"Does Tidal support Chromecast?" Yes. Chromecast is a versatile media streaming device developed by Google. You can plug it into your TV or speaker system and cast videos or audio from your devices seamlessly. With the Tidal Chromecast integration, Tidal subscribers can directly cast Tidal to Chromecast devices, like Chromecast Audio and Chromecast Ultra.
In this article, we will show you the specific setup on how to stream Tidal on Chromecast via Google Cast, Tidal Connect or a powerful Tidal downloader, AudFree Tidal Music Converter, to help you.
To cast Tidal to Chromecast instantly, open the app, play any track, go to Now Playing, hit the Cast icon and choose your Chromecast device. If you don't see the "Cast" icon in Tidal, ensure your phone and Chromecast are on the same WiFi band (e.g., both on 2.4GHz/5GHz). For iOS users, go to Settings > Privacy > Local Network and ensure Tidal is toggled ON.
Part 1. How to Play Tidal on Chromecast via Google Cast
Google Cast (formerly Chromecast) is the most direct way for most users to stream Tidal high-quality songs (Max 24-bit/96kHz) on your Chromecast devices. The streaming quality is better than CD quality. Now, follow the below steps to cast Tidal to Chromecast from mobile phone and computer for playback with ease.
On your mobile device, you can use the Tidal app to do that. On the computer, you can use both the Tidal app and web player.
How to Cast Tidal to Chromecast from Phone via Google Cast
Step 1. Please connect your Android or iOS mobile device and Chromecast under the same WiFi network.
Step 2. Open the Tidal app and play a Tidal song on your phone. And then tap the 'Now Playing' bar, there will be a small 'Cast' icon.
Step 3. Just click the 'Cast' icon (it looks like a small speaker) from the lower corner or top right of the screen. And then select your Chromecast device or Google TV Streamer from the list as the target device.
Step 4. When Chromecast is connected to mobile Tidal, the music will play through your Chromecast-connected TV or speaker.
View also: How to Get Tidal on Sony Smart TV
How to Cast Tidal to Chromecast from Computer with Google Cast
If you use the Chrome browser to listen to Tidal music via https://listen.tidal.com/ (Tidal web player), follow the steps below.
Step 1. On the Tidal web player, you should click the 'three-dot' from the Google Chrome browser's top right corner.
Step 2. Then, select 'Save and share' > 'Cast...'.
Step 3. From the list of devices that appear, choose the Chromecast device you want to cast the music to.
⭐ FYI: Get Chromecast Tidal to Work
Step 4. Then plug your Chromecast into a TV that supports Chromecast. Play Tidal music and then Tidal will start casting music on the TV.
View also: How to Add Tidal to Vizio Smart TV
Use External Speakers: Connect Chromecast to a high-quality external speaker or home audio system. This will enhance the audio quality and give you a richer sound experience.
Optimize Audio Settings: In the Tidal app, select High or Max quality settings for the best audio fidelity.
Multi-room Experience: Utilize Chromecast's multi-room audio feature to stream Tidal across multiple rooms simultaneously.
Part 2. How to Play Tidal on Chromecast via Tidal Connect
Another Tidal function can help you enjoy Tidal on Chromecast is Tidal Connect. It allows you to stream music directly from the Tidal mobile app to your Chromecast-enabled device in Max 24-bit/192kHz.
While Tidal Connect supports up to 192kHz, the output will depend on your Chromecast hardware's maximum capability (usually 96kHz).
Step 1. Your Chromecast device should be set up and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your mobile device.
Step 2. Open the Tidal app on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3. Navigate through the Tidal app and select the music you want to play. Start playing the selected track, album, or playlist.
Step 4. Look for the 'Sound Output' icon, which looks like a speaker with a signal.
Step 5. Tap the icon and a list of available devices will appear. Choose your Chromecast device from it.
Step 6. Once selected, Tidal will stream the music directly to your Chromecast. You can control playback (play, pause, skip, etc.) directly from the Tidal app.
