I recently updated High Tide, the unofficial TIDAL client for Linux, and noticed several noticeable improvements. For those unfamiliar, High Tide offers a more native experience than the official TIDAL web app, but it’s important to remember that it’s still under development and requires a paid TIDAL subscription to use.
Installation can be done by downloading a Flatpak snapshot from GitHub and authorizing access through your browser. However, keep in mind that since these are standalone releases, you’ll need to manually update to the latest builds regularly.
Recent Changes in High Tide
One of the most significant updates is that High Tide can now run in the background even when the main window is closed, though this feature needs to be enabled in the Preferences. Additionally, a new normalization option has been added, allowing you to control volume normalization across all tracks.
The app now supports auto-scrolling lyrics for a better sing-along experience and will notify users if lyrics are unavailable. There’s also a new option in the track menu to "Add to a Playlist," streamlining the process of organizing your music.
Visually, the layout of the player sidebar has been improved, with updated icons and newly positioned track timing tickers that free up space for the progress bar. Users can now see codec, sample rate, and bit depth information more clearly, and the queue design has been revamped to keep focus on the currently playing track.
While there are significant enhancements, some features have regressed; for example, the Home tab no longer displays personalized playlists or suggestions.
Download High Tide for TIDAL
For those interested in trying out the latest version of High Tide, you can download the auto-build Flatpak from the project GitHub.
Even though TIDAL may not be as widely recognized as other music streaming services, it’s what I use due to my family plan, and that’s why I’m sharing my experiences with this app.