Troubleshooting: Tidal Stops Playing When Screen Is Off

Part 1. Tidal Stops Playing When Screen Is Off - Potential Reasons

First, let's figure out the underlying factors that trigger the 'Tidal stops playing when the screen is off' issue. We have summarized several common reasons under the feedback of Tidal users. Check your Tidal app or device while reading.

1.1 Tidal Background Activity Is Restricted

Why does Tidal keep stopping when you lock your device screen? Most smartphones or desktops embrace a feature to restrict the background activity of Tidal if you are keeping your device locked or using another app. This feature aims to save the battery of your mobiles or desktops. However, it will hold Tidal's functioning back with the limitation. It is the main reason behind Tidal music playback stopping/pausing when devices lock.

1.2 Power Saving Mode Is Enabled

Power saving mode should also be responsible for the 'Tidal only plays when app is open' problem. It will serve to keep the battery healthy after phones or computers are locked. But simultaneously, it reduces the battery power supply to Tidal in the background. When the screen of your iPhone or Android even your computer turns off, there is a situation in which Tidal keeps pausing.

1.3 Music Widget Is Interruptedand

A majority of phones like Samsung offer multiple widgets on the locked screen including weather, music, and alarm. Sometimes, other third-party apps will interfere with the running of the music widget. And then Tidal music stops playing when the device screen locks.

1.4 Sleep Mode Is Activated

If you set Tidal sleep mode on your device, particularly on your desktop, you will get stuck in the 'Tidal stops playing when the screen is off' trouble. Because sleep mode terminates the background function of apps including Tidal. It also is a source resulting in that Tidal keeps cutting out or the Tidal app stops playing.

1.5 Battery Optimization Mode Is On

Many smartphones come with a built-in battery-optimizing feature. It is personalized battery profiles on your device which will work to optimize battery usage by stopping apps' background running. So battery-optimized mode is a culprit to pause Tidal playback when devices lock as well.

1.6 Activated Data Saver Mode

When the device screen is off, the data saver mode will automatically limit or even end the data usage of Tidal and hamper its playing.

1.7 Generic Reasons

Similar to other Tidal playback errors, some generic reasons play significant roles in the 'Tidal stops playing when the screen is off' matter. For example, network status, crashed Tidal app, outdated Tidal version or device firmware, and corrupted or excessive cache files. These bugs or problems really influence the smooth operation of Tidal.

Part 2. Fix Tidal Stops Playing When Screen Is Off iPhone/Android/PC/Mac - Common Methods

After understanding why Tidal stops playing when the screen is off, we will proceed to talk about how to fix this issue. There are several common solutions below. Please choose the most suitable troubleshooting based on the possible triggering factor existing on your device.

2.1 Allow Background Activity

Allowing the background activity of Tidal should be the first solution to resolve the 'Tidal music stops playing when phone locks' issue. To remove the restriction is quite easy, and you can follow the guide:

Enter into the 'Settings' app, click on 'Apps' > 'Tidal' > 'Battery' > 'Allow background activity' one by one. Then you can activate Tidal background playback when the screen is off.

2.2 Turn Off Power Saving Mode

Disable power saving mode contributes to keeping Tidal music playing when the screen turns off. So please have a try in the following steps:

For Android / iOS:

Get into the 'Settings' app on your phone, and select 'Battery & performance' > 'Battery saver' (also called 'Power saving mode'). Then switch off the right button.

For PC / Mac:

Navigate to 'Setting' on your computer. Select 'System' > 'Battery' > 'Battery saver'. Then select 'Turn battery saver on automatically'.

2.3 Deactivate Widgets

To fix the 'Tidal keeps pausing when the screen is locked' issue, you need to deactivate the music widget from the lock screen settings. Please refer to the following tutorial:

Step 1. On the 'Settings' of your phone, tap on 'Lock Screen' > 'FaceWidgets'.

Step 2. Proceed to toggle off the button next to 'Music'.

2.4 Remove Tidal from Sleeping Apps

To remove Tidal from sleeping apps for smooth playing in the background here is how to operate it:

For Android / iOS:

Step 1. Navigate to the 'Settings' app on your smartphone, then tap 'Device care' > 'Battery'.

Step 2. On the battery section, click 'Background usage limits' > 'Sleeping apps', choose 'Tidal', and hit the 'Remove' button in the bottom right corner.

For PC / Mac:

Step 1. Get into 'Settings' and choose 'System', then tap on 'Power & Sleep'.

Step 2. Shift your gaze to the 'Sleep' section and change the time.

2.5 Disable Battery Optimization

To remove the battery restriction for Tidal for fluent playing when the screen is off, you also need to disable battery optimization.

Step 1. Go to 'Settings' and choose 'Apps'.

Step 2. Click the top three-dot icon. Then choose 'Special Access'.

Step 3. Tap on 'Optimize battery usage' and scroll to 'Tidal'. Toggle off the right button to gray.

2.6 Adjust the Data Saver Settings

Same as allowing background activity, you also need to adjust the data saver setting to ensure the background data usage for proper Tidal running.