Part 3. How to Cast Tidal to Chromecast Audio/Ultra Offline via YouTube Music/Plex
Besides using the cast function to get Tidal on Chromecast devices, you are recommended to use the alternative way. Because wireless streaming can stutter or drop in quality due to network congestion, you need a tool to help ensure a perfect 24-bit/192kHz quality without using data. That is to transfer Tidal music from your local music folder to YouTube Music or Plex and then playing music on Chromecast Audio or other devices without stuttering.
To do this, first, you need to use AudFree Tidal Music Downloader to download and convert Tidal music to MP3, FLAC, WAV or other Chromecast compatible audio files locally. This tool will save Tidal songs as local files so that you can easily upload them to YouTube Music and Plex. Besides, don't worry about the Tidal Chromecast audio quality as this tool can keep nearly lossless audio quality.
AudFree Tidal to Chromecast Converter
- Download Tidal songs and playlists losslessly
- Convert Tidal to MP3, FLAC, Lossless, M4A, AIFF, etc.
- Keep original ID3 tags and 100% lossless audio quality
- Play Tidal on Chromecast, Roku, and other streaming sticks offline
Now, the following is a guide on how to play Tidal on Chromecast Audio, Chromecast Ultra and others via the AudFree Tidal Music Converter. Please install the free trial version of this tool on your Mac or Windows computer in advance. This version supports converting the 30-seconds of each song. It's worth mentioning that you can purchase the full version to unlock the conversion time limitation.
How to Download Tidal Playlists for Chromecast Devices
First, you should open the AudFree Tidal Music Converter you installed before.
- Step 1. Load Tidal Songs to AudFree Tidal Chromecast Converter
- To upload Tidal songs that you will play on Chromecast, you can discover them on the Tidal app. Then open the track and click the bottom-right '+' icon to add them to the 'Converting' list.
- Step 2. Customize Tidal Audio Output Formats for Chromecast
- To get high-quality local Tidal streams, Chrome Audio-supported FLAC and WAV are the primary output formats you can define. Just hit the top menu bar and click the 'Preferences' from the drop-down list. Now, in the 'Conversion' option, you can start to customize the output format, sample rate, audio channel, bit rate, conversion speed, etc.
View also: How to Download Tidal to FLAC
- Step 3. Convert Tidal Music for Casting to Chromecast
- When all settings are ready, you can go to 'Converting', like a transfer logo, to click the 'Convert' button. The downloader will start to download music from Tidal at a fast 37X speed. After conversion, please click the 'Converted' > 'Open Folder' icon to locate all plain Tidal files.
- Video Guide. How to Use AudFree Tidable for Downloading Tidal Music
- Please watch a short but helpful video to learn how to use the AudFree Tidable. You will find it is very easy to download Tidal audio for playing on Chromecast devices.
To download Tidal music for Chromecast, you can also use AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder to help you. It can download songs from Tidal in Max quality. Besides, it supports downloading music from Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc. for playing on Chromecast easily.
How to Play Tidal Music on Chromecast/Chromecast Audio Offline
To play Tidal HiFi or Hi-res downloads on smart speakers/TVs from Chromecast, there are two methods you can choose: respectively uploading converted Tidal songs to YouTube Music or to Plex. Here are the simple guides below:
View also: How to Download Tidal HiRes Music
Method 1: Cast Tidal to Chromecast via YouTube Music
Step 1. Navigate to music.youtube.com and tap the top-left 'profile photo'. From the drop-down menu, select 'Upload music'. Then Finder or Windows Explorer will launch automatically.
Step 2. Choose the converted Tidal music from them and then hit the 'Open' button. Afterward, play one of the uploaded music on 'Library' > 'SONGS' > 'Uploads' and click the 'Cast' button to select the Chromecast device you want. After that, you can cast Tidal to smart TVs and Android or iOS devices without any problem.
Method 2: Make Tidal Cast to Chromecast via Plex
Step 1. You can download Plex Media Player on your computer and log in to your Plex account. After that, please click the 'Add Library' > 'Music' > 'Browse from media folder' to add Tidal songs to Plex.
