How to set up IPTV on Android

What you need on Android

• An Android device: a phone or tablet on a reasonably current Android version, or a TV box such as an NVIDIA Shield TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer, Formuler Z11 Pro or a BuzzTV model. Check the Google Play listing for each app’s minimum version.
• A Google account signed in, so Google Play can install apps. Formuler and BuzzTV boxes work without one for their built-in player.
• Your Xtream Codes login: server URL, username and password. If you haven’t ordered yet, the free IPTV trial for Android sends real details within 10 to 30 minutes.
• Speed: about 10 Mbps for Full HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. On mobile data, an HD channel uses roughly 2 to 3.5 GB an hour, so watch your plan’s cap.
• Storage: a few hundred megabytes for the app and its guide cache. Budget boxes with 8 GB fill up quickly.

Set up IPTV on Android in 6 steps

These steps cover any Android device that has Google Play: phones, tablets, Google TV boxes and the Shield. Formuler and BuzzTV boxes have a few differences, covered right after.

1. 1

   Step 1: Find the Xtream Codes section of your welcome message

   Your activation email or Live Chat message lists a server URL, a username and a password under Xtream Codes. On a phone you can copy them straight from the message; on a TV box, keep the message open on your phone for reference.

2. 2

   Step 2: Open Google Play and search for a player

   On an Android TV or Google TV box, search for TiviMate. On a phone or tablet, search for IPTV Smarters Pro or XCIPTV, since TiviMate is built for TV screens and remotes. Formuler and BuzzTV owners can use the player already on the box.

3. 3

   Step 3: Install the app and accept its permissions

   Tap Install, then open the app. If Android asks to allow notifications or access to storage, allow them. The player needs storage for the program guide and posters, and notifications for recording or reminders.

4. 4

   Step 4: Pick the Xtream Codes login option

   In TiviMate, choose Add playlist → Xtream Codes. In IPTV Smarters Pro, choose Login with Xtream Codes API. XCIPTV opens straight onto a login form with username, password and server URL fields.

5. 5

   Step 5: Enter the server URL, username and password

   Type or paste each field exactly, including the http:// at the start of the URL and any port number after the colon. On a TV box, the Google TV app on your phone has a remote with a keyboard that makes this much quicker.

6. 6

   Step 6: Wait for the first sync, then build favourites

   The first load downloads live channels, on-demand titles and up to a week of guide data, so give it a minute or two. Then add the channels you watch most to favourites, which saves scrolling through the full lineup every night.

Notes for popular Android TV boxes

Formuler with MYTVOnline 3

Formuler boxes such as the Z11 Pro and Z11 Pro Max come with MYTVOnline 3, a player built for their remote. It accepts three kinds of connection: a portal using the box’s MAC address, Xtream Codes, or an M3U link.

1. Open MYTVOnline 3 and choose the option to add a new portal or connection.
2. Pick Xtream Codes for the quickest start, or portal mode if you’d like the MAC-based method.
3. For Xtream, enter the server URL, username and password. For portal mode, note the MAC address shown on that screen and send it to us first.
4. Save, and the channel list and guide load within a minute or two.

BuzzTV

BuzzTV boxes run Android with BuzzTV’s own player, which takes Xtream Codes details. Open the player, add a new account with your server URL, username and password, and save. Most models also let you install other players if you prefer TiviMate’s guide.

NVIDIA Shield TV and Shield TV Pro

The Shield is the strongest Android box for 4K and HDR. It has gigabit Ethernet, plenty of processing headroom and excellent frame-rate switching. Install TiviMate from Google Play and turn on auto frame rate in the player, or use the Shield’s own frame-rate matching in its display settings.

Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer

Google no longer sells the Chromecast with Google TV, but plenty are still in use. It has only 8 GB of storage and no network port, so keep its cache clear and use Google’s Ethernet power adapter if Wi-Fi is weak. The Google TV Streamer that replaced it has more storage and an Ethernet port built in.

Android players compared

Any of these plays our full lineup. Choose by screen size first, then by how much you care about the guide.

Best Android settings for smooth playback

• Hardware decoding: leave it on, which is the default. If a single channel shows a green or frozen picture, try the software decoder in the player’s settings for that test only.
• Buffer size: in TiviMate, set the buffer under Settings → Playback to medium, or large on Wi-Fi. Channels take a moment longer to start but stall far less.
• Auto frame rate: turn it on for 4K boxes. Your TV switches to 60 Hz for hockey and 24 Hz for films, which removes the slight judder on pans. If the box’s display settings offer dynamic range matching, turn that on too, so only HDR channels switch the TV into HDR.
• EPG updates: once every 24 hours is plenty. On a Chromecast, shorten the guide to three or four days to save storage.
• Battery on phones: open the app info screen, go to battery and set it to Unrestricted, so Android doesn’t pause the stream in picture-in-picture or with the screen off.
• User agent: TiviMate and Smarters let you change it, but leave the default unless our support team suggests otherwise.

Android troubleshooting

Nothing here matches? Reach our support team, available day and night, with the device model and player name. Curious about the content first? The Canadian, French and 4K channel groups are listed by category, and IPTV Gold’s Canadian lineup and plans are summarised on our home page. Fire TV owners can follow the Firestick install walkthrough instead, since Amazon’s store works differently.

Android IPTV questions

Is TiviMate free on Android?

TiviMate has a free version that plays your channels with the guide. The premium version adds features such as recording, catch-up and multiple playlists, and you buy it from the developer through the TiviMate Companion app on an Android phone. That purchase is separate from your IPTV Gold plan; check the developer’s current price and device limits.

Which Android TV box works best for IPTV in Canada?

It depends on what you value. The NVIDIA Shield is the strongest choice for 4K HDR and frame-rate matching. A Formuler Z11 Pro with MYTVOnline 3 gives the most cable-box feel. A Google TV Streamer is the simplest to live with and has a built-in Ethernet port. All three run our service well.

Can I watch on my phone and my TV box at the same time?

You can install the app on both and sign in with the same details. On a 1-device plan, starting a channel on your phone will interrupt the box. If you regularly watch on both at once, choose the 2-device plan.

Do I need to sideload anything on Android?

Usually not. TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro and XCIPTV are all in Google Play, and Formuler and BuzzTV boxes ship with their own player. Sideloading is only needed if a player you want isn’t listed, in which case our support team will send a direct link.