Update Details
Prior to the latest update, TIDAL users could already share music links. However, as with many other music apps, the links would only work across other TIDAL accounts. As a result, users often had to just share screenshots or manually search for the same content on their friends’ preferred platforms, which can be quite time-consuming and inconvenient.
The introduction of universal links eliminates this friction. To access it, TIDAL users simply need to update their desktop app to the latest version (2024.03.27), and they will automatically see the additional app-sharing options via the “Share with anyone” added to the basic UI.
Some users have reported that a complete restart of the app may be necessary for the new option to appear. Once enabled, sharing a universal link is as simple as appending “?u” to the end of any TIDAL link, which can be done on both desktop and mobile devices.
User Reactions
As expected, the excitement surrounding this new feature is generally positive, as evidenced by the (mostly) ecstatic response from TIDAL users on Reddit. Some users expressed their enthusiasm for the feature, praising it as one of the best updates ever. Indeed, the ability to bridge the gap between different music streaming platforms has been a long-awaited feature, and TIDAL is the first notable app to deliver on this promise.
Versus Third-Party Apps
Normally, many users rely on third-party apps like Songshift, Soundiiz, or Tune My Music to transfer playlists, share music, or manage their music libraries. These apps have gained popularity by offering features that were not natively available on most music streaming platforms, with the biggest draw of course the ability to easily share music with friends who use different services.
So would TIDAL users become less eager to use these apps after the introduction of universal links? To a degree, perhaps. But right now, it seems that the feature only includes Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. Third-party apps often support a wider range of music streaming services (plus the aforementioned perks), and as such their bases might still be safe and covered for now.
