Warning: TIDAL integration with Plex will be ending on October 28, 2024. We are no longer offering new TIDAL subscriptions billed through Plex. See our forum announcement for more details.
In order to use TIDAL with Plex, you’ll first need a TIDAL subscription. Whether you already have a subscription or are interested in starting a new one, we’ve got you covered.
Transfer an Existing TIDAL Subscription to Plex
Users who already have an existing subscription directly through TIDAL (not through a different partner) have the option of transferring their subscription so that it is billed and managed through Plex, instead of through TIDAL itself. There are benefits to doing so:
- For users who do not currently have a Plex Pass subscription, transferring an existing TIDAL subscription to us will provide the same benefits as if you had started the TIDAL subscription through us (see below).
- If you already have an active Plex Pass subscription, then transferring will give you the TIDAL subscription at a discounted rate, in most cases (again, see below).
If you would like to transfer an existing TIDAL subscription to be billed and managed through Plex:
- Visit our TIDAL transfer page
- Choose the plan that corresponds to the one you already have directly through TIDAL
- When you get redirected to the TIDAL site, sign in with your TIDAL account that has the existing subscription; it will then switch your subscription to be managed through Plex instead
Once you do that, you’ll need to manage your subscription through us (see below) and you’ll be billed through us, rather than through TIDAL itself.
Note: We do not have access to information about existing, in-progress trials from TIDAL, so if your TIDAL account currently has an extended trial offer, you may lose some trial time when transferring. Discounted subscriptions (e.g. a student or military rate) would use our regular subscription rates, if you transfer over.
Tip!: If you already have a Plex Pass subscription and transfer over a TIDAL with DJ Extension plan, it does not “replace” your existing Plex Pass subscription. You maintain your current Plex Pass subscription and then have a second, TIDAL subscription (usually at a discounted rate, compared to what it was through TIDAL itself).
Start a New TIDAL Subscription
For users that are new to TIDAL, you can start a subscription (including a free trial) right through us. Having a TIDAL subscription billed and managed through us (as opposed to elsewhere) does also provide additional Plex-related benefits (see below).
To start a new TIDAL subscription on a free Plex account (or to add one to a Plex account that already has a Plex Pass subscription), you can visit our main TIDAL page. As part of the sign up process, you’ll get redirected to the TIDAL site to create an account there and confirm that you want to link/authorize Plex.
Related Page: TIDAL on Plex
Link to an Existing TIDAL Subscription for Access
If you already have a TIDAL subscription (whether regular or “with DJ Extension”) and simply want to link to it so that your Plex apps have access, you can do that, too.
- Visit your Account page in the web app
- Choose the Other Services link
- Follow the Link your TIDAL account link, which will take you through the TIDAL site to authorize the account linking
In some cases, you may then need to restart your Plex Media Server or client apps to pick up the access change. Otherwise, you can now start taking advantage of access to TIDAL through your Plex apps.
Note: Simply linking to an existing subscription like this lets you access TIDAL content in Plex, but it will not give your account any of the premium Plex features or a Plex Pass subscription that you can enjoy when the TIDAL subscription is managed and billed through Plex.
Managing a TIDAL Subscription Billed Through Plex
After starting a TIDAL subscription through Plex, you can manage that subscription at any time from your account Subscriptions page. There, you can:
- View the status of your subscription
- Edit the subscription billing information
- Upgrade or downgrade the TIDAL plan
- Cancel future renewal for the subscription
When cancelling a TIDAL subscription, that will cancel future renewal. You will retain access to TIDAL features for the remainder of the subscription month.
For existing Plex Pass subscribers who have a TIDAL “add-on” subscription, if you cancel your monthly or yearly Plex Pass subscription, that will also automatically cancel future renewal of the associated TIDAL “add-on” subscription.
Note: If the “Music” source has been disabled in Online Media Sources it may not be listed in the account Subscriptions page. Please ensure that “Music” is enabled there before attempting to modify your subscription.
