You're at a bar, and a familiar melody drifts out. You want to know the song — now. If you have a Pixel, Now Playing quietly finds it for you. If not, a 20-year-old app named Shazam can step in. It's been reliably helping people identify songs for years and remains a go-to option. Whether you're at a party, dining in a restaurant, or just walking past a store with music playing, Shazam can quickly tell you the name of the song that caught your ear.
The Pixel advantage
Now Playing is Google's in-house song recognition feature. It works quietly in the background, using the Pixel's built-in microphones to detect nearby music. When it hears a tune, it shows the title on your lock screen as you glance at it. The feature is energy-efficient — it doesn't use a lot of data or battery life — making it a convenient option for Pixel owners. This means users can go about their day without worrying about draining their phone's resources while trying to identify songs.
Nonetheless, Android Central reports that Google hasn't expanded Now Playing beyond Pixel devices. It's also unclear whether they'll bring the feature to other Android models. For music lovers using non-Pixel phones, this can be a problem when trying to identify a catchy tune without the help of Now Playing. It means that if you're not using a Pixel, you'll need to rely on third-party apps to get the same results.
Shazam to the rescue
A third-party app, Shazam, is a great alternative. It's capable of identifying songs in real-time using its Auto Shazam feature. If you activate this mode, it listens for music in the background and displays song titles through your notification bar. While it doesn't offer the same level of smooth integration as Now Playing, it effectively serves the same purpose. This makes it a valuable tool for Android users who don't own a Pixel but still want to identify songs quickly and easily.
The tradeoff is that Auto Shazam uses more battery and data than Now Playing. It’s also less seamless, and it can clutter your notification area with persistent alerts. That said, it is compatible with most Android phones and is completely free to use. For people looking for a workaround to Pixel-only features, this is a solid solution. It's been around for nearly two decades and has a solid reputation among users for accurate and fast song recognition.
To activate Auto Shazam, open the Shazam app and tap the Library section. From there, look for the Settings icon in the top-left corner and toggle on the Auto Shazam feature. You can choose to stop it after recognizing one song or leave it active for the entire day. A notification will appear to show that it's running in the background, and you can manage it directly from your phone's notification panel. This gives users the flexibility to use the feature only when needed, balancing convenience with battery life.
Other Shazam tricks
If you're not interested in leaving Auto Shazam on all day, Shazam also offers a Quick Settings tile. Tap the tile, and the app will identify the song playing in the background without launching the full app. This is a quick way to check out a single track without activating the full Auto Shazam mode. It's especially useful for people who only need to identify a few songs at a time and don't want the app running constantly.
You can also enable a floating pop-up button that stays visible on your screen. This lets you tap it anytime you hear a song you want to identify. It's especially useful on devices like the Motorola Razr, where the cover screen supports third-party shortcuts, meaning you don't even need to open the phone for it to work. This adds an extra layer of convenience for users who want to identify songs without interrupting their current activity or navigating deep into the app.
No matter which method you choose — Auto Shazam, the Quick Settings tile, or the pop-up button — Shazam remains a reliable option for Android users without Pixel phones. It's been in the music-identification game for decades and continues to evolve without losing its core functionality. Shazam's presence on nearly every Android device makes it a must-have for anyone who loves discovering new music or rediscovering old favorites.
With the ability to run in the background, offer real-time results, and provide multiple ways to activate the feature, Shazam is a testament to the power of well-designed third-party apps. For users who want the convenience of Now Playing without the requirement to own a Pixel, Shazam is the perfect substitute. Whether you're looking for a seamless experience or a quick one-off identification, there's a Shazam setting that will meet your needs.
