Short answer: setting up TiviMate takes about ten minutes: install it on an Android TV, Google TV or Fire OS device, add the M3U link or Xtream login your provider gave you, add a guide (EPG) source if one isn't included, then tidy up the channel list. The non-obvious parts are that TiviMate contains no channels of its own, that Premium is usually activated through a separate TiviMate Companion app rather than in TiviMate itself, and that the app runs only on Android-based TV devices.
At a glance
TiviMate setup in brief
| Runs on | Android TV, Google TV, Fire OS devices |
| Doesn't run on | iPhone, Apple TV, Roku, Vega OS Fire TV |
| You need | M3U link, Xtream login or Stalker portal |
| Premium | Via TiviMate Companion; about $10/yr or ~$34 lifetime |
| Time | 10-15 minutes, plus guide loading |
Before you start
Check the device. TiviMate is an Android app built for remote-control navigation. It runs on Google TV and Android TV devices (including the NVIDIA Shield and Google TV Streamer) and on Fire TV models that use Android-based Fire OS. It doesn't exist for iPhone, Apple TV, Roku or the newer Vega OS Fire TV sticks. Our best IPTV player app guide covers alternatives for those.
Have your details ready. Your provider will have supplied one of three things: an M3U playlist address, an Xtream-style login (server address, username, password) or a Stalker portal address tied to your device's MAC address. Some also supply a separate XMLTV guide address.
Know what TiviMate is. It's a player only. The developer is explicit that it provides no content, so everything you watch comes from the subscription you add. That subscription should be from a licensed provider.
Step 1: Install TiviMate
On Google TV and Android TV, search for TiviMate IPTV Player in the Google Play Store. The genuine listing is published by Armobsoft FZE; check the developer name, because lookalikes exist.
If it isn't in the Play Store, that has happened before: TiviMate has disappeared from Google Play several times, including for a period in 2026, and then returned. The only safe alternative source is the developer's own official site. Avoid modified or "unlocked" copies from anywhere else; they are a common route for malware and they don't receive updates.
On a Fire OS device, TiviMate isn't in the Amazon Appstore, so it has to be installed from the developer's official download using the per-app "install unknown apps" permission. Vega OS sticks can't install it at all. See our Firestick guide for which model you have.
Step 2: Add your playlist
On first launch TiviMate asks you to add a playlist. Choose the type that matches what your provider gave you.
| Your provider gave you | Choose | Enter |
|---|---|---|
| A single web address ending .m3u or similar | M3U playlist | The full address, carefully |
| Server address, username, password | Xtream Codes login | All three, including the port |
| A portal address for your MAC | Stalker portal | Portal URL; register the MAC shown |
Typing on a remote is slow. For long M3U addresses, some providers offer a short link or a QR code. Alternatively, install a keyboard app on your phone that can type on the TV.
Include the port. For Xtream logins the server usually ends with a colon and a number, such as :8080. Leaving it out is the single most common setup failure.
After you press Next, TiviMate downloads the channel list and shows how many channels and groups it found. Give it a minute with large playlists.
Step 3: Set up the TV guide
Xtream logins usually include the guide automatically; you'll see programme names within a few minutes.
M3U playlists often need a separate XMLTV guide address. Add it under Settings → Playlists → your playlist → EPG sources, then choose an update interval. Twelve to twenty-four hours is plenty.
Empty guide rows mean a channel's ID in the playlist doesn't match an ID in the guide file. In the channel's options you can manually pick the matching guide entry.
Wrong times are fixed with the per-source time offset rather than by changing the TV's clock.
The free version shows a limited window of guide data; Premium extends it and allows multiple guide sources.
Step 4: Premium, if you want it
The free version handles one playlist and basic playback. Premium is where most of TiviMate's reputation comes from.
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Playlists | One | Several |
| Recording | No | Yes, to device or USB storage |
| Catch-up | No | Yes, if your provider offers it |
| Multi-view | No | Yes |
| Favourites and custom groups | Limited | Full |
| Backup and restore settings | No | Yes |
How to activate. Premium is typically bought and managed in the TiviMate Companion app on an Android phone, signed in with the same account as the TV app. Your TiviMate account then unlocks Premium on each device you sign in on, up to five.
What it costs. Recent pricing has been around $10 a year or about $34 for a lifetime licence, varying by region and payment route. Check the current price in the Companion app before paying, and never buy 'Premium' from anyone other than the developer.
Step 5: Organise channels
A fresh playlist can hold thousands of channels. Ten minutes of tidying makes TiviMate far nicer to use.
Hide groups you'll never watch. Long-press a group in the channel list and hide it. It stays in the playlist but out of the way.
Build a Favourites group. Long-press a channel and add it to favourites, then set Favourites as the start-up group in Settings.
Renumber if you like. Premium lets you reorder and renumber channels to mimic a traditional TV line-up.
Back up. Once you're happy, a Premium backup saves the whole layout, which is invaluable if you replace the device.
Settings worth changing
Auto frame rate. In the playback settings, matching the TV's refresh rate to the content removes judder on sport and films. Turn it on if your TV handles the switch quickly.
Hardware decoder. Leave it on. Switch a specific channel to software decoding only if it shows coloured blocks or a black screen.
Start-up behaviour. TiviMate can open straight to the last channel, which feels like a normal TV. It's in the general settings.
Buffer size. A larger buffer can smooth an unreliable connection at the cost of a longer delay when changing channel. Fix the network first.
Using TiviMate on more than one TV
The app licence and the stream limit are separate. Premium covers up to five devices, but your provider decides how many can stream at the same moment. Many plans allow one or two; watching on a third TV then fails, however many TiviMate licences you have.
Copy your layout. Rather than rebuilding favourites on each TV, back up settings on the first device and restore them on the others.
Record on one device. Pick the box with the most storage, ideally with a USB drive attached, and schedule recordings there.
Our guide to IPTV multiple connections explains stream limits in more detail.
If something isn't working
'Playlist could not be loaded'. Recheck the address or login, including the port and any capitals, then confirm with your provider that the account is active.
Channels load but won't play. Try another channel. If none play, the issue is usually the account or the provider's server; if some do, it's those streams.
Buffering. Almost always the network. Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi beats any app setting.
Premium disappeared. Check you're signed in with the same account used in the Companion app and that you haven't exceeded the device limit.
Quick answers
How do I set up TiviMate? Install it on an Android TV, Google TV or Fire OS device, add the M3U link, Xtream login or Stalker portal your provider supplied, add a guide source if needed, and organise the channel list.
Does TiviMate come with channels? No. TiviMate is a player only and provides no content. Channels come from the playlist or login supplied by your provider.
How do I get TiviMate Premium? Premium is typically bought through the TiviMate Companion app on an Android phone, signed in with the same account as the TV app. One Premium account covers up to five devices.
How much is TiviMate Premium? Recent prices have been roughly $10 a year or about $34 for lifetime access, varying by region. Check the Companion app for the current price.
Why is TiviMate not in the Play Store? It has been removed from Google Play several times and later returned. When it's missing, only the developer's official site is a safe alternative source.
Can I use TiviMate on an iPhone or Apple TV? No. TiviMate is Android-only. Apple devices have their own IPTV players, such as UHF or IPTVX.
Why is my TiviMate guide empty? The playlist may not include a guide, or channel IDs may not match the guide file. Add an XMLTV source and match unmatched channels manually.
Can TiviMate record? Yes, with Premium. Recordings go to the device's storage or an attached USB drive.
TiviMate's menus, Premium pricing and Play Store availability change from version to version, and the developer occasionally changes how Premium is activated. Checked September 2026.