What is Tidal MQA and How to Download Tidal MQA Music

By Isla Sullivan Last Update：March 16, 2026

Category: Tidal Tips

Content

If you’re a music lover, you’ve probably heard about Tidal MQA and wondered what all the fuss is about. MQA, or Master Quality Authenticated, promises studio-level sound quality, letting you hear music the way artists intended. But recently, Tidal has announced changes that are causing confusion for subscribers: why is MQA disappearing, and what does it mean for your playlists?

Today’s article will share what Tidal MQA is, why Tidal is phasing it out, how to find MQA tracks before they’re gone, and most importantly, how to download Tidal MQA music on your PC, Mac, Android, or iPhone. Keep Reading!

What Is Tidal MQA?

Tidal MQA stands for Master Quality Authenticated, a high-resolution audio format designed to deliver studio-quality sound directly to listeners. Unlike standard MP3 or even standard FLAC, MQA files are losslessly compressed, meaning they retain every detail of the original recording while using less storage space. This allows you to hear music almost exactly as the artist and producers intended in the studio.

MQA works by folding high-resolution audio into a smaller file that can be streamed or downloaded without losing quality. When played on an MQA-compatible device or Tidal HiFi plan, the audio is “unfolded” to restore the full high-resolution sound. For example, you might stream a song at 24-bit/96kHz, but it’s compressed into a smaller, more manageable file for smooth playback.

Tidal introduced MQA as part of its HiFi and HiFi Plus plans, giving subscribers access to high-fidelity streaming. It became especially popular among audiophiles who want clearer instruments, richer vocals, and a more immersive soundstage than regular streaming formats provide.

Why Is Tidal Dropping MQA?

Tidal has officially announced that it will discontinue support for MQA and 360 Reality Audio formats and transition to FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) for its high-resolution music catalog by July 24, 2024. Subscribers may have already received emails notifying them of this upcoming change.

The shift from MQA to FLAC is designed to simplify high-quality streaming and make premium audio more accessible. FLAC is widely supported across devices, whereas MQA requires specialized hardware or software to fully decode its high-resolution audio. By adopting FLAC, Tidal aligns itself with other major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Amazon Music, which already offer lossless audio. Here are the main reasons behind Tidal’s decision:

Licensing Costs: MQA required licensing fees, making it more expensive for streaming services and, indirectly, for consumers. FLAC is open-source and free to use, reducing costs for both Tidal and listeners.
Device Compatibility: MQA’s “unfolding” process needed specialized hardware or software to experience full quality. FLAC works on nearly all devices without extra equipment.
Quality and Transparency: Critics argued that MQA, despite being marketed as high-resolution and lossless, involved a type of lossy compression. FLAC provides a fully lossless audio experience, giving audiophiles the clear and transparent sound they expect.

In short, Tidal’s move to FLAC makes high-resolution music easier, cheaper, and more universally accessible while maintaining top-tier audio quality.

How to Find MQA Tracks on Tidal for Listening?

Finding MQA tracks on Tidal is actually pretty simple once you know where to look. Tidal labels its highest‑quality songs as Master, which usually indicates that the track is available in MQA format. These tracks are part of Tidal’s high‑resolution catalog and are designed for listeners who want better sound quality. Here’s how you can find them.

Step 1: Open the Tidal app on your phone, tablet, or computer and log in to your account.

Step 2: Use the Search bar and type the name of the song, album, or artist you want to listen to.

Step 3: Open the album or playlist and look for the “Master” badge next to the track title or album name. This label usually means the track is available in MQA quality.

Step 4: Tap or click the song to start playing it. If your streaming settings allow high‑quality playback, Tidal will automatically stream the Master (MQA) version.

Step 5: You can also explore Tidal’s Master playlists or curated HiFi collections, which often include many MQA tracks in one place.

How to Download Tidal MQA Music on PC/Mac?

If you want to keep Tidal MQA music for offline listening on your computer, you usually need a dedicated downloader. Tidal itself allows offline playback inside its app, but it does not let users save songs as normal audio files. This means you cannot freely transfer those songs to other devices.

A practical solution is using AudiConv Tidal Music Converter, an all‑in‑one music downloader that supports downloading music from Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Pandora, etc. And convert tracks to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, AIFF, or ALAC. In other words, the music becomes playable on almost any device. The software also keeps ID3 tags like the artist name, album title, and cover art, so your library stays neat and organized. And if you want to download a whole playlist, you can do that too.

▼ How to Download Tidal Music to MP3 320kbps?

Step 1 Open AudiConv Music Converter on your computer and select the Online section. Then visit the Tidal website using the built-in browser inside the software.

Step 2 Log in to your Tidal account and browse the platform to find the song, album, or playlist you want to download.

Step 3 Open the track page, click the Share option, and copy the track URL.

Step 4 Go to the Download section in AudiConv and click the Paste URL button. The software will analyze the link and start downloading the music.

Step 5 Once the process is complete, the Tidal track will be automatically saved to your computer so you can listen to it offline anytime.

How to Download Tidal MQA Music on Android/iPhone?

If you use Tidal on your phone, the easiest way to download MQA music is through the official Tidal app. Tidal allows subscribers to save songs for offline listening, which means you can play them later without using mobile data or Wi‑Fi. However, it’s important to understand one small detail. These downloads stay inside the Tidal app. In other words, the music cannot be exported as normal audio files or transferred to other apps. Still, it’s a convenient option if you simply want to listen to Tidal Master (MQA) tracks offline on your Android or iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Tidal app on your Android phone or iPhone.

Step 2: Use the search bar to find the MQA (Master quality) track, album, or playlist you want to download.

Step 3: Tap the Download button. The app will start downloading the track in Master quality if your streaming quality settings allow it.

Step 4: After the download finishes, go to My Collection and open the Downloaded section.

Step 5: You can now play the MQA music offline anytime without needing an internet connection.

Conclusion

Tidal MQA offers high‑resolution audio for listeners who want better sound quality. Although Tidal is gradually moving to FLAC, many users still want an easy way to listen to or keep their favorite high‑quality tracks. If you only need offline listening on mobile, the Tidal app’s download feature works fine. But if you want to save songs as regular audio files and play them on different devices, AudiConv Music Converter is a more flexible option. It lets you download and convert Tidal music to formats like MP3 or FLAC while keeping good audio quality and track information.