"Can you stream Tidal via Bluetooth?" Yes. However, standard Bluetooth can't support Tidal HiRes FLAC quality. This often leads to audio compression, or stuttering.
This article will show you how to play Tidal on Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and car stereos. Also, we will show you how to change the audio settings to get the best audio quality. Plus, you will get a method to keep and play Tidal music forever anywhere and anytime without limitations.
Part 1. How to Play Tidal on Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth speakers are the most common way to enjoy music wirelessly. Whether you are using a portable JBL, a high-end Bose, or a Sonos Move, you can connect Tidal to Bluetooth speakers for streaming. But the settings you choose can drastically affect stability. Besides, you can manage the audio playback on your smart Bluetooth headset with a voice command.
Step 1. Turn on Bluetooth on your speaker and smartphone.
Step 2. Go to your mobile device and enable Bluetooth feature.
Step 3. Locate the Bluetooth speaker from the list and pair it with your smartphone.
Step 4. In Tidal, open music and press the Play button to listen to your favorite Tidal tunes on Bluetooth speakers.
Most portable Bluetooth speakers use the SBC codec, which is the baseline standard. Since Tidal now offers HiRes FLAC quality, streaming "Max" quality to a basic speaker is overkill and can cause buffering. So, to get a better listening experience, go to Tidal app's Settings > Audio & Playback. For "Mobile Data", set the quality to "High" rather than "Max". This provides CD-quality sound (which is still better than what most Bluetooth speakers can reproduce) but uses significantly less data and battery.
Part 2. How to Play Tidal over Bluetooth Headphones
With a Tidal plan, you can get the best possible audio quality on your Bluetooth headphones. Here is how to stream music from Tidal on Bluetooth headphones.
Step 1. Power on your iPhone or Android smartphone and turn on Bluetooth.
Step 2. Select the headphones from the list of accessible devices in your Bluetooth option.
Step 3. Once connected, open Tidal app on your smartphone and listen to Tidal music over your Bluetooth headphones.
To get the quality you are paying for, you need to match your phone's output to your headphones' capabilities.
Sony LDAC (The Best for Tidal): If you use Android and Sony headphones (like the WH-1000XM5), you can stream up to 990kbps. This is the closest you will get to the original Tidal FLAC file over Bluetooth. Just go to Android Bluetooth settings, tap the "Gear" icon next to your headphones, and enable "LDAC".
AAC (Apple Users): iPhones use AAC, which caps out around 256kbps. While it sounds good, it technically removes data from the original Tidal stream.
aptX HD: A strong alternative for Android users with Sennheiser or Bowers & Wilkins headphones.
If you experience audio lag while watching videos, go to Tidal Settings and turn OFF "Loudness Normalization". This reduces the processing load on your phone.
Part 3. How to Stream Tidal via Bluetooth in a Car
Many people enjoy listening to music while driving. So, if you're a Tidal music subscriber, how can you listen to your favorite playlist through this platform? Easy job. If your car model has Bluetooth integrated into the audio, you can connect your smartphone and play Tidal in the car through Bluetooth.
Step 1. Go to your car's Media menu and choose 'Add Device'. Then enable the Bluetooth feature.
Step 2. Enable Bluetooth on your mobile device and choose your car's name on your phone.
Step 3. Tap Yes to allow access to contacts and call history on your phone.
Step 4. Open the Tidal app on your device and start playing. The Tidal music will be streamed over the car's audio system.
If your car lacks built-in Bluetooth, you can purchase a universal Bluetooth car kit or a vehicle-specific Bluetooth adapter. Or, you can use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to stream music.
Part 4. How to Listen to Tidal on Bluetooth without Using Data and Tidal App
Streaming Tidal music over Bluetooth online in your device consumes a massive amount of mobile data. Besides, the Tidal app can be heavy and drain your battery quickly. While Tidal allows you to download music for offline playback, these files are encrypted and can't be played with other devices directly. If you cancel your subscription, these downloads disappear.
