Short answer: TiviMate still works in October 2026, but how you get it and keep it updated now depends on the device. The app dropped out of Google Play search for many users in late July 2026, as it has a few times before. Copies already installed carry on as normal. The awkward cases are new installs, Premium activation on a reinstalled copy, and the newest Fire TV sticks, which can't run it at all.
At a glance
TiviMate in 2026
| Already installed? | Keeps working, playlists and recordings intact |
| Google Play | Listing has come and gone; check on your own device |
| Only safe fallback | The developer's own site, tivimate.com |
| Can't run it | Vega OS Fire TV, Roku, Apple, Samsung, LG |
| Developer | Armobsoft FZE (check this on any listing) |
What happened in July 2026
In the last week of July 2026, users on Android TV and Google TV boxes started reporting that TiviMate IPTV Player no longer appeared when they searched Google Play. Tech news sites picked it up around 28 July, describing it as the app vanishing "again". It's not the first gap: TiviMate's listing has disappeared and returned before, and Play Store listings for IPTV players were unstable all year.
Neither Google nor the developer published a detailed explanation, so treat the reasons below as context rather than a confirmed cause. Two pressures were in the background:
- Rights-holder enforcement. In March 2026, during the men's T20 World Cup, the Indian rights holder JioStar had 36 IPTV apps removed from Google Play and Apple's App Store. TiviMate wasn't named on the widely reported list, but the action showed how quickly player apps can be pulled.
- Google's target-API rules. Google requires apps to target a recent Android version to stay visible to new users, and the bar rose again on 31 August 2026. Apps that lag behind become invisible to new installs on newer devices without being formally removed.
The practical result is the same either way: on some devices TiviMate shows up in Play, on others it doesn't, and that can change week to week. When we loaded the web listing at play.google.com in early October 2026, it still showed the app with a last update of 22 June 2026, but the web page doesn't tell you whether your TV box can see it.
Status on each device
This is the part most "TiviMate download" pages skip. The table covers each family of device as of early October 2026.
| Device | Can it run TiviMate? | How to get it now |
|---|---|---|
| Google TV Streamer, Chromecast with Google TV | Yes | Play Store if visible; otherwise the official download |
| Nvidia Shield TV / Pro | Yes | Same as above |
| Google TV televisions (Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips) | Yes | Same; storage can be tight on TCL and Hisense |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Cube, older 4K and Lite (Fire OS) | Yes | Never in the Amazon Appstore; official download with "install unknown apps" allowed |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Select, newer HD, new Fire TV Stick 4K (Vega OS) | No | No route; Appstore apps only |
| Uncertified Android boxes | Usually | No Play Store; official download only |
| Android phones and tablets | Technically | Not designed for touch; use a mobile-first player |
| iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung, LG, Windows, Mac | No | No official version exists |
The Fire TV line is the one to watch. Amazon stopped selling the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and 4K Plus on 30 September 2026 and launched a third-generation Fire TV Stick 4K on Vega OS at $59.99. If you're buying a stick to run TiviMate, that new model won't do it. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the remaining Fire stick that can. Our Vega OS vs Fire OS guide explains how to check which system yours runs.
Google TV devices have a second change coming. From 30 September 2026, Android began treating apps from unverified developers differently in four countries, with a worldwide rollout planned for 2027. Play Store installs aren't affected. Downloads from outside Play may need a slower install route on newer devices. Our guide to the new sideloading rules has the detail.
If it's already installed
Good news first. An installed copy of TiviMate doesn't phone Google to ask permission to run. Your playlists, guide sources, favourites, hidden groups and scheduled recordings all stay where they are.
What changes is updating. If the Play listing isn't visible on your device, Play won't offer new versions. Recent builds were 5.3.2 (uploaded 2 June 2026) and 5.3.3 (reported in late June). TiviMate has its own update prompt in some builds, which points at the developer's server rather than Play.
Three things to do now, while it works:
- Back up your settings. Premium users can create a backup file from the settings menu. Save it to USB storage or a network folder, not only the box.
- Don't clear data or uninstall "to fix" something. A reinstall is exactly the moment you'll need a source and might hit Premium activation trouble.
- Note your TiviMate account email and which Google account paid for Premium. You'll want both later.
