By: Money Navigator Research Team
Last Reviewed: 11/02/2026
FACT CHECKED
Quick Summary
Tide is app-first: the Tide mobile app is the gateway for account access, including using Tide on the Web, and desktop access is constrained by supported browsers and (in some cases) devices with strong authentication hardware.
The practical implication is that “web access” is not a standalone channel – you remain dependent on a supported phone/tablet experience for authentication and continuity.
This article is educational and not financial advice.
How Tide access works in practice
Three “places” people try to use Tide
Most day-to-day use sits in one of these patterns:
Mobile app (primary channel): where onboarding, authentication, and routine account actions commonly begin.
Mobile browser: Tide notes that, for now, the best experience is on mobile via a web browser (not every feature/flow is designed around desktop-first use).
Tide on the Web (desktop/tablet browser): available, but designed around app-based authentication rather than “username + password on desktop”.
A helpful way to think about this is “app-led identity, browser-led workspace”: the browser can be convenient for a larger screen, but the app remains central to proving it’s you.
Device requirements for the Tide app
Supported operating systems (and why it matters)
Tide states the Tide app works on iOS 15 and above and Android 10 and above, and it is not compatible with Windows phones.
Tide also notes it is not available on Huawei’s AppGallery, and that downloading the latest version may not be possible on Huawei devices running EMUI and using AppGallery.
These constraints are set out in Tide’s own supported device guidance in Will the Tide app work on my phone or tablet?.
The practical implication is straightforward: if the app cannot run (or cannot update), that limitation tends to “cascade” into other access paths – especially if you also want to use Tide on the Web, because the app is part of the login flow.
Older devices and “can’t update” scenarios
A common failure mode is not the device model itself, but the operating system version. If a handset is stuck on an older OS, it can become incompatible with the current app version. In operational terms, this can show up as:
the app failing to install or update,
the login flow failing part-way through,
or loss of access to web login if the app is required for authentication.
This is a technical constraint rather than a permissions issue: even full administrators can be blocked by device/OS incompatibility.
Browser and desktop requirements for Tide on the Web
Supported browsers
Tide lists supported browsers for using Tide on the Web as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox in its guidance on Can I log into Tide from my computer?. That same guidance also states that access to the Tide app is required to use Tide on the Web.
So “works on desktop” is really “works on desktop with the app available for authentication”.
App-based login is a dependency, not a convenience
Tide describes a web login flow that relies on the app (for example, scanning a QR code via the app). That design has two practical consequences:
If the phone is unavailable, web login can be disrupted.
IT controls that block camera use or app installation can block web access too, even if the desktop browser itself is supported.
Why hardware authentication is mentioned (and what it means)
“Strong authentication hardware” on laptops
Tide notes that some laptop access is supported where there is strong authentication hardware (for example, fingerprint readers), and suggests browser choices depending on platform in What device/browser do I need to use to access my account?.
This framing matters because it’s not just “any laptop + any browser”. The device’s built-in authentication capabilities can affect whether a login path is supported.
What counts as hardware authentication in plain English
Two common examples mentioned in this context are:
Windows Hello, which supports sign-in methods such as facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, or a device PIN on compatible hardware (Microsoft explains this in Configure Windows Hello).
Touch ID on Mac, where a fingerprint can be used as part of device authentication (Apple describes setup and use in Use Touch ID on Mac).
The practical implication is that “desktop access differences” are sometimes driven less by the browser brand and more by whether the computer can perform strong local authentication in a supported way.
App vs web access differences that show up day-to-day
1) Links and handoffs between email, browser and app
Tide explains that “deep links” can behave differently depending on device and default browser, including differences between Safari and other browsers on iOS, and default browser choices on Android in What are ‘deep links’ and how do they work on different devices?.
Practically, that means two people can click the same Tide link and land in different places (straight into an app screen vs a confirmation step in a browser), which can look like inconsistent access when it’s really an OS/browser handoff difference.
2) Team member access can inherit the same constraints
Tide states that team members have the best experience on mobile, and that team member laptop access is only supported on laptops with strong authentication hardware (again citing examples like fingerprint readers / Windows Hello) in Can my team member use Tide on a desktop/laptop and what device and browser should they use?.
This matters because “give someone access” is not only a role/permission question; it also becomes a device readiness question (their device must meet the same baseline requirements to make use of the access granted).
3) Permissions and device requirements interact
Access problems often get misdiagnosed as “permissions” when they’re actually “platform”. For example:
Someone might have authority to add a payee, but still be blocked by the device channel they’re using (for payee governance concepts, see Adding and Removing Payees in Tide Explained).
An accountant might have appropriate visibility, but the practical experience depends on how access is granted and what channel is supported (see Giving your accountant access in Tide).
