How to Download Tidal HiRes FLAC Music on Mobile/Desktop [Complete Guide]

Part 1. What Is Tidal HiRes Audio

For years, Tidal's top tier was 'Master' quality, which used MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) technology to stream high-resolution audio. But it was not truly lossless and required specific and MQA-certified hardware to 'unfold' the full-quality file.

In 2024, Tidal removed MQA and replaced it with HiRes FLAC.

Tidal Hi-Res FLAC or Tidal HiRes FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), short for Tidal High-Resolution, refers to the high-quality audio streaming offered by Tidal. It offers Max and high-quality audio streaming with FLAC files up to 24-bit, 192 kHz. This provides superior sound quality compared to standard audio formats. Many standard audio streaming services typically compress audio files to reduce file size and bandwidth usage. However, Tidal FLAC Hi-Res preserves the original audio quality as intended by the artist. This allows users to stream or download music that sounds as close to the original studio recording as possible.

How to Get Tidal Hi-Res FLAC Music

To listen to Tidal High-Resolution music, you will need a few things:

1. Subscription: You need to have a paid and valid Tidal subscription to get Tidal Hi-Res streaming.

2. Compatible Devices: A device that supports Tidal Hi-Res music playback is necessary. This could be a Hi-Res audio player, a compatible smartphone or a computer.

See also: Best Tidal Players on Windows/Mac/Android/iOS

3. Headphones/Speakers: To fully appreciate the Hi-Res audio quality, you should use high-quality headphones or speakers that are capable of reproducing the finer details in the music.

See also: How to Play Tidal Music on Denon Receiver

4. Quality Settings: Make sure to adjust the audio quality settings in Tidal's 'Settings'. You should select 'Max' and then maintain a good network connection to play.

Benefits of Downloading Tidal HiRes Audio

If you download Tidal music in high resolution, you can enjoy these benefits:

✔ Superior Sound Quality: Hi-Res audio provides a fuller and more immersive listening experience, especially when using high-end audio equipment like audiophile headphones.

✔ Offline Listening: By downloading Hi-Res tracks, you can enjoy your favorite music without worrying about data usage or internet connectivity. This is particularly useful for users in areas with limited internet access.

See also: How to Use Tidal Offline on PC/Phone

Part 2. How to Download Tidal Hi-Res FLAC Audio on Mobile [Official Way]

After knowing the introduction about Hi-Res Tidal, please continue to learn how to find and download Tidal High-Resolution songs, playlists, or albums on iOS and Android devices.

Step 1. Run the Tidal app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone and log in to your account.

Step 2. Tidal Hi-Res tracks are labeled as 'Max' or 'TIDAL HiRes'. You can use the 'Search' function or browse through the Tidal app to find Hi-Res content.

Step 3. Once you have found the Hi-Res content you want to download, look for the 'Download' (⬇) icon next to the track. Hit the 'Download' icon to start downloading Tidal HiRes FLAC songs.

⚠ Note: Before downloading, you can choose the highest available quality (Max) to ensure you're downloading Hi-Res audio.

Step 4. Once the download process is complete, you can access the Hi-Res content from the 'Downloaded' section of the Tidal app. Now, you can listen to the downloaded Tidal Hi-Res audio offline without an internet connection.

Part 3. Limitations of Downloading Tidal HiRes FLAC Music

While you can download HiRes FLAC files from Tidal, there are some limitations. Please check them below.

1. Downloaded Tidal HiRes Audio Files Are DRM-Locked

It is noted that the downloaded Tidal music files on your phone are encrypted with DRM. This means they are not common audio files. You can't use them on other devices or platforms, but only the Tidal app.

2. You Don't Own the Files You Downloaded

Once your Tidal subscription expires or you cancel your subscription, all your downloaded Tidal Hi-Res music disappears instantly. You don't get the permanent files on your device.

3. You Can't Download Tidal HiRes Audio to Computer

There is no Offline Mode feature in the official Tidal Windows and Mac apps. This is annoying for users who want to listen to Tidal music on computer without network connection.

Part 4. How to Download Tidal Hi-Res FLAC Audio on Desktop

From the above, we know that the Tidal Hi-Res tracks are the same as normal resources, which cannot be downloaded on computers. And the downloaded songs from your mobile app are cached files. It means you can't transfer or export them to other devices. To break these limitations, you need AudFree Tidal Music Converter to help you.

AudFree Tidal Music Converter can remove DRM from Tidal and convert Tidal tracks in bulk at up to 37X speed. You can also set different output formats such as format, bitrate, sample rate, and channel for Tidal songs. It is worth mentioning that you can convert Tidal music to common formats: FLAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Lossless, M4A, and M4B.

