How to Download and Use Tidal on iPhone [Full Guide]

Part 1. How to Download Tidal Music on iPhone Officially for Offline Playback

If you are a new user to Tidal, you may wonder: How can I listen to Tidal music on iPhone or other iOS device without an internet connection? In fact, there is an offline mode within the Tidal iOS app, allowing you to download Tidal tracks, playlists, albums, etc. to your iPhone for offline playback while on flights, in areas where you have poor network connection. Now, let's learn how to do it.

Note: Before downloading, please make sure that you have an active TIDAL plan. Besides, set the downloading quality for your music. Just go to Tidal app's Settings > Downloads. Then, under the Audio section, select the download quality as High, HiFi, or Master according to your needs.

Step 1. On the Tidal iOS app, tap on 'My Collection' or use the Search function to find the playlist, track or album you want to download.

Step 2. Locate and click the 'Download' option to start downloading Tidal music to your iPhone.

Step 3. After downloading, go to 'My Collection' > 'Downloads' to find your downloaded music.

Step 4. Go to 'Settings' and then turn on Offline Mode to listen to Tidal music on iPhone offline.

Part 2. How to Adjust Audio Settings of Tidal on iPhone

Tidal offers superior sound quality. So, to have a better experience, you need to alter the Tidal audio settings on your iPhone correctly. Now, learn how to do that.

Step 1. Open the Tidal for iPhone app, go to Settings.

Step 2. Locate Streaming under the Audio & Playback section, then choose the streaming quality you like for both WiFi and Cellular connections.

• High: It uses AAC 320 kbps files. This compressed format delivers excellent sound quality that most listeners won't be able to distinguish from lossless when using standard headphones like AirPods, while also using the least data.
• HiFi: It uses FLAC files, a lossless audio format (16-bit/44.1 kHz) that delivers CD-quality sound with no data loss from the original recording.
• Master: It uses Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) technology to provide high-resolution audio (24-bit/96 kHz or higher) in a compact file size, offering the richest and most detailed listening experience available. Be aware that streaming Master Quality audio over a cellular connection can use a large amount of data.

Note: For WiFi, use HiFi or Master for the best quality. For Cellular, use High to save data usage. For Downloads, use HiFi to get a great balance between storage space and sound quality.

Tips: Tidal also offers an immersive audio format. That is Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D sound experience that feels like the music surrounds you, especially impressive with compatible Apple devices such as AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and newer iPhones. To learn more about this feature, please read our complete guide to Tidal Dolby Atmos.

Part 3. How to Stream Tidal Music from iPhone to Other Devices

Besides listening to Tidal music on iPhone or on headphones, you can stream music to other devices from iPhone via Apple CarPlay and AirPlay.

Play Tidal from iPhone to Car via Apple CarPlay

If you own a car that supports Apple CarPlay, then you can control your Tidal music playback from your car's infotainment screen. To make it, just plug in your iPhone to your car, then the Tidal icon will show on the CarPlay screen. For more details, you can read our post: How to Use Tidal with Apple CarPlay.

Stream Tidal Music to Other Devices via AirPlay

The AirPlay feature on the iOS devices allows you to stream any audio from your iOS device to any AirPlay-supported devices, including speaker, Apple TV, receiver, etc. That means you can stream Tidal music from your iPhone to other AirPlay-compatible devices. The process is also simple. Just start playing a song in the Tidal app for iPhone, click the AirPlay icon on its Now Playing screen, then choose the device you want to connect to stream music.

Part 4. How to Save Tidal Music on iPhone as Local Files

It is noted that the downloaded Tidal songs on iPhone are encrypted and can be only played within the Tidal app. Besides, once you have cancelled your Tidal subscription, you can't access your Tidal downloads anymore. However, for users who want to keep Tidal music as local files and take more control of Tidal files, there is an advanced method for you.

What you need is AudFree Tidal Music Converter, which allows you to download music from Tidal losslessly. You can also use it to convert Tidal music to popular audio formats, including MP3, FLAC, Lossless, AIFF, M4B, M4A and WAV. After the format conversion, you can freely move the downloaded Tidal music files to play on other devices.

Moreover, AudFree Tidal Music Downloader enables you to get lossless Tidal tracks with ID3 tags preserved. You can also customize the output parameters and get converted Tidal files in no time because it works 37 times faster.