Summary Table
| Scenario | Outcome | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Phone meets Tide’s supported OS baseline | App can run and update normally | Fewer “blocked by platform” incidents when authenticating or completing key flows |
| Phone OS below Tide’s supported baseline | App may not install/update or may stop working | Web access can also be affected if the app is required for web login |
| Desktop using a supported browser | Browser can be eligible for Tide on the Web | Still dependent on the app for authentication and successful login handoff |
| Desktop without strong authentication hardware | Some desktop/laptop flows may be unsupported | “Works on web” expectations can fail on certain machines even if the browser is supported |
| Clicking a Tide email link on different default browsers | Different handoff behaviour (app vs browser confirmation) | Users can experience inconsistent journeys that are actually OS/browser routing differences |
| Team member using laptop vs mobile | Mobile is framed as best experience; laptop support is constrained | Access provisioning needs to consider device capability, not just role |
Scenario Table
| Scenario-level | Process-level | Outcome-level |
|---|---|---|
| App-first identity model | Web login depends on app-based authentication (e.g., QR handoff) | Web access is not independent; phone availability becomes an operational dependency |
| Mixed device estate (personal + company devices) | OS versioning, camera policies, and browser controls vary | “Same role, different experience” across staff can occur without any permission change |
| Desktop access on varied hardware | Requirement for strong local authentication on some laptops | Some machines become effectively “unsupported” even when the browser is on the supported list |
| Email-driven workflows (invoices, alerts, approvals) | Deep link routing differs by default browser and OS | Extra confirmation steps or misroutes can add friction and perceived “login issues” |
| Shared responsibility (owner + team + accountant) | Access grants + device readiness must align | Practical access may fail if a user’s device cannot meet the baseline, even if access is granted |
Tide Business Bank Account
Tide’s proposition and pricing are often discussed alongside its access model (app-led access with optional web usage). For a neutral overview of features, fees, and positioning, see our Tide business account review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tide describes an app-first access model, including the requirement that you must have access to the Tide app to use Tide on the Web. In practical terms, that means a smartphone (or at least an iOS/Android device that runs the Tide app) is commonly part of the access chain even if day-to-day work happens on a laptop.
Where this matters most is continuity: if a device cannot run the required app version (for example, because the operating system is below Tide’s supported baseline), access issues can show up even when credentials and permissions are otherwise correct. That is a platform constraint, not a role constraint.
Tide’s own guidance frames web use as dependent on the app for authentication, and separately notes that the best experience is currently on mobile in a web browser for some flows. That combination implies the web channel is not designed as a standalone replacement where the app becomes optional.
Operationally, the web channel can be best viewed as a complementary workspace (bigger screen, keyboard), while the app remains part of identity and login. That distinction matters when planning who can access Tide during travel, phone loss, or corporate device restrictions.
Tide lists supported browsers for Tide on the Web as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Firefox. If a browser sits outside that list, the failure mode is not necessarily a visible “unsupported” message – it can present as login friction or incomplete page behaviour.
It’s also worth separating “browser supported” from “device supported”. A supported browser on a device that cannot meet the authentication expectations (for example, lacking strong authentication hardware where required) may still be an edge case for successful access.
Tide explicitly references “strong authentication hardware” on laptops, giving examples such as MacBooks with fingerprint readers and computers with Windows Hello. That is a signal that some desktop support expectations hinge on local authentication capability, not merely browser choice.
In practical terms, that can affect teams using older desktops, shared kiosks, or locked-down virtual environments. A business can experience “web works on one laptop but not another” even with the same browser and the same Tide user role, because the hardware authentication capability differs.
Tide states minimum supported OS baselines for the Tide app. If a phone is below that baseline, the app may stop installing or updating to the latest version, which can break access flows that rely on up-to-date app capability.
The operational implication is that the access issue may present indirectly – such as being unable to complete a web login handoff – rather than as a single obvious “update required” prompt. In environments where devices are centrally managed, this can also intersect with update policies and app store availability.
Tide’s guidance is primarily expressed in terms of iOS and Android support rather than a strict “phone-only” model, and Tide also references using laptops/tablets/desktops for web login with supported browsers.
In other words, the key question tends to be OS version and authentication capability rather than screen size.
Where tablets can differ is in camera handling, browser defaults, and the way app-to-web handoffs behave. Those differences matter if the login process relies on scanning a QR code or switching between app and browser in a single flow.
Tide states that the app is not available on Huawei’s official app store (AppGallery), and that downloading the latest version may not be possible on Huawei devices running EMUI OS and using AppGallery. This is not a banking-policy issue; it’s an app distribution and platform compatibility constraint.
Practically, this means Huawei users can experience an “I can’t get the latest app” problem even if their device is otherwise modern. That can become a wider access problem if the user also needs the app for authentication steps related to web access.
Tide’s web login model is app-dependent for authentication, and the practical question becomes: whose app is used to authenticate, and what role/visibility is granted to the accountant as their own user. This is distinct from “sharing the owner’s device”, which introduces governance and evidencing complexities.
In real workflows, businesses tend to separate (a) permission boundaries (what an accountant can see/do) from (b) technical access (whether the accountant’s own device meets the platform baseline). Both have to align for the experience to be smooth.
Tide explains that deep links can behave differently depending on OS and default browser, including extra confirmation steps in some iOS browser combinations and different default browser handling on Android. This is essentially an operating system routing behaviour rather than a Tide permission change.
The practical implication is that troubleshooting “link doesn’t work” often requires identifying the device + browser combination, not only the user’s role. Two users can receive the same email and have different outcomes solely due to default browser settings.
Switching devices changes the technical context of a session (device type, OS, browser, authentication method). Even when permissions remain unchanged, access systems commonly treat a “new device” or “new login context” differently from an established one, especially when authentication is app-led.
From an operational perspective, that means device changes can correlate with extra friction (re-authentication steps, needing the app available, or encountering unsupported device constraints). It’s less about “what you are allowed to do” and more about “what the platform can securely support on that device”.
“App vs web” in Tide is best understood as an authentication architecture choice, not simply a user interface preference. Tide’s published access guidance repeatedly ties web usage back to app availability and, in some cases, to strong local authentication on the computer itself.
That design can reduce reliance on desktop passwords alone, but it also concentrates operational dependency on a compatible, available mobile device.
For businesses, the key mechanism is that permissions and platform readiness are separate dimensions. A user can be correctly authorised yet practically blocked by OS versioning, browser support, hardware authentication capability, or the way links hand off between email, browser and app.
Treating “access” as a combined policy + device question is often the difference between predictable day-to-day use and recurring “why doesn’t it work on this machine?” escalations.
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