Furthermore, the audio you download using this AudFree converter can be saved with the original and full 1:1 lossless HiRes FLAC sound quality. With this AudFree tool, you can save HiRes Tidal songs, playlists, or albums to your computer as local files, and you can transfer them to other devices as desired.

AudFree Tidal Music Converter

• Keep Tidal Hi-Res audio's original sound quality and data
• Convert Tidal to MP3, FLAC, WAV, etc.
• Convert batches of Tidal Hi-Res music at 37X speed
• Save Tidal songs as local files on computers

Download

Download

How to Download Tidal Hi-Res Albums/Playlists/Songs Locally

First, please download and install the practical AudFree Tidal Music Converter on your Mac or Windows. If you don't have the Tidal music account, you need to get it in advance.

Step 1Add Tidal Hi-Res FLAC music to AudFree Tidable

Open your downloaded AudFree Tidal Music Converter. Then, drag & drop the Hi-Res album, playlists, or individual songs from Tidal web player to the '+ ♫' section on AudFree tool. Alternatively, you can tap the audio and tap the '+ ♫' button on AudFree tool. After that, tap the 'Add to list' button to load them.

Step 2Change Tidal Hi-Res audio output formats

For Windows users, please go to the 'menu' button on the top-right side of AudFree. For Mac users, please click Mac's 'menu' > 'AudFree Tidal Music Converter' on the top-left. Next, select 'Preferences' > 'Conversion'. Here are some formats you can set for Tidal Hi-Res songs. To download Hi-Res Tidal tracks, you are recommended to set the format as 'FLAC'. After finishing this step, hit 'OK'.

See also: How to Convert Tidal to FLAC

Step 3Convert Tidal Hi-Res albums locally

Now, you can click the 'Convert' button in the Converting window to start converting. Then, you can see a pop-out red dot in the 'Converted' option. Click it to find and play your local Tidal Hi-Res FLAC downloads on computer. Also, you can sync the Tidal Hi-Res audio downloads to your frequently used platforms for offline playback.

Video GuideGet local Tidal HiRes audio downloads on computer

See how to save Tidal Hi-Res music downloads on computers step by step via AudFree Tidal Music Converter.

Part 5. Compare Methods to Download Tidal HiRes FLAC

Here are the two ways we show you to download Tidal Hi-Res FLAC audio files on mobile and desktop. Now, you can check the differences between them in the table below.

Part 6. FAQs about Tidal HiRes FLAC

Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless vs Tidal HiRes: Which Is Better?

Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless (up to 24-bit/192kHz) is similar to Tidal HiRes. Apple Music may have a slightly smaller selection of Hi-Res tracks but it is cheaper than Tidal. The choice depends on your personal preferences.

Is Tidal Hi-Res Better Than Spotify Lossless?

Yes, Tidal Hi-Res is better than Spotify Lossless. Tidal provides lossless and high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz, whereas Spotify Lossless offers up to 24-bit/44.1kHz.

Do I Need a DAC for Tidal HiRes?

No, but it is highly recommended. If you want to hear the full 24-bit/192kHz quality of HiRes, you should use an external DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).

View also: Best DAC for Tidal

What Headphones Do I Need for Tidal HiRes?

You need to use high-quality and wired headphones to listen to Tidal Hi-Res music and avoid Bluetooth.

How Much Data Does Tidal HiRes Use?

Streaming Tidal HiRes can use a very large amount of data. A single song in HiRes FLAC streaming quality can use up to 90 MB. A full album will exceed 1.5 GB easily.

Is It Legal to Download Tidal Hi-Res Music?

Yes, using the Tidal official app to download Tidal HiRes tracks is legal. By the way, downloading HiRes music from Tidal via third-party tools like AudFree Tidal Music Converter is also legal as long as the downloaded files are for personal use.

Is Tidal HiRes Better Than MQA?

Yes. Tidal HiRes FLAC is a true lossless format, while MQA is a lossy format.

Does Sonos Support Tidal Hi-Res Audio?

No, Sonos only supports playing Hi-Res Tidal audio at 48kHz/24-bit.

See also: How to Connect Tidal to Sonos Online/Offline

Does HEOS Support Tidal High-Resolution Music?

Yes, HEOS Speakers, HEOS Link and HEOS Amp allow to play up to 24-bit/192-kHz audio. On these devices, you can play Tidal FLAC Hi-Res songs.

Part 7. In Conclusion

After browsing this post, you can find detailed information about Tidal Hi-Res. To play and download Hi-Res FLAC music on Tidal, you should subscribe to a plan. If you want to download Tidal HiRes FLAC audio on a computer or play it on any device, you should use the AudFree Tidal Music Converter to assist you. This software can save Tidal High-Resolution audio without protection on the desktop with original quality, so you can keep and transfer the Hi-Res audio free downloads to your desired devices for playback forever.