TIDAL not working with VPN: 9 potential FIXES

TIDAL allows users to listen to a vast library of tracks and albums, but access is restricted in some countries. If your VPN isn’t working with TIDAL, work your way through our list of easy solutions to solve the problem.

Knowing how to troubleshoot your VPN is important. If your current VPN isn’t hiding your real location, TIDAL could interfere with the server you’re using, so keep scrolling for the details.

Which VPNs work with TIDAL?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Why doesn’t my VPN work with TIDAL?

TIDAL is a music streaming service that is usually only available for people in select countries. If you’re trying to listen from a restricted territory, your connection could be blocked. But a reliable VPN can help you access TIDAL from anywhere in the world.

Your VPN isn’t working and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your location. The VPN servers you have available to you could be blacklisted by the music service.

Reasons why TIDAL won’t work with your VPN:

• Your VPN servers might have been blacklisted by the music service
• Cookies are telling TIDAL about your the location you’re trying to hide
• A VPN is leaking your IP address

Try these TIDAL fixes

1. Update your VPN

In cases where the music streaming service isn’t unlocked using a VPN, make sure you’re running the latest version as issues will have been patched.

From your PC, open the VPN and then the Settings or Options menu. Some VPNs that we’ve been hands-on with will display a message telling you about updates. Choosing the Update option transports you to the VPN provider’s website, where you can learn more about what’s new in the latest build.

If you’re using an Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play store, tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen and then Manage apps and device. Finally, choose Update or Update all.

On iPhone or iPad, open the Apple App Store and tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Swap VPN servers

VPN servers can sometimes become unavailable or slower than usual, so try disconnecting from the server you’re using. ExpressVPN users can select the three dots icon to see a list of alternative servers in the same country. You can also favourite the server (use the Star icon) that works best for you.

3. Discuss the issue with Support

Our recommended providers all manage support teams. For times when the TIDAL website or app breaks, reach out to an expert.

From a computer, head to your VPN provider’s website and find the Support or Contact us pages. Some VPNs offer a live chat service for members.

4. Turn your VPN off and on again

Whether you’re on a PC, smartphone or tablet, restart your device and open your VPN again. If that doesn’t work, delete and reinstall your VPN. Load up your VPN and the TIDAL site and see if you can stream music.

5. Check your internet connection

Disconnect from your wi-fi and reconnect. Try and run your VPN once again. You can also go a step further and restart your internet router. Note that speeds of 5-10Mbps will usually be enough.

More TIDAL fixes:

Did you clear cache and cookies from your browser? On Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Are your details public due to a DNS leak? An ineffective VPN fails to mask your IP address and location while using TIDAL. To assess its performance, deactivate the VPN and visit the IP Address Lookup tool to record your IP address. Then, activate your VPN and rerun the test – if your IP and location remain unchanged, you need to swap to a better VPN.

Have you typed your VPN username and password correctly? Double-check your login credentials. If you can’t remember your details, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website so you get a reset link sent to your inbox.

Are the VPN servers active? Perhaps your provider is experiencing an outage. The best providers are transparent about this and actively update their server status online.

Is your firewall blocking your VPN or TIDAL?

If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for TIDAL

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

To stream music from any country in the world, use ExpressVPN today. It’s really easy to use, very fast and perfect for unlocking region-restricted content. With ExpressVPN installed, all you need to do is connect to a server in a supported country and you can easily use TIDAL from anywhere.

ExpressVPN hides your real IP address, which makes it impossible for websites to see that you’re browsing from outside a specific area. With servers available in over 90 countries, ExpressVPN users enjoy global coverage. ExpressVPN is compatible with loads of devices, including Macs, Android smartphones and tablets and iOS devices.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy is an excellent choice if you want a VPN that works with music websites. It uses encryption technology to keep cybercriminals far away from you, also featuring public wi-fi security to protect your device from viruses.

With Ivacy, you can listen on TIDAL from anywhere in the world without anyone knowing. That’s thanks to Ivacy’s strict no-logs policy, which stops your personal information from being sold to other companies.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

NordVPN is another exceptional VPN that lets you listen to region-locked music on TIDAL. It has servers worldwide, protected by military-grade encryption. Plus, NordVPN’s technology keeps you safe on public wi-fi without damaging your network speeds.

The servers are highly secure and you can connect without handing over your personal information – NordVPN doesn’t spy on you. You can also try the CyberSec tool, which blocks dangerous websites and lowers the chance of your device being infected with malware.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is one of our top recommendations for TIDAL. With optimised servers designed to reduce load times, it’s easy to use and provides a great music streaming experience.

One of the best features of PureVPN is the encryption of data, which ensures complete anonymity while streaming. Plus, there’s a 24-hour support team available to answer any questions you might have. Even if you’re not currently based in a supported country, PureVPN makes it easy to bypass geo-locked apps.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

How to use a VPN with TIDAL

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From your device, download and open the ExpressVPN app and select a server in a supported country – the UK, for example.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the TIDAL website.
5. Log in to your TIDAL account and enjoy.

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