Tidal not playing songs. It either acts like it’s loading songs but doesn’t play them or it looks like it’s playing the song but it won’t. Spotify and other apps and websites sound are working perfectly and I’ve tried restarting and clearing the Tidal cache, but none of them worked. Any advice?
Tidal is a popular digital music streaming platform that allows users to enjoy millions of soundtracks. It is also the first company to provide high-fidelity sound. For audiophiles, Tidal is the best option. However, it’s also possible to come across some problems while using it. Do you have trouble with Tidal not playing music as well? You are not alone. Many users experience playback issues, whether it’s constant buffering, songs failing to load, or no sound playing. Fortunately, these problems are usually easy to fix with a few quick adjustments.
In this post, we will explore the reasons behind the Tidal not playing music issue and walk you through the best 13 solutions that will make Tidal run normally in no time. Whether the issue is with your device, internet connection, or app settings, we’ve got you covered. Just take a few minutes in this post, and you can get your problem fixed and even learn the best way to enjoy Tidal offline without interruptions and limitations. Now, let’s dive in and get your Tidal music playing smoothly again.
Part 1. Why Is My Tidal Music Not Playing?
Ever been all set to jam to your favorite tunes on Tidal, only to find it won’t play? Frustrating, right? Let’s dive into the common culprits behind Tidal playback issues and how you can fix them.
Reason 1. Tidal Service Stops. The Tidal service is not perfect all the time. You may encounter an outage or some other bugs that prevent you from playing Tidal music properly.
Reason 2. Poor Network Connection. Online music streaming apps like Tidal largely rely on your network. If you’re under a poor or unstable network, the Tidal app won’t stream.
Reason 3. Outdated Apps or Devices. Apps need updates to fix issues and remove bugs or mistakes that might stop you from using the app very well. Don’t miss the updates!
Reason 4. Shortage of Storage Space. When your device is running out of storage space, it is urgent to remove some caches or unnecessary files to free up more storage space.
Reason 5. Output Audio Speaker Failure. Sometimes we use speakers to play Tidal music louder and share music with more people, the connection failure or something related to both apps leads to Tidal not playing songs.
Reason 6. Corrupted Files or Download Error. If you don’t manage to load or download some songs, you may not play them. And files can be corrupted and no longer available.
Part 2. How to Fix Tidal Not Playing Music
Experiencing playing issues with the Tidal app or web player is frustrating, especially when you are ready to enjoy your favorite tracks. While the reasons behind playback problems can vary, the good news is that most issues can be resolved fairly easily. You can try the feasible methods in this part to get back to uninterrupted listening. If you think trying them one by one is a little bit complicated, you can jump to Part 5 where you can get the ultimate fix to all Tidal issues. It can help you solve your issue quickly and effectively.
Solution 1. Check Tidal Service Status
Before diving into other troubleshooting methods, it’s a great choice to check the Tidal service status. Tidal’s official social media channels or some third-party websites will provide updates on service status. You can visit them to check if there is a bug or outage on the Tidal service. If you find that there is no service disruption and the Tidal not playing issue still exists, you should try the following solutions to resolve it.
Solution 2. Check Your Internet Connection
Just like other music streaming services, Tidal has a high requirement for the stability and speed of your Internet connection. One possible reason why you can not play Tidal music is that there are lagging or other problems on the network, especially when you want to play high-fidelity music. Therefore, you’d better check your WiFi and ensure it is stable enough to stream Tidal music. When there is something wrong with your network, try to connect your device to another WiFi or simply use your cellular data instead. According to many users from the Reddit community, switching to cellular data is helpful when you are facing some problems with the Tidal app.
Solution 3. Change Streaming Quality
Tidal allows you to adjust the streaming quality within the app. By default, Tidal loads music tracks or video data with the highest quality in order to offer you the best listening service, but that costs a large storage space at the same time. You can change the download settings to avoid this.
Step 1. Open the Tidal app on your Windows PC and click the three-dot icon from the left side menu.
Step 2. Click Settings to enter and select the Streaming section from the window.
Step 3. Here you can adjust the streaming quality on your Tidal desktop app.
Solution 4. Force Close and Restart Tidal
Sometimes, Tidal’s playback issues can be traced back to temporary glitches in the app itself. When this happens, a simple restart might be all it takes to fix the problem. Force closing and restarting the Tidal app helps to clear any bugs or temporary issues that may be causing it to malfunction.
