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Quick stepsabout 10 min
- 1
Install TiviMate. Install TiviMate from the Google Play Store on Android TV, or sideload it on a Fire TV device.
- 2
Choose Add playlist. Open TiviMate and select Add playlist, then pick M3U playlist or Xtream Codes depending on what your provider gave you.
- 3
Enter the playlist details. Type or paste the playlist URL, or the server, username and password for an Xtream login, then select Next.
- 4
Name the playlist. Give it a recognisable name and let TiviMate load the channel list.
- 5
Add the EPG source. If the guide stays empty, open Settings, Playlists, pick your playlist and add the XMLTV EPG URL.
- 6
Update and tidy up. Update the EPG, then hide channel groups you don't use and set favourites.
TiviMate is the player a lot of people settle on because it looks and feels like a proper cable guide. The catch is that it ships empty. You bring the playlist and the guide data. Here's how to set both up properly the first time.
Have your playlist link or Xtream login open on your phone before you start. Typing a long URL with a TV remote is the slowest part of this whole process. TiviMate's on-screen keyboard supports pasting if you use a keyboard app that syncs from your phone.
Before you start
- An Android TV device: Google TV, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast with Google TV, or an Amazon Fire TV.
- Your playlist from a legitimate source, as either an M3U URL or an Xtream Codes login (server, username, password).
- Optionally, an EPG (XMLTV) URL if your source provides one separately.
Not sure what those terms mean? What is IPTV? explains playlists and EPG in plain English.
Step 1: Install TiviMate
On Google TV and other Android TV devices, search the Play Store for TiviMate and install it. On a Fire TV, it isn't in the Amazon Appstore, so you'll need to sideload it. Our Fire TV Stick guide covers enabling unknown apps and using the Downloader app.
Step 2: Add your playlist
- Open TiviMate. On first launch you'll see Add playlist. Select it.
- Choose the type your provider gave you: M3U playlist for a URL ending in something like
.m3uorget.php?..., or Xtream Codes for a server plus username and password. - Enter the details and select Next.
- TiviMate checks the playlist and shows how many channels and movies it found. Give the playlist a name and finish.
Xtream logins usually load faster and include catch-up and VOD information automatically. If your source offers both formats, Xtream is usually the better choice in TiviMate.
Step 3: Connect the TV guide
Many playlists include a guide link automatically, so the grid fills in on its own. If yours is empty after a few minutes:
- Go to Settings, then Playlists, and pick your playlist.
- Find the EPG option and add your XMLTV URL.
- Back in Settings, open EPG and choose Update EPG.
Big guide files can take a minute or two to download and process, especially on older Fire TV Sticks.
Fixing channels with no guide data
If most channels have guide data but a few say "No information", those channels have an ID that doesn't match the guide. In TiviMate you can long-press the channel, open its settings and choose the correct EPG channel manually. If lots of channels are affected, the guide probably doesn't belong to that playlist. See EPG not loading? Here's how to fix it for the full checklist, including time zone offsets.
Step 4: Make it feel like real TV
- Hide groups you'll never watch. In the channel list, long-press a group and hide it. Shorter lists load faster too.
- Add favourites. Long-press a channel and add it to Favourites, then set Favourites as the startup group.
- Set startup behaviour. In Settings you can make TiviMate open straight to the last channel you watched.
- Reorder channels. Sort by number or drag them into your own order in the favourites list.
Still buffering?
TiviMate is efficient, so buffering usually comes from the network or the source rather than the app. Start with our buffering fixes, and if you're on Wi-Fi, try a wired connection. If you're still deciding between players, our TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters comparison might help.
Frequently asked questions
- Is TiviMate free?
- The app is free to install with core features. Some features, like multiple playlists, recording and catch-up, need TiviMate Premium, which is bought through the TiviMate Companion app on a phone.
- Can I use TiviMate on iPhone or Apple TV?
- No. TiviMate is built for Android TV devices, including Fire TV. On Apple devices look at players like iPlayTV or IPTVX instead.
- Why do some channels show 'No information'?
- The channel's ID in the playlist doesn't match any channel in the EPG file. You can fix it by editing the channel's EPG mapping in TiviMate, or by asking your source for a matching guide.
- How often does TiviMate refresh the guide?
- You can set the EPG update interval in the playlist settings. Once a day is enough for most guides.
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