How to Find a Song by Humming on iPhone (3 Free Ways)
A song is stuck in your head. You can hear the melody perfectly, but you can't remember a single word, so there's nothing to type into a search bar.
Your iPhone has Shazam built in, so you open it and hum. Nothing. That's not you doing it wrong: Shazam and Siri can't recognise humming. They only match recorded music.
Here are three ways that do work on iPhone, starting with the one that needs no app at all.
Hum it right now
Open SoundCatch in Safari, hum for 10 seconds, get the song. No app, no account.
Hum a song →1. SoundCatch in Safari (no app needed)
SoundCatch is a song finder that runs in your browser. It matches the melody itself, so off-key humming, whistling or "da da da" is fine.
Hum mode is already selected.
Allow the microphone the first time. Safari asks once.
The chorus works best: it's the part your brain remembers most clearly.
You'll see the most likely match plus a few other possibilities, with Spotify and YouTube links.
Tip: tap Share → Add to Home Screen in Safari. SoundCatch then opens from your home screen in one tap, just like an app, without taking up any storage.
SoundCatch also handles the other common iPhone situation: a song in a TikTok or Reel. Save the video, tap "Upload it", and it finds the song from the video file. More on that in our guide to finding a song from a TikTok.
2. The Google app ("Hum to search")
Google's "Hum to search" also works on iPhone, but only inside the Google app, not in Safari.
- Install the Google app from the App Store.
- Tap the microphone in the search bar, then Search a song.
- Hum, whistle or sing for 10 to 15 seconds.
It's good with popular songs. The downside is the extra app, and it's buried a few taps deep when you're in a hurry.
3. SoundHound
SoundHound is one of the few music recognition apps that accepts singing and humming, not just recorded music. Tap the orange button and sing or hum. It's another app to install, and it works best when you sing the actual melody clearly.
Which one should you use?
| SoundCatch | Google app | SoundHound | Shazam / Siri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognises humming | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Works without installing an app | Yes | No | No | Built in |
| Finds songs in a saved TikTok/Reel | Yes | No | No | No |
| Also works on a computer | Yes | Limited | No | Limited |
Why Shazam can't hear your humming
Shazam works by "fingerprinting": it compares tiny details of a recording (the exact instruments, the mix, the voice) to a database of studio tracks. Your humming has none of those details. It only has the melody, the up and down of the notes.
Hum recognition tools compare that melody shape instead, which is why they can match you even if you're off-key or too slow. It's a different technology, and Shazam simply doesn't do it.
Tips for better results
- Hum the chorus. It's the most distinctive part of most songs.
- Go for 10 to 15 seconds. Two seconds isn't enough melody to match.
- Use "da da da" or "la la la". Clear syllables make the notes easier to detect than a closed-mouth hum.
- Find a quiet spot and hold the phone about a hand's width from your mouth.
- Didn't work? Try a different part of the song, or a slightly slower tempo.
FAQ
Can Siri find a song by humming?
No. Siri uses Shazam for music, and Shazam only recognises recorded music. Use a hum-to-search tool like SoundCatch or the Google app instead.
Is there a free way to find a song by humming on iPhone?
Yes. The Google app is free, and SoundCatch works in Safari with your first song free and no account.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. SoundCatch works in Safari on iPad exactly like on iPhone.
Read more: Find a Song by Humming · Hum to Search Online · That Song That Goes "Da Da Da"
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