To force close the Tidal app on your device, simply swipe it away from your recent apps list or use your device’s task manager to completely shut it down. Once the app is closed, wait for at least 30 seconds before reopening it. This will give your device a fresh start, which can often resolve issues like buffering, songs not loading, or the app freezing. After restarting Tidal, try playing a track again to see if the issue is resolved. It’s a quick fix that can save you time.
Solution 5. Check Apple ID Registration
If you use Apple ID to log into the Tidal app and receive a message that says “Service Unavailable” error, then this might be the problematic issue. You can check your Apple ID and disconnect it to resolve this error. Try these steps:
On iPhone:
Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap the Apple profile in the first place.
Step 2. On the detail page, go to Password & Security, then tap Apps Using Apple ID.
Step 3. In the app list, find the Tidal app and tap it.
Step 4. Select the Stop using Apple ID option and tap Stop using to confirm your setup.
On Mac:
Step 1. Go to the Apple ID online page and choose Security.
Step 2. Select APPS & WEBSITES USING APPLE ID > Manage apps & websites.
Step 3. Here you can find the Tidal app and click on Stop Using Apple ID to finish.
Solution 6. Update the Tidal App
If you are trapped in Tidal songs not playing issue on mobile devices, another possible method available for you is to simply update the Tidal mobile app to the latest version. To check what version your app is, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for Tidal, if there is an update option, then you should update your Tidal app first.
Solution 7. Reinstall Tidal from Another Source
If there is no new version, another effective troubleshooting step is to perform a clean reinstall on your mobile phone. This process involves completely removing the app from your device and then reinstalling it fresh. After deleting the app, you can restart your device. This helps ensure that any residual files or processes related to the app are cleared from memory.
On iOS:
Step 1. Press and long-hold the Tidal icon from your mobile phone’s Home screen.
Step 2. In the drop-down menu, select Remove App and tap Remove to confirm. After that, go to your App Store to download the app again.
On Android:
Step 1. Press and long-hold the Tidal app icon from your Home screen on Android devices and tap the first option to enter the App Info page.
Step 2. Here you can select the Uninstall button to delete the Tidal app. Then go to Google Play Store to download the app again.
Solution 8. Clear Tidal Cache
Overwhelming cache data on your device can be one culprit of your Tidal playing issue. It’s always a good idea to clear the cache data regularly. Tidal does not offer you the option to clear the cache on mobile phones directly, but we can seek approaches to do this manually. Here is how to clean up Tidal cache files on Android and iPhone devices:
On Android:
Step 1. On the Home screen of your Android phone, press and hold the Tidal app icon until a menu appears.
Step 2. Tap the icon with i to enter the app’s settings. Or you can go to Settings > Apps > Tidal to set up, too.
Step 3. On the detail page, tap Storage & cache and then Clear cache.
On iPhone:
Step 1. Navigate to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2. Select General > iPhone Storage.
Step 3. Then, you need to scroll down to find Tidal from all the apps.
Step 4. Once done, tap it and choose Offload App.
On computer:
Step 1. Run the Tidal app on your Windows or Mac. Then click the three horizontal lines icon at the top left corner.
Step 2. Select Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache.
Part 3. How to Fix Tidal Downloaded Music Not Playing
Except for online music, some users found that Tidal can’t play the downloaded music as well. If you find your downloads can’t be played, here are some potential fixes to give you a hand.
Fix 1. Free up Device Storage
Clearing the unnecessary files on your current devices is essential to free up more storage space. So that to allow work well. If you’re experiencing a storage shortage on your mobile device, try this method!
On iPhone:
Step 1. Open Settings and navigate to General > iPhone Storage.
Step 2. Here you can see all your downloads and apps as well as how much space you left. Verify if you have enough space for running Spotify. If not, delete some videos, files, etc that you don’t need to free up more space.
On Android:
Step 1. Go to Settings and select Storage.
Step 2. On the next page, you can see your space clearly. Make sure you have enough space to run the Spotify app. If not, delete some.
Fix 2. Log out and Log Back in
The failure of the synchronization between the Tidal app and your account information can lead to a music-playing issue. This lack of synchronization can stem from a range of factors, including network connectivity issues, server maintenance on Tidal’s end, or glitches in the app itself. To refresh and make the synchronization again, you can try to log out. Then, wait for a while to log back in.
• On mobile phones
Step 1. Open the Tidal app on your smartphone and head to the My collection tab.
Step 2. Tap Settings > Log out.
• On computer
Step 1. Go to the Tidal app on your desktop.
Step 2. Click the three dots icon next to your user name, then choose Log out.