Related Page: Account Subscriptions page
TIDAL Details & Features
Which TIDAL plans are available?
When purchasing a TIDAL subscription through Plex, you can choose between regular “TIDAL” and “TIDAL with DJ Extension” plans. As TIDAL themselves explain it:
| TIDAL | TIDAL with DJ Extension |
|---|---|
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* These features are available when accessing through TIDAL’s own apps, but are not available for playback through Plex.
Note that there are other differences between the regular and “with DJ Extension” plans when it comes to accessing premium Plex features. More information below.
TIDAL does not currently offer “Family” plans through partners such as Plex. If you transfer an existing “Family” plan from TIDAL themselves to be billed and managed by us, it will be converted to a single-user version of the same tier.
Note: TIDAL subscriptions are recurring and automatically-renewing. TIDAL subscriptions are also nonrefundable.
Related Page: TIDAL: High Fidelity Sound Optimization
What premium Plex features come with TIDAL subscriptions?
When you have a TIDAL bundle subscription billed and managed through Plex (as opposed to purchasing elsewhere such as from TIDAL directly), you’ll gain access to additional premium features when using Plex. These features vary, depending on which plan you choose.
| TIDAL Bundle | TIDAL with DJ Extension and Plex Pass Bundle |
|---|---|
Specific music-related premium features:
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All Plex Pass features!
That includes all features mentioned on the regular TIDAL side as well as other premium features, such as:
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Related Page: Plex Pass
Tip!: These extra premium Plex features only apply when the TIDAL subscription is billed and managed through Plex. They won’t be available if you have a TIDAL subscription billed/managed elsewhere (such as through TIDAL themselves).
What countries are supported?
TIDAL is currently available in over 50 countries (and growing!). We support the same countries.
Related Page: TIDAL – Availability by Country
Are there TIDAL features that Plex doesn’t support?
There are a few TIDAL features that are only available when using official TIDAL apps (or the TIDAL website) and are not available through partners’ apps, such as Plex.
- While TIDAL plans do have access to lossless quality music in Plex, they do not have access to “master-quality” (MQA), Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, or other “HiRes” music when played through Plex.
- You cannot download TIDAL music to Plex mobile apps for TIDAL’s “Offline Mode”. (This also applies to our own Downloads feature; it is not possible to download TIDAL content.)
- You cannot purchase music from TIDAL through Plex.
- For the “TIDAL with DJ Extension” tier, the DJ functionality is not available in Plex.
These features are available when using supported official TIDAL apps directly, but not when accessing TIDAL through partner apps, such as our Plex apps.
What about TIDAL “Family” plans?
We are not currently able to offer “Family” TIDAL plans, sorry. If you already have such a plan through TIDAL, you can link to a different Plex account for each of the available TIDAL members. See the information earlier about linking to an existing TIDAL subscription for access.
What if I already have a Plex Pass subscription?
No problem! You can still sign up for a TIDAL subscription as an “add-on” to your account. See earlier for information on starting a TIDAL subscription.
Tip!: For users in most countries, existing Plex Pass subscribers will receive a discount when starting a TIDAL subscription “add-on”. Such discounts will be automatically applied.
Note: If you’re an existing Plex Pass subscriber and start a TIDAL subscription as an “add-on”, that does mean that you’ll see a payment transaction for the TIDAL subscription that is separate from the transaction for the Plex Pass subscription. Starting a “TIDAL with DJ Extension” add-on plan does not “replace” an existing Plex Pass subscription.
Do I use my Plex account to sign in to TIDAL’s own apps?
No. When you create a TIDAL subscription billed/managed through Plex, part of the process redirects you to TIDAL’s own website. There, you create a new TIDAL account or sign in to an existing one. While the subscription is billed and managed by Plex, on TIDAL’s side, it is associated with the TIDAL account chosen during that process. So, if you wish to use TIDAL’s own apps/website directly to play music, you would do so using that TIDAL account you chose.