So, the best way to play Tidal on Bluetooth devices is to convert Tidal music to common local audio files. AudFree Tidal Music Converter is a distinctive and excellent Tidal music solution that allows users to greater manage the playing of Tidal music tracks via Bluetooth forever.
It quickly lets you convert and download Tidal tracks or songs from its web player to simple sound recordings, such as FLAC, WAV, MP3, M4A, and more in excellent quality retained. After that, you may listen to Tidal tracks on all devices offline without data wherever and whenever you want.
You can now refer to the following tutorial to use the AudFree Tidal Music Converter to effortlessly download all Tidal music material offline. All Tidal songs will be saved to your computer. And then, you can transfer it to any platform for playback without using the official Tidal app.
Step 1. Download and install the AudFree Tidal Music Converter and then log in to your Tidal account in the built-in Web Player.
Step 2. Set the output format of Tidal music downloads. To make Tidal files available for more devices and platforms, it's better to set the Tidal output format as MP3, which has a high compatibility.
Step 3. Search for Tidal songs that you'd like to play via Bluetooth. Tap the item and click the blue '+' button to load them. After that, you can hit on the 'Convert' tab to download songs from Tidal onto computer.
Step 4. After that, you can transfer downloaded Tidal music tracks into your mobile devices. And then pair your phone with your Bluetooth speakers to listen to Tidal on Bluetooth offline.
Part 5. Troubleshooting Tidal Bluetooth Common Issues
It's possible that Tidal didn't play through Bluetooth or that you'll have other strange problems. Even if other apps work fine, you won't be able to play Tidal music if this occurs. But don't be concerned. If you encounter any of the errors listed below, such as it won't stream through Bluetooth, you can use these ways to rapidly resolve the issue.
Tidal in Car via Bluetooth Doesn't Show the Artist/Title
If you stream Tidal music in car through Bluetooth but it doesn't show track metadata, you can try the fixes below.
Step 1. Enable Developer Options on your Android phone by tapping 'Build Number' 7 times in Settings.
Step 2. Search for "Bluetooth AVRCP Version".
Step 3. Change it from the default (usually 1.4) to 1.6.
Step 4. Unpair and re-pair your phone to force the phone to send richer metadata to the car stereo.
Tidal Stops Playing via Bluetooth When Screen Turns Off
Step 1. Go to Android Settings app, tap Apps > Tidal > Battery.
Step 2. Change the settings from 'Optimized' to 'Unrestricted'.
Low Volume or No Sound on Tidal via Bluetooth
If Tidal seems to be playing the music, but you cannot hear it or the volume is too low, follow these simple ways to address the problem.
1. Ensure the gadget is not muted and that the volume is turned up to 100%.
2. Make sure the Sound Output setting is accurate.
3. Adjust the volume via the speaker's volume knob.
Part 6. Compare Tidal Connect vs Bluetooth
Some users may wonder what's the difference between Tidal Connect and Bluetooth. Now, you can take a look at the table below.
| Feature | Tidal Connect (WiFi) | Bluetooth (Wireless) |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Home listening | On-the-go listening |
| Audio Quality | Lossless (Supports HiRes FLAC at up to 24-bit/192kHz and Dolby Atmos) | Lossy (Audio is compressed to fit the Bluetooth bandwidth.) |
| Stability | Music keeps playing if you take a phone call. | Music pauses or dips when you get a notification. |
| Battery Life | Won't drain phone battery | Drains phone battery |
| Range | Works anywhere within your WiFi network (whole house). | Limited range (approx. 30 feet/10 meters). |
Part 7. Conclusion
There are lots of official methods to play Tidal on Bluetooth across your devices and they are easily accessible. But because Tidal now streams in such high quality by default, you need to manage your settings to prevent lag and data drain. To get the best experience, you can use LDAC codec if possible, and downgrade Tidal streaming quality to High for Bluetooth listening to ensure stability.
But here, we recommend using AudFree Tidal Music Converter to download Tidal music to local offline storage for Tidal playback over Bluetooth. You will have more control of Tidal tracks on all devices and platforms offline via Bluetooth.
Miley Swift
Staff Editor