Fix 3. Delete and Re-download the Downloaded Music
One possible reason why Tidal not playing downloaded music is that your downloaded Tidal music files are corrupted. In this case, you will need to delete and re-download them so as to play them normally.
Step 1. Fire up the Tidal app and tap My collection at the bottom toolbar.
Step 2. Select Downloaded and find the song that can not be played anymore.
Step 3. Tap the three dots icon next to the song and choose Delete.
Step 4. Now you can go to the Tidal library and re-download this song again.
Part 4. How to Fix Tidal No Sound Is Playing
The issue of Tidal not playing music encompasses various scenarios. Among them, one particular situation is that the music appears to be playing but no sound is audible. At this time, you can try the solutions in this part to restore the music playback from the Tidal app.
1. Ensure the volume is tuned up and your device is not silenced, especially when you’re using an output audio speaker such as Echo or Bluetooth speaker, etc. Verify that your device is connected properly and that Tidal is outputting sound to the right device.
2. For users who are using the Tidal Connect, you need to tap the device icon and check the Sound Output selected is correct.
3. Update the sound driver of your device.
4. Try another music streaming services or play Tidal on a different output to identify where the issue comes from.
5. Make sure you don’t change the app’s audio settings. Tidal allows you to customize the audio quality and output device in its settings, which could affect sound playback.
6. If none of these fixes work, try restarting the app or even your device. This can often clear any temporary software glitches causing the issue.
Part 5. How to Avoid Tidal Not Playing Issues Anymore
It is known that the Tidal music files are all strictly protected by the DRM license, because of which, you can only listen to music on its official app even if you have downloaded it. However, the app can be buggy sometimes, and you will encounter issues like Tidal not playing. How to avoid such a situation? The best way is to download all your favorite Tidal songs as local files. Therefore, you are able to play the downloaded music files on other players or devices and stay away from any issues in the Tidal app. To achieve this goal, you will need to remove the DRM protection via a professional music converter. Here we’d like to recommend the Tunelf Tidal Music Converter.
Tunelf Tidal Music Converter is designed to download Tidal Music without a premium account. It also has the ability to convert Tidal tracks, playlists, and albums to popular audio formats to keep them playable on any other compatible devices forever. The available options include MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, M4A, and M4B. After conversion, you can easily transfer and import the downloaded music files to other players or devices for offline playback.
In addition, the Tunelf software retains the original sound quality so that you don’t need to worry about your listening experience. In general, the Tunelf Tidal Music Converter is a great choice to help you stay away from any issue or problem on the Tidal app. More so, you are able to keep the downloaded music permanently. Simply click the Download button below and you can install it on your desktop easily. It is available on both the Windows and Mac computers.
Key Features of Tunelf Tidal Music Converter
- Download any Tidal content, including songs, albums, playlists, and artists
- Support exporting Tidal music to MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, and M4B
- Preserve a whole set of ID3 tag information in the downloaded Tidal songs
- Handle the conversion of Tidal music up to 5× faster speed and in batch
Part 6. FAQs about Tidal Issues
Q1: How to fix Tidal stops playing when screen is off?
A: If your Tidal app stops playing when your phone screen is off, the most possible reason is related to your phone settings. You need to make sure that low power mode or disable background activity setting is closed. For more helpful solutions, we have prepared this post for you:
Tidal stops playing when screen is off? No worries. This post contains 13 feasible and effective solutions to fix this issue on your phone.
Q2: Why does Tidal keep pausing my music?
A: If Tidal keeps pausing unexpectedly, it might be due to issues with your network connection or your device’s battery-saving settings. Ensure that your Wi-Fi or mobile data is stable, and check if battery-saving modes are disabled.
Q3: Why is Tidal not playing in high quality?
A: If you’re subscribed to Tidal HiFi but still not getting high-quality audio, check your streaming settings. Go to the Settings section on the Tidal app, and select Audio & Playback > Mobile data streaming. Make sure you choice is Max or Master.
Q4: Can I use Tidal offline without a subscription?
A: Offline Mode on the Tidal app is a feature exclusive to Tidal Premium subscribers. However you can enjoy your preferred Tidal songs offline on other players or devices with the help of the Tunelf Tidal Music Converter. It does not require a Tidal subscription to use.
Part 7. Summary
There is a wide range of errors that can result in the Tidal not playing music issue. But it won’t be a big trouble since you can find some powerful solutions in this post. If you want to enjoy Tidal music without problems on the Tidal app, Tunelf Tidal Music Converter is the best choice. It can help you download all your favorite tracks locally and allows you to enjoy them offline seamlessly and uninterruptedly.
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