Installing it fresh
Try Google Play first, searching for "TiviMate IPTV Player" and checking that the developer reads Armobsoft FZE. If it's there, install it; you'll get automatic updates.
If it isn't, the only source we'd use is the developer's official site, tivimate.com. On a Fire OS stick, that means installing the Downloader app from the Amazon Appstore, allowing it under Settings → My Fire TV → Developer options → Install unknown apps, and entering the address of the official download. On Google TV, the equivalent permission is under Settings → Apps → Security & restrictions → Unknown sources, granted to whichever app does the downloading.
APK mirror sites are popular, and the well-run ones verify signatures. Even so, a mirror adds one more party you're trusting with an app that will hold your playlist login. The step-by-step version, including the first playlist and guide, is in our TiviMate setup guide.
Premium after the removal
Premium is tied to a TiviMate account and has normally been bought through the separate TiviMate Companion app or the developer's site, not inside TiviMate itself. Typical pricing in 2026 has been around $9.99 a year or roughly $34 for a lifetime licence, covering up to five devices. Check the current price at the point of sale, because it varies by region and payment route.
Two practical snags have been reported since July:
- "Invalid order" errors when activating Premium on a copy installed from outside Play. The usual cause is signing in with a different Google account from the one that made the purchase.
- Companion app availability. The Companion app's own Play listing has been patchy too. If you can't find it, the developer's website is the purchase route to use.
If you were thinking of buying a lifetime licence this month, wait until you can buy it directly from the developer. "Lifetime Premium" sold by resellers on marketplaces or messaging apps isn't something the developer has to honour.
Lookalikes and fake download sites
Every time TiviMate drops out of Play, search results fill with sites that look official. Several of the top results for "tivimate iptv player" are fan sites or download portals, and some offer a "TiviMate for Samsung" or "for Windows" that the developer has never made.
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| "Premium unlocked" or "mod" APK | Modified code, no updates, a known malware route |
| TiviMate "with channels included" | The real app ships empty; this is someone's bundle |
| Versions for iPhone, Roku, Samsung, LG | None exist from the developer |
| A seller bundling "TiviMate + subscription" | The developer doesn't sell channels or partner with sellers |
| Developer name other than Armobsoft FZE | Different app borrowing the name |
TiviMate is a player. It plays a playlist or login you already have, and that content should come from a licensed service. The app's own listing says it provides no channels.
When to switch player
For most people with a Shield, Google TV Streamer or 4K Max, there's no reason to move. An installed TiviMate that works is still one of the best live-TV interfaces on Android.
Switching makes sense if:
- you've bought, or are about to buy, a Vega OS Fire TV stick;
- your household mixes Apple TV, Roku or smart-TV apps, and you'd rather use one player everywhere;
- you need a fresh install and can't get Premium to activate.
Our best IPTV player app guide goes device by device. If your playlist comes from a licensed live TV service, remember the simplest option: that service's own app, which every major platform carries.
Quick answers
Was TiviMate removed from Google Play? It disappeared from Play search for many users in late July 2026, as it has a few times before. Visibility varies by device and has changed over time, so search on your own TV box.
Will my installed TiviMate stop working? No. Installed copies keep running with playlists, guide and recordings intact. You just may not get updates through Play.
Where can I safely download TiviMate? Google Play when it's listed, or the developer's own site, tivimate.com. Avoid modified or "premium unlocked" copies.
Can I install TiviMate on the new Fire TV Stick 4K? No. The third-generation Fire TV Stick 4K, the 4K Select and newer HD sticks run Vega OS, which only runs Amazon Appstore apps. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max still runs Fire OS.
Does Premium still work? Yes, on an existing account. Reinstalled copies sometimes show an "invalid order" error, usually fixed by signing in with the Google account that paid.
Is TiviMate on iPhone or Roku? No. There's no official version for Apple devices, Roku, Samsung, LG, Windows or Mac.
Does TiviMate come with channels? No. It's a player only; you add a playlist or login from a service you subscribe to.
Store listings, version numbers, Premium prices and Android's sideloading rules have all changed during 2026 and may change again with little notice. Check the Play Store on your own device and the developer's site before you pay. Checked October 2026.