Want to listen to Tidal music with AirPods? It is easy. You can just play Tidal on AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max by pairing them with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android phone and choose your earphones as the audio output.
In this guide, we will show you the detailed steps on how to connect them. Also, we will guide you how to improve audio quality, how to fix common issues, and how to save Tidal music as local audio files for offline playback with AirPods anytime and anywhere.
Part 1. How to Listen to Tidal on AirPods Through Multiple Devices
Tidal works with AirPods on both Apple and non-Apple devices, so you can listen to Tidal music directly on AirPods Pro or Max. But it requires a Tidal subscription. To play Tidal music on AirPods, you need to connect your earbuds to those devices beforehand. Here are step-by-step instructions as follows.
On iPhone/iPad
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad, and enable the Bluetooth feature.
Step 2. Keep your iOS device unlocked and go back to the Home screen.
Step 3. Put both AirPods inside the charging case and keep the case open. Then place the case near your iOS device.
For the current AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 models, Apple instructs users to open the lid while the earbuds are inside the case, hold the case near the device, and double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
For AirPods Max users, please keep both AirPods out of the charging case. Then hold the noise button on AirPods Max until the status light turns white.
Earlier AirPods models and the AirPods Pro 1 and 2 use the setup button on the back of the charging case.
Step 4. A prompt will pull up like the picture displays. Click the 'Connect' button to pair them. Afterward, open the Tidal app, play a song and you can cast Tidal music on your earbuds.
On Mac
To ensure the compatibility of AirPods and Mac, here are some system-related requirements:
1) AirPods (2nd generation): macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later
2) AirPods Pro (1st generation): macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later
3) AirPods (3rd generation): macOS Monterey or later
4) AirPods Pro (2nd generation): the latest version of macOS
Then you can link the earbuds and Mac according to the below steps:
Step 1. On Mac, go to System Preferences by clicking the top Apple menu.
Step 2. Choose Bluetooth from the right sidebar and turn on it.
Step 3. Keep both earbuds in the case. Then open the lid.
Step 4. Hold the setup button located on the charging case's back. Then press and hold it if the status light turns white.
Step 5. Then your earphone model will show on the device list. Choose it and tap on 'Connect' to pair them and start to play Tidal on Mac from the app and listen to Tidal music with your earphones.
If you frequently use Tidal on your Mac and iPhone and have compatible AirPods connected to the same Apple account, they can automatically switch between Apple devices that support this feature.
On Android and Other Non-Apple Devices
Also, Android and other non-Apple Bluetooth devices are compatible with AirPods. To pair them with your AirPods, you can refer to the following steps:
Step 1. Go to Settings on your Android or other non-Apple device, and turn on the Bluetooth. Then go to 'Connected Devices' > 'Pair new device'.
Step 2. For AirPods Pro, please place them into the charging case and open the lid. Then press and hold the setup button on the case's back till the lights become white. For AirPods Max, please keep them out of the case, press and hold the noise control button for 5 seconds till the lights become white.
Step 3. Once your AirPods display on the device list, please choose it and click the 'Pair' button. Now, you can stream Tidal music via Bluetooth on those devices.
Part 2. How to Get Better Tidal Sound Quality on AirPods
While listening to Tidal music on AirPods, you may want to get the highest quality. Now, in this part, we will show you tips how to get better Tidal sound quality on AirPods.
1. Choose High or Max Quality on Tidal (For AirPods Max Users Only)
Tidal designates "Max" as High-Resolution (HiRes) FLAC, with file specifications reaching up to 24-bit/192 kHz, while "High" uses the lossless 16-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC format. So, you can change the streaming quality on Tidal to get better quality.
First, you must purchase the official Apple Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable, then connect it with the DAC's audio output port and your AirPods Max. After that, go to the Setting section in the Tidal app, then choose Audio & Playback and select the output quality. Choose High if you want lossless CD-quality playback from Tidal. Choose Max if you want Tidal's highest stereo quality.
However, choosing the Max does not mean that all AirPods configurations can transmit the original 24-bit/192 kHz audio source without loss. The ultimate listening experience also depends on the specific devices and connection methods used between Tidal and the AirPods.
2. Enable Dolby Atmos on Tidal
Open Tidal mobile app, go to Settings > Audio & Playback, find the Dolby Atmos option and enable it. Then play a track with a Dolby Atmos version and check the playback information on the Now Playing screen.
On an iOS device, the iPhone lock screen will show STEREO while you are playing Tidal music with AirPods. Tidal explained that the Dolby Atmos badge displayed on the iOS lock screen is associated with Apple Music. For Tidal, tracks that support Dolby Atmos display the corresponding indicator on the "Now Playing" screen within the Tidal app.