Step 2. Now, there is a 'Cast' button in the Plex app and it will let you to stream Tidal songs to Chromecast for playing.
Part 4. How to Fix Tidal Chromecast Not Working Issue
In this part, let's get started troubleshooting the Tidal Chromecast not working/not connecting issue. You can fix the problem with the following solutions.
1. Check Network Connection: The Chromecast device and the device running Tidal must be connected to the same WiFi network.
2. Check Your Chromecast Devices: To avoid Chromecast Tidal integration not working, obviously, Chromecast shouldn't be too far away. Besides, please make sure that other music streams can work well with Chromecast.
3. Clear App Cache: Go to Tidal Settings > My Content and choose Clear Cache to refresh the connection list.
4. Check Your Tidal: Try to uninstall and reinstall the Tidal app to see whether it works. Also, verify that your Tidal subscription is active and there are no issues with your account.
5. Reconnect Chromecast: Open the Google Home app on your mobile device. Go to the 'Devices' tab and select your Chromecast device. Tap the 'Settings' > 'Forget Device' icon. Set up your Chromecast device again by following the on-screen instructions.
See also: How to Play Tidal on Google Home
6. Reboot Chromecast: Open the Google Home app, long-press your Chromecast device tile, and tap Settings (gear icon). Select the three dots menu and tap Reboot. After 60 seconds, the Tidal "Cast" icon should reappear as the discovery protocols refresh.
Part 5. FAQs about Tidal on Chromecast
Tidal Connect vs Google Cast: Is Tidal Connect Better than Google Cast?
Yes. Tidal Connect serves as a wireless way to stream the catalog of Tidal on other compatible players or devices directly from Tidal's servers. In terms of better sound quality, Tidal Connect does well. It streams music at 24-bit/192kHz. It features playing Tidal Dolby Atmos on other devices, which Chromecast cannot. It also allows you to take phone calls or watch videos on your phone without interrupting the music.
Google Cast can also wirelessly stream Tidal music but in 24-bit/96kHz sound quality compared with Tidal Connect. If you want to play Tidal music in Dolby Atmos, you can use an extra third-party player or streamer to do that.
View also: Best Tidal Streamers
How to Fix Can't Cast Tidal Master Quality to Chromecast Audio?
Tidal doesn't support the Master quality now. Instead of it, you can get HiRes FLAC audio. You no longer need a specialized MQA-enabled DAC for casting; any device that supports FLAC will now play Tidal's highest quality.
FYI: Tidal Sound Quality
View also: How to Download Tidal MQA Files on Desktop/Mobile
Is Chromecast Or Chromecast Audio Better for Casting Tidal?
No. For pure music quality, the legacy Chromecast Audio is superior because it features a 3.5mm optical/analog output designed for HiFi systems, supporting up to 24-bit/96kHz lossless audio. Standard Chromecast devices (like the Google TV Streamer) primarily use HDMI, which often subjects the audio to "resampling" by your TV's hardware, potentially degrading the sound.
Does Casting Tidal to Chromecast Drain My Phone's Battery?
Yes. If you use standard Google Cast, your phone is responsible for maintaining the stream, which will consume some battery. Yet, if you use Tidal Connect, the battery drain is negligible, as the playback hardware takes over the heavy lifting of streaming from the cloud.
Can I Cast Tidal to a Chromecast from My Apple Watch?
No, you can't directly cast from the Apple Watch to a Chromecast. You can use the Apple Watch to control the volume and tracks of a session already initiated on your iPhone. But the Tidal and the Chromecast connection must happen on a mobile device or computer.
View also: How to Play Tidal on Apple Watch
Part 6. In Conclusion
Now, you can find 3 solutions to cast Tidal to Chromecast. You can choose the easiest way by using Google Cast or Tidal Connect to stream music. If you want the highest quality streaming offline, the best means is to use the AudFree Tidal Music Converter. This tool helps you download 100% original Tidal Hi-Res music to Chromecast-supported formats. You can play Tidal on Chromecast devices or other devices you want directly with Tidal ads blocked. Give it a shot!
Miley Swift
Staff Editor
