TiviMate Setup Guide 2026: Install, Add Your Playlist & Master the EPG

TiviMate is the app we recommend to every customer who watches TV daily on a Firestick or Android box — the grid guide is gorgeous, zapping is instant, and once it’s configured it feels like premium cable. The setup takes about ten minutes. Here’s the exact process we walk customers through every day.

Key takeaways

• TiviMate runs on Android TV devices only — Firestick, onn. box, NVIDIA Shield, Chromecast with Google TV. No Samsung/LG native app, no iPhone.
• You connect it with the Xtream Codes login (server URL + username + password) your IPTV provider sends you — no M3U file juggling needed.
• The free version works, but Premium (~$9.99/year or ~$34 lifetime, up to 5 devices) unlocks multiple playlists, favorites, catch-up, and recording — worth it if you watch daily.

What you need before you start

Two things:

1. An Android TV device. Firestick (any recent model), NVIDIA Shield, onn. 4K box, Chromecast with Google TV, or any Android TV/Google TV television. TiviMate does not exist for Samsung Tizen or LG webOS — on those TVs use IBO Player instead, and on iPhone use Smarters Lite (full app comparison here).
2. Your IPTV credentials. With our service you receive an Xtream Codes login — a server URL, username, and password — the moment your free trial is activated. If you’re not sure what Xtream Codes means, our Xtream vs M3U explainer covers it in plain English.

Step 1 — Install TiviMate

On Firestick:

1. Open the Appstore on your Fire TV home screen.
2. Search for TiviMate and install it — it’s officially listed, no sideloading needed (the developer’s official site is tivimate.com if you want to double-check versions).

On Android TV / Google TV (Shield, Chromecast, onn.):

1. Open Google Play Store.
2. Search TiviMate IPTV Player and install.

That’s it. If you’ve read guides talking about “Downloader codes” and APK sideloading — that’s outdated advice for TiviMate; the official store versions are current.

Step 2 — Add your playlist (Xtream Codes login)

1. Open TiviMate. On first launch it asks you to Add playlist.
2. Choose Xtream Codes login.
3. Enter the three lines from your provider:
   • Server address — including the http:// and port, exactly as sent
   • Username
   • Password
4. Press Next. TiviMate loads your channels, then asks about the EPG — accept the default; with Xtream logins the TV guide URL is detected automatically (what an EPG is, in 60 seconds).
5. Give the playlist a name and hit Done.

Within a minute you’ll see the full grid guide populated with channels and programme data.

Typing tip: entering a long server URL with a remote is painful. Install the Amazon Fire TV app (or Google TV app) on your phone — it gives you a phone keyboard for your TV.

Step 3 — Worth knowing: free vs Premium

The free version plays everything with one playlist. TiviMate Premium adds the features that make the app famous:

• Multiple playlists and profiles
• Favorites and custom channel ordering
• Catch-up (replay programmes from the last few days — how catch-up works)
• Scheduled recording to local storage
• Sleep timer, PiP, and layout customization

Pricing at the time of writing: about $4.99/month, $9.99/year, or ~$34 lifetime, covering up to 5 devices — you buy it inside the app or through TiviMate Companion on your phone, and a free trial of Premium is usually offered before you commit. If you watch TV most days, the yearly plan pays for itself in comfort. (Prices vary slightly by region — check inside the app.)

Step 4 — Five settings worth changing on day one

Head to Settings (gear icon, left panel):

1. Playback → Buffer size → Large. The single best stability improvement — most “TiviMate keeps freezing” complaints end here (more buffering fixes).
2. Appearance → EPG → 90 minutes visible. Shows more guide at once.
3. Playback → Restore last channel on startup. The app opens straight onto whatever you were watching.
4. General → Update channels on startup. Keeps the channel list synced with your provider.
5. Long-press a channel → Add to favorites (Premium). Build a favorites row so your daily channels are two clicks away — with 20,000+ channels on our plans, you’ll want it.

Common TiviMate problems (and the actual fixes)

“Playlist could not be loaded” — 90% of the time it’s a typo in the server URL (missing port, https instead of http, a stray space). Re-enter the three lines exactly as your provider sent them.

Channels load but the guide is empty — go to Settings → EPG → Update EPG. If it’s still empty after a minute, your provider’s EPG URL wasn’t auto-detected; ask them for the EPG link and paste it under Settings → EPG → Add EPG source.

Buffering every evening around 8–9 PM — that’s peak-hour congestion, not the app. Fix order: Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi, larger buffer (step 4 above), and check your line with our internet speed guide.

“App not compatible” on your phone — TiviMate is TV-only by design. On an Android phone, use IPTV Smarters Pro instead (setup guide).

Frequently asked questions

Does TiviMate work on Samsung or LG Smart TVs?

No — TiviMate is Android TV only. On Samsung/LG, IBO Player is the closest experience, activated by MAC address directly on the TV.

Do I need TiviMate Premium for it to work?

No. Free TiviMate plays all channels with one playlist. Premium adds favorites, catch-up, recording, and multiple playlists — quality-of-life, not necessity.

Can I use the same IPTV subscription in TiviMate on two TVs?

Your TiviMate Premium license covers 5 devices, but simultaneous streams depend on your IPTV plan — our multi-device guide explains how connections are counted.

Is TiviMate legal?

TiviMate itself is just a player, like VLC — it plays whatever playlist you load. What matters is the source of the subscription; we unpack the nuances in our IPTV legality guide.

Ready to see it in action?

The fastest way to judge TiviMate is with a live playlist in it. Message us on WhatsApp for a free trial — you’ll have your Xtream login in minutes, and the whole setup above takes less time than brewing coffee. When you’re convinced, plans start at €5/month on the yearly option and the same login works in every app on this list.