Part 3. How to Fix Tidal on AirPods Common Issues
Sometimes, even though your AirPods are successfully paired, Tidal may still fail to play audio through them. You can check the issues and solutions below.
Problem 1: Tidal Won't Play Through AirPods
Fix: First, please check whether your AirPods are selected as the current audio output device. If another output device is selected, Tidal may continue to play audio through your phone, tablet, or computer speakers even if your AirPods are connected. Please select your AirPods as the output device and try playing the track again.
Problem 2: AirPods Are Connected But Tidal Has No Sound
Fix: Try disconnecting and reconnecting your AirPods. Check your device's volume settings. Ensure Tidal is not muted. Close and reopen Tidal. Test other apps using the same pair of AirPods. If there is no sound in other apps either, the issue likely lies with the AirPods, the Bluetooth connection, or your device's audio settings, rather than with Tidal itself.
Problem 3: Tidal Doesn't Recognize My AirPods
Fix: First, check the Bluetooth is enabled. Also, make sure the AirPods have sufficient battery. If not, put the AirPods back into their case. Then re-enter pairing mode and try to pair the AirPods again.
The current AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 enter pairing mode by double-tapping the front of the charging case, whereas earlier models use a setup button.
Part 4. How to Keep Tidal Music as Local Audio Files for AirPods
For users who want to listen to Tidal music on AirPods offline to save mobile data, you can download music from Tidal directly for offline playback. However, you can only play these Tidal downloads within the Tidal app as they are protected. You can't play them via other media player.
Therefore, you can download Tidal lossless protected FLAC or WAV audio to the FLAC format with a professional tool. When it comes to this, AudFree Tidal Music Converter can be taken priority. This sought-after gadget works to download and convert all content from Tidal into local files in various formats. Apart from FLAC format, it also supports Lossless, MP3, AIFF, WAV, M4A, and M4B, which allows you to play Tidal on all AirPods-enabled devices and other platforms forever.
It is worth mentioning that, with expert conversion technology, AudFree Tidal Converter is capable of keeping lossless audio quality and original metadata info, including ID3 tags after conversion. Thus, you needn't worry about the music quality when you put the converted Tidal music on AirPods.
AudFree Tidal Music Converter
- Download Tidal HiFi, Max audio as local files at 37X faster speed
- Convert Tidal music to MP3, FLAC, or other AirPods-supported formats
- Keep original audio quality and full ID3 tags
- Support playing Tidal music on AirPods via without Tidal subscriptions
AudFree Tidal Music Converter is available on both Windows and Mac. You can install it on your computer and then look into the following steps to download your favorite HiFi or Max Tidal songs to FLAC format for playing on AirPods losslessly.
- Step 1. Load Tidal Playlists to AudFree Tidal Music Converter
- Launch AudFree Tidal Music Converter on your computer. To add Tidal songs to this all-in-one converter quickly, you can search for the Tidal playlists or songs, click '+' > 'Add to list' to add them.
- Step 2. Customize Tidal Music Output Settings as AirPods-supported Format
- Once added, please head over to the top-right toolbar looking like three horizontal lines on the Tidal downloader. From the pull-down menu, choose 'Preferences' > 'Conversion' where you can select the output format of Tidal tracks as FLAC. Moreover, you can opt to convert Tidal music to MP3 which is also compatible with AirPods. It also empowers you to personalize the bitrate and sample rate to keep the original audio quality for converted Tidal music. It supports up to 32-bit music quality. And you can select a stereo audio channel to enjoy Tidal Dolby Atmos and Tidal 360 Reality Audio on AirPods Pro or Max even after converting.
- Step 3. Export Tidal Music to FLAC Files for AirPods Losslessly
- Just hit the large 'Convert' button in the lower-right corner of 'Converting' to kick off the conversion process. Then this excellent Tidal downloader will export added Tidal playlists to FLAC in batches and save them to your computer's local folder. By touching the bottom 'Converted' icon labeled with a red spot, you can locate your Tidal downloads. After that, you can listen to the downloaded Tidal FLAC audio or your AirPods for a better sound experience.
AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder also can help you download music from Tidal for use on AirPods and other devices offline in high quality. In addition, it supports to download songs, podcasts, audiobooks, radio, etc. from Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audible, Qobuz, SoundCloud, Pandora and so on.
Part 5. Conclusion
With a Tidal subscription, you can listen to Tidal audio on your AirPods via different devices. However, if you want to play Tidal music offline with AirPods forever, AudFree Tidal Music Converter provides allows you to download those Tidal songs for playback on all AirPods-enabled devices and other players anytime without restrictions. This professional tool endows you with the ability to download Tidal HiRes and HiFi music to MP3, FLAC, and other compatible formats for better sound on AirPods.
Staff Editor
