reveal the song you’re looking for. This eliminates the need for pen and paper to jot down lyrics or the frustration of forgetting them later.
Integration with Voice Assistants
Spotify is compatible with voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant. You can ask these assistants to play music from Spotify on your smartphone. Whether you use iOS or Android, the process is simple. Say the wake word for your device’s assistant followed by a command to play a track from Spotify. The assistant accesses the app and starts playing the requested song or playlist.
Collaboration with Third-Party Apps
While Spotify itself allows you to identify songs, some users prefer third-party apps like Shazam, SoundHound, or Musixmatch for song identification. These apps have special features to recognize music playing around you. Once identified, these songs can often be added directly to your Spotify playlists. This seamless integration keeps all your music in one place and spares you from switching between multiple apps.
