To set up IPTV on Android TV, install an IPTV player such as TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro from the Google Play Store, choose Xtream Codes API, and type the server URL, username and password that our Android TV IPTV service sends you on WhatsApp. Channels, the TV guide and on-demand titles then load on their own. It takes about five minutes on any Android TV or Google TV device, including the Nvidia Shield, Xiaomi Mi Box and ONN boxes, with no sideloading.
Compatible Devices
Nvidia Shield TV · Xiaomi Mi Box S · Chromecast with Google TV · Walmart ONN 4K · Formuler · BuzzTV · TVs with Android TV or Google TV built in (Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips models)
What You Need Before You Start
- ✓An Android TV or Google TV device signed in to a Google account, so the Play Store works.
- ✓A home connection of roughly 10 Mbps or more for HD and 25 Mbps or more for 4K channels.
- ✓Your login details: server URL, username and password. These arrive on WhatsApp within minutes of requesting a trial or buying a plan.
- ✓Optional: a cheap USB or Bluetooth keyboard, or the Google TV phone app, to make typing the server URL faster.
No login yet? Message us for the free 24-hour Android TV test first. No card is needed, and it is the quickest way to check your box before paying.
Method 1: TiviMate (Recommended)
💡 TiviMate is available directly on the Play Store for Android TV, so no sideloading is needed.
TiviMate is free to install, but some features such as multiple playlists, favourites management and catch-up need its paid Premium upgrade, which is billed by TiviMate's developer, not by us. You can read what the upgrade adds in our hands-on TiviMate player review.
Method 2: IPTV Smarters Pro
If Smarters is new to you, the quick IPTV Smarters walkthrough explains each screen, including where the live, movie and series sections sit.
TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters Pro on Android TV
| Feature | TiviMate | IPTV Smarters Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Install from Play Store | Yes | Yes |
| Login type | Xtream Codes or M3U | Xtream Codes or M3U |
| TV guide layout | Grid guide, built for a remote | List-based, closer to a phone app |
| Cost | Free, with a paid Premium tier | Free to start |
| Best for | Live TV and channel surfing | Mixed live TV and on-demand viewing |
Other players work too, because the login is a standard Xtream Codes or M3U link. Our roundup of IPTV player apps worth installing compares the alternatives.
Settings Worth Changing After Setup
- ▸Use Ethernet if your box has a LAN port. The Nvidia Shield and many Formuler and BuzzTV boxes do; most streaming sticks do not.
- ▸Set the box’s display resolution to match your TV, so 4K channels are not downscaled or upscaled twice.
- ▸Turn on auto frame-rate matching in the player if it offers it. Sport looks smoother when the TV switches to the stream’s frame rate.
- ▸Clear the player’s cache from Android Settings → Apps if the channel list or guide starts to feel slow.
- ▸Turn off apps that start at boot and run in the background. Budget boxes with 2GB of memory benefit most.
Troubleshooting IPTV on Android TV
❓ App not found in the Play Store
Some uncertified boxes ship without the official Play Store. Check that the box is Google-certified; if it is not, a certified device such as a Chromecast with Google TV is the simpler fix.
❓ Login error or 'invalid credentials'
The server URL, username and password are case-sensitive. Copy them from the WhatsApp message on your phone and type them carefully, including http:// and any port number.
❓ Channels load but the guide is empty
Wait a few minutes after first login, then refresh the EPG from the player’s settings. Guide data downloads separately from the channel list.
❓ Picture freezes during live sport
Check your speed on the box itself, switch to 5GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and restart the router. Our step-by-step IPTV buffering fixes cover the rest.
For freezing that survives those steps, follow the checklist for stopping IPTV stutter, or compare stick and box hardware in our Firestick versus Android box trial comparison.
What to Check During Your Free Trial
The 24-hour trial is the time to answer one question: does this box, on this network, play the channels you care about? A short checklist:
- ✓Play a 4K channel and an HD channel at the time you normally watch, since evenings are when home networks are busiest.
- ✓Open the TV guide and confirm the listings match what is on screen for your main channels.
- ✓Try catch-up on a programme from earlier in the day.
- ✓Start a film from the on-demand section and skip forward to check seeking works.
- ✓Look up your regional and international channels in the channels list before committing.
You can search the full line-up of live channels by country, and when the trial goes well, the 1, 3, 6 and 12-month plan options show multi-device discounts too. Setting up a different screen? The device-by-device setup hub lists every guide.
Android TV IPTV FAQ
Does the service work on every Android TV box?
It works on Android TV and Google TV devices that can install an IPTV player from the Google Play Store, such as the Nvidia Shield, Xiaomi Mi Box S, Chromecast with Google TV and Walmart ONN 4K boxes. Very old or uncertified boxes may run out-of-date apps, so use the free trial to confirm your exact model.
Should I use TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro on Android TV?
TiviMate is built for a remote control and has a TV-style programme guide, which most living-room viewers prefer. Some TiviMate features need its paid Premium upgrade. IPTV Smarters Pro is free to start and has a simpler menu layout. Both accept the same Xtream Codes login.
Why does my Android TV box buffer on some channels?
The usual causes are weak Wi-Fi, a busy home network or a box with too little memory. Use Ethernet if your box has a port, move to the 5GHz Wi-Fi band otherwise, close background apps and restart the box. If one channel still stutters while others play, send the channel name to support on WhatsApp.
Can I use the same login on my phone and my Android TV box?
Yes, but the number of screens you can watch at the same time depends on your plan. A standard plan covers one connection, and multi-device plans add more at a discount. Check the device options on the pricing page before streaming on two screens at once.
Is a Google TV device set up differently from an Android TV box?
No. Google TV is a newer interface on top of Android TV, and the Play Store, app installation and login steps are the same. The only differences are where menus sit and how apps appear on the home screen.
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Setting up on Android TV is covered in full in our Marinios IPTV pillar guide.