Please download and install AudFree Tidal Music Converter on your computer first. Then let us start the process of saving and playing Tidal on iPhone and other devices offline without Tidal subscription.

Step 1. Open the AudFree Tidal Music Downloader on your computer. Please select Tidal songs, click "+" and tap "Add to list" to load Tidal tracks into AudFree tool or the conversion.

Step 2. he AudFree Tidal Music Converter inspires you to choose the output format for your iPhone's listening. How can you do that? Click the "three lines" icon > "Preferences" > "Conversion". And six format options are there for you. Additionally, other parameters, including the channel, bit rate and sample rate can be reset. When you've done the settings, click on "OK".

Step 3. Press the button "Convert" of the "Converting" list window to start downloading Tidal music locally. The uploaded Tidal songs will be downloaded on your computer in batches. The title, genre, group, composer, album cover and other data of Tidal music will all be kept during the process. When the conversion is done, you can locate the local Tidal files in the "Converted" list.

Step 4. To add the converted Tidal tracks to iPhone, you need to use iTunes for Windows or Finder/Apple Music app for Mac. Please do the operation below that we made for you.

For iTunes on Windows:

• Connect your Windows computer to your iPhone with a USB cable.
• Open iTunes on your PC and then click on 'Files' > 'Add File to Library' or 'Add Folder to Library'.



• Then select the folder that contains your converted Tidal music files. Hit 'Open' to add it to your iTunes library.
• Now hit the 'device' icon at the upper-left corner. Then select 'Music' > 'Entire Music library'. Click on the 'Sync' button to start transferring Tidal music files to your iPhone.



• Now, you can open the iTunes app on your iPhone and start playing Tidal music on iPhone offline.

See also: How to Add Tidal Music to iTunes

For Finder on Mac:

• Connect your Mac to your iPhone with a USB cable.
• Launch Finder and click on your iPhone name.
• Choose the 'Music' tab at the top and then tick the option of 'Sync music onto your iPhone'.
• Select 'Selected artists, albums, genres, and playlists' to choose your converted Tidal music files.
• Click on the 'Apply' button to start syncing Tidal music from your computer to your iPhone.



• After that, you can listen to Tidal on iPhone offline through a local music player.

Tips: You can also add Tidal music to Apple Music from your Mac for playing music on your iPhone.

After syncing Tidal music to iPhone, you can open the Music app from your phone, go to Library > Downloaded to start to choose and play Tidal songs offline.

Part 5. FAQs about Tidal on iPhone/iOS

Is Tidal's Audio Quality Better than Apple Music or Spotify on an iPhone?

Technically, yes. Tidal MQA and HiFi can deliver higher-resolution sound than Spotify's standard quality. The difference compared to Apple Music Lossless is more subtle. Whether you'll notice the difference depends on your hearing, your audio gear, and whether you use an external DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).

Do I Need a DAC for Tidal on My iPhone?

If you want to hear Tidal's highest 'Master' quality audio at full resolution (above 24-bit/48 kHz), you'll need an external DAC connected to your iPhone's Lightning or USB-C port. The built-in DAC in iPhones is very good but limited in output resolution. For everyday listening with regular headphones, though, you don't need a DAC for Tidal to enjoy excellent sound.

What Should I Do If the Tidal App Keeps Crashing or Won't Open on iPhone?

First, force stop the Tidal app and then restart your iPhone. Then check if there is an Internet connection issue. Also, go to Tidal's official Twitter to see if it's the server issue. Or, update the Tidal app to the latest version. If all these don't work, try to delete the Tidal app and then reinstall it.

Can I Get a Free Trial for Tidal on iOS?

Yes. Every new Tidal subscriber can get a Tidal free trial for 30 days through the iOS app.

Part 6. In Conclusion

Learning the effective tips to use the Tidal app on iPhone is great for you to enjoy music better. By mastering Tidal's official offline features, configuring your audio settings for optimal Tidal streaming and downloading quality, and integrating Tidal with your Apple ecosystem, you can enjoy high-fidelity music wherever you go.

And for those who demand the ultimate control over their Tidal music library, tools like the AudFree Tidal Music Converter provide a powerful solution. It helps save and listen to Tidal music on iPhone and even other devices offline without using the Tidal app and Tidal subscription.