Media & Entertainment

TIDAL

TIDAL is a subscription music streaming application for listening to albums, discovering artists, and organizing playlists, with lossless and high-resolution audio playback available through its Windows desktop client.

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✓ Software download·Commercial·Updated September 11, 2026
DeveloperTIDAL Music AS
LicenseCommercial
File size185.6 MB
LanguageEnglish
Downloads50,000

High Fidelity Music on Your Desktop

TIDAL is a subscription music streaming service whose Windows application provides access to its catalog, saved favorites, and listening recommendations. It serves listeners who want on-demand albums and tracks alongside lossless audio options, without building a collection of downloaded music files. You can search for a specific release, explore curated selections, or organize discoveries into personal playlists for later listening. The desktop interface brings those activities together with playback settings and audio output selection. A subscription provides access to the streaming catalog, while available trials let eligible users evaluate the service. Actual sound quality depends on the recording supplied and your playback setup.

The Windows application requires Windows 10 or later, and high-resolution listening benefits from compatible audio hardware and a stable connection. Its streaming settings let you balance audio quality against data consumption rather than using the same format in every situation. Listeners using Kodi for a personal media library may consider this service when they want a separate subscription music catalog. TIDAL supports HiRes FLAC on desktop, but selecting the highest quality setting cannot create a higher-resolution version of a recording. A connected digital-to-analog converter must support the desired format to reproduce it at that resolution. Device integrations also differ in the formats they accept.

Benefits of Using TIDAL

TIDAL reduces the effort of finding music worth keeping in your listening routine while giving you control over how it reaches your headphones or speakers. You can explore an unfamiliar artist through complete releases, then keep the tracks that matter in your collection instead of maintaining separate notes or repeatedly searching for them. Recommendations become more useful as your listening activity gives the service a clearer picture of your preferences. For focused album listening, the subscription's ad-free playback avoids advertising breaks between selections. At a desk, configurable audio output lets the application fit an existing listening setup, including compatible external equipment. Lower quality settings provide a practical alternative when connection capacity matters more than maximum resolution. The result is a reusable listening workflow: discover music, retain useful selections, and return to them through an organized account. Catalog access remains tied to the service, so saving a favorite should not be confused with purchasing a permanent audio file.

TIDAL features

Key capabilities and highlights.

Feature 1

Lossless Audio Streaming

Stream recordings in FLAC, with HiRes FLAC reaching up to 24-bit, 192 kHz when the source supports it. TIDAL also offers lower quality settings for reduced data use. This lets you choose a suitable balance for the connection and audio equipment rather than assuming every track has identical specifications.

Feature 2

Exclusive Audio Output

Exclusive Mode gives the desktop application control of the selected audio device, supporting a dedicated listening setup with a connected DAC. Volume is normally adjusted within the app in this mode. An additional Force Volume option keeps application volume at maximum so external equipment can handle the listening level.

Feature 3

Personalized Listening Mixes

My Mix in TIDAL combines recent favorites with recommendations informed by listening activity and saved music. Multiple mixes can reflect different styles, and their selections evolve as listening patterns change. You can save a useful mix as a playlist, making it easier to retain a particular selection before future recommendations replace it.

Feature 4

Custom Playlist Creation

Create named playlists in TIDAL's desktop application and add tracks found through search. An optional description can explain the selection's purpose, such as a particular mood or listening session. This gives you a reusable grouping for chosen songs instead of assembling the same set manually each time you listen.

Feature 5

Saved Music Collection

Save favorite tracks, albums, artists, and playlists in TIDAL to keep frequently used music within reach. The collection provides a practical starting point when you already know what you want to hear. It also supplies preference information used by personalized recommendations, connecting deliberate selections with the service's broader music discovery workflow.

Feature 6

Synchronized Song Lyrics

Read lyrics from the Now Playing screen on desktop, with lines highlighted in time with the recording. You can also scroll to inspect another passage without waiting for playback to reach it. Availability depends on the lyrics provider's coverage, so this view will not appear for every song.

Feature 7

Connected Speaker Playback

TIDAL Connect lets you select compatible playback equipment from the app and stream music directly from the cloud to that device. This keeps browsing and playback selection in one interface while using supported speakers or network audio components. Available formats depend on the capabilities of the chosen receiving device.

Feature 8

Listening History Mixes

TIDAL's History Mixes collect your most played songs across monthly, yearly, and all-time views. Their length depends on the period and your listening activity. You can turn a history mix into a playlist or add its contents to an existing one, making past favorites easier to revisit without reconstructing them manually.

Old versions

Browse historical releases and previous builds.

No old versions have been added yet.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about TIDAL.

Is TIDAL free to use?

Full access to the subscription streaming catalog requires a paid plan or an eligible trial. The installer itself is free to download. Trial availability, plan options, and billing terms depend on the offer and region. [Official service and plan information](https://tidal.com/about).

Which Windows versions are supported?

The official download page lists Windows 10 or later. The supplied installer is for the Windows application; separate downloads are available for other supported operating systems. [Official Windows download requirements](https://offer.tidal.com/download).

Why does Max quality not always play at 192 kHz?

Max selects the best available source for that recording. If HiRes FLAC is unavailable, playback falls back to FLAC or compressed AAC. The recording's delivered format and your playback equipment determine the achievable resolution. [Official audio format explanation](https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/17412130162961-HiRes-FLAC-audio).

Why is My Mix missing on a new account?

Personalized mixes need listening activity before they can be generated. Listen to music and save selections to your collection so the service can learn your preferences. The support documentation says mixes commonly begin appearing after a day or two of streaming, though this is not a guaranteed deadline. [My Mix documentation](https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000702697-My-Mix).

How do I control volume in Exclusive Mode?

Adjust volume inside the application when Exclusive Mode controls your audio device. If Force Volume is enabled, application volume stays at maximum and you control the level using your DAC, speakers, or other external equipment. [Exclusive Mode documentation](https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/28548110049681-Exclusive-Mode).

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TIDAL is a subscription music streaming application for listening to albums, discovering artists, and organizing playlists, with lossless and high-resolution audio playback available through its Windows desktop client.