Apple’s new iOS 14 software for its iPhones and iPads means your device can now identify songs playing around you.
It can also tell you the name and artist behind songs playing in other apps, including those playing in your headphones.
The new feature is called Music Recognition, and it was rolled out to developers in the iOS 14.2 beta – software made available for testing before it is released for consumers.
It uses the same technology behind Shazam, which it purchased in 2017.
Users could already use Shazam to identify songs around them, but this new update means that music playing in apps – such as in a TikTok or YouTube video – can also be identified.
To access the new feature, users will need to go to the Control Centre and toggle the icon, which looks like the Shazam logo.
It is currently only available to those with the developer preview – although it can be downloaded from Apple’s website.
Developer previews often offer new features in comparison to the commercial release of software, but can also be buggy, so it is worth proceeding with caution.
Since Apple released the first version of iOS 14 very recently, it is likely that iOS 14.2 will be tested for some time.
Apple is expected to announce new iPhones in October, though it is not clear which version of iOS they will be shipped with.
Apple’s iOS 14 also features a number of other upgrades, including upgrades for both the AirPods Pro and standard headphones, an orange or green dot so users can tell when someone is using their camera, and the ability to knock on the back of the handset to activate features.
