For music lovers who rely on offline playback, there’s nothing more frustrating than opening the Tidal app only to find that downloaded tracks won’t play. One particularly persistent issue users have encountered is Tidal being stuck on the “Checking Rights” message when attempting to play music offline. This hang-up disrupts the entire playback experience, making well-planned playlists feel like they were never downloaded at all.
TL;DR
Many Tidal users have reported issues with the app getting stuck on the “Checking Rights” screen when attempting offline playback. This problem is usually caused by a failure in syncing offline licenses or corrupted cache data. Users have found success by signing out and back in, clearing the cache, or reconnecting briefly to the internet to refresh license data. Keeping the app updated and checking device settings also appear to help resolve the issue.
Understanding the “Checking Rights” Issue
When a user downloads music for offline listening, Tidal performs DRM (Digital Rights Management) checks to ensure the content is licensed correctly under the user’s subscription. The message “Checking Rights” appears during this verification process. In ideal conditions, it only lasts a few seconds. However, users have increasingly reported that it becomes stuck, making playback impossible even for fully downloaded tracks.
This issue mainly affects users who switch their device to airplane mode or move into areas without network coverage. Since Tidal tries to verify the DRM status of each track before playing it, any hiccup in its license validation process can create an endless loop of attempted verification.
Why It Happens
Several underlying causes have been identified:
- License Sync Failures: The app failed to properly update the licenses before going offline.
- Expired DRM: DRM tokens on downloaded music may expire after a certain period.
- App Caching Glitches: Corrupted app data may interfere with how Tidal verifies content rights.
- Outdated App Versions: Older Tidal versions might struggle to manage offline licenses efficiently.
- Device Time/Date Issues: Incorrect system time can cause the app to believe the licenses are invalid.
As frustrating as the issue is, users have discovered a range of fixes that revive offline playback functionality without having to delete or redownload their entire music library.
How Users Have Fixed It
Through trial and error, and feedback across multiple forums like Reddit, Twitter, and Tidal’s support pages, a few consistent solutions have emerged:
1. Briefly Reconnect to the Internet
If the device hasn’t connected to the internet in several days, Tidal won’t be able to refresh its DRM licenses. Many users reported that simply turning off airplane mode for a few minutes and reconnecting to Wi-Fi or cellular data restored playback.
This workaround forces a background sync, allowing the app to verify licenses again and refresh the DRM tokens.
2. Sign Out and Sign Back In
Signing out of the Tidal app and signing back in clears up most licensing inconsistencies. Although it may prompt a fresh sync of user libraries and cached data, the app usually resolves the “Checking Rights” hang after this action.
3. Clear Cache and App Data
In some cases, corrupted app cache or local storage inconsistencies can result in failed DRM checks. Clearing the cache resets these temporary files and allows the app to rebuild its DRM validation setup.
Here’s how Tidal users cleared their cache:
- Go to Settings in the app
- Select Download Settings
- Tap Clear Download Cache
4. Update the Tidal App
Outdated apps can miss out on fixes for known bugs, including DRM verification routines. Making sure the Tidal app is the latest version was a reliable method for resolving the issue among affected users.
5. Verify Device Time and Date
Users found that incorrect date or time on their device fooled the Tidal app into believing that the DRM licenses were invalid or expired. Ensuring the date & time are set to automatic (network-provided) resolved the issue in a surprising number of cases.
6. Delete and Redownload Content (Last Resort)
As a last resort, deleting the downloaded music and re-downloading it while connected to the internet ensured a fresh assignment of licenses with proper syncing. While inconvenient, this method worked every time licenses became corrupted and couldn’t be fixed with lighter troubleshooting.
User Feedback and Community Input
Many of these solutions were surfaced in community forums where users shared their experiences and tracked solutions. Some users speculated that Tidal generates time-bound tokens tied to account and device data, which can go stale or get corrupted.
One user on Reddit summed it up succinctly:
“Everything works great offline for a few days, but if I haven’t connected to the internet recently, Tidal just stops playing music. Signing out and updating the app usually fixes it.”
Others confirmed that maintaining regular online check-ins—at least once every few days—helped Tidal continually validate licenses in the background, preventing the “Checking Rights” screen from becoming stuck later on.
Tips for Preventing the Issue
To help avoid the issue altogether, here are some preventative steps users can take:
- Open the App While Online Weekly: Let Tidal sync licenses at least once a week.
- Keep Tidal Updated: Always use the latest version from the App Store or Play Store.
- Restart Periodically: Restart the app or your phone to clear temporary software hiccups.
- Avoid Changing Time Zones Without Re-Syncing: If you travel, make sure you reconnect to the internet afterward so Tidal can update DRM data.
Conclusion
While Tidal’s commitment to HiFi audio and offline functionality is largely reliable, its DRM verification system can become overzealous, leading to the frustrating “Checking Rights” freeze. Fortunately, by applying solutions like reconnecting to the internet, updating the app, or clearing cache data, users have been able to restore full playback functionality without redownloading their entire library. Like many tech issues, a small preventative effort can save a major headache down the road.
FAQ
- Why does Tidal get stuck on “Checking Rights”?
- This occurs due to outdated or failed DRM validation, improper syncs, or corrupted cache data.
- Will I lose my music if I sign out of Tidal?
- No, your downloaded content may need to re-sync but it’s tied to your account. You won’t lose your library unless you delete the app or clear storage completely.
- How often should I connect to the internet to avoid this issue?
- At least once every 5-7 days to maintain valid DRM licenses, especially if using offline playback extensively.
- Can I prevent this issue by keeping background data active?
- Yes, allowing background data for Tidal can help with license refreshes even when you’re not actively using the app.
- Does upgrading to Tidal HiFi Plus help?
- No, the issue affects both Tidal HiFi and HiFi Plus users equally. It’s related to licensing sync, not subscription tier.