Step 1. Get into 'Settings' and select Apps.

Step 2. Select the 'Tidal' app. Tap 'Mobile data'.

Step 3. Switch on the button near 'Allow background data usage'.

2.7 Check Network Status

To fix the issue of Tidal stops playing when screen is off Android or iPhone, you can check the network status including wireless data and VPN. Then please adjust the 'Settings' app on your device. Here are a few steps you can take:

Step 1. Go to your 'Settings' app and locate and tap 'Tidal'.

Step 2. On a new window, please tap 'Wireless Data' to choose 'WLAN & Cellular Data'.

2.8 Clear Tidal Cache Files

Sometimes, excessive cache files from Tidal also make Tidal stop playing. If you're not sure whether your Tidal cache is the core reason for this issue or not, please follow our steps to check it out.

On iPhone / Android

To deal with Tidal stops playing when the screen is off iPhone, tap 'Settings' > 'General' > 'iPhone Storage' > 'Tidal' to switch on the 'Offload App' button.

On Android devices, you should press the Tidal icon on the Android device screen and keep waiting for seconds. When you see a widget, tap the 'i' icon to select 'Storage & cache' > 'Clear cache'.

On Windows / Mac

If you use a Windows computer, please click the 'three lines' icon from the top-left corner. Then, hit 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting' > 'Clear Cache'.

On Mac

On your Mac, launch the Tidal Mac app and click 'Preference' > 'Cache' > 'Clear Cache'.

2.9 Update Tidal or Device Software

You also can try to update your device or app version to resolve Tidal only plays when app is open because an outdated app or device may cause unpredictable questions.

Simply go to 'App Store' and find Tidal to 'Update' on your iPhone. Similarly, go to 'Google Play Store' to search for Tidal to tap 'Update'.

Also, Navigate to 'Settings' on your mobile phone and hit 'Software update' > 'Download and install' to update your device system.

2.10 Restart the Tidal App

Why does my Tidal app keep stopping instead of the Tidal web player? If you cannot settle the 'Tidal app stops playing' issue, why not close and start the app again?

Just swipe up your home screen from the bottom to the top to close Tidal and reopen it on your phone. Besides, Android device has a Tidal 'force stop' function. Long-press the Tidal app on your Android screen and then tap 'i' > 'Force stop'.

Note:

Aside from those methods mentioned above, reinstalling the Tidal app also is a solution to solve such playback issues like 'Tidal stops playing when the screen is off'. It can regularly support the smooth functioning of Tidal and protect your Tidal app and device from viruses and bugs.

See also: Easy Ways to Fix Tidal Not Playing Music Issues

Part 3. Fix Tidal Music Stops Playing When Phone Locks - Advanced Way

If the common methods are to no avail, you needn't worry a lot because we have prepared an advanced way to keep Tidal music playing when the screen turns off. All you need is only third-party Tidal music converting tool. Here, we want to introduce AudFree Tidal Music Converter to you.

As a one-stop music converter with powerful features, it works to download and convert Tidal HiFi and HiFi Plus music to local files. Besides, it converts Tidal music to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, M4A, and M4B.

With an intuitive interface and simple steps, you can convert all types of music from Tidal to local files instead of temporary cache files. This smart tool supports you to play Tidal downloaded content on all devices and players without playback issues. With it, you won't face the 'Tidal stops playing when screen is off' matter forever when playing Tidal music offline at any time.

How to Use AudFree Tidal Music Converter

Step 1Add Tidal Audio to AudFree Tidal Music Converter:

Once the AudFree Tidal Music Converter is installed successfully, double-click it to launch and Tidal will be launched at the same time. Copy and paste the URL link of Tidal music from the Tidal app to the converter. Then tap the '+' icon in the upper-right corner. Alternatively, drag songs/playlists from Tidal and drop them into the converter directly.

Step 2Personalize Output Audio Format and Parameters for Tidal Music:

Drop down the upper-right menu toolbar. Click 'Preference' and 'Convert'. You can choose to convert Tidal audio into FLAC, MP3, and other popular output audio formats. And you can set the bit rate, sample rate, audio channels, and other parameters at will. If you want to get extremely high-quality sound, please customize the Tidal audio output format as FLAC or WAV and select the bit depth as 24-bit.

Step 3Begin to Convert Tidal Music as Local Files

Just hit the 'Convert' button and wait a while, the Tidal audio will be converted and saved into the target folder which is located in the lower left corner. Then, hit the bottom 'Converted History' section with a red badge and you can find the downloaded Tidal music. Finally, you are able to transfer the local Tidal audio to any other device or player. In this way, you can prevent the 'Tidal only plays when app is open' trouble.

Part 4. In Conclusion

In this post, we list the underlying factors behind the 'Tidal stops playing when screen is off' issue. We also provide relevant solutions to solve it. Most importantly, we present the advanced fix: use AudFree Tidal Music Converter to settle the issue forever. You can preserve the Tidal downloads forever and play Tidal on multiple devices. This way can avoid annoying playback pauses after device's screen locks.