Which Playlist Format Does Your Provider Use?

Before adding a playlist you need to know which format your provider sent you. Check the welcome email from your IPTV subscription — the credentials make the format obvious.

Most common

M3U URL

A single long URL ending in .m3u or .m3u_plus. Contains your username and password embedded in the URL itself.

http://server.com:8080/get.php?username=USER&password=PASS&type=m3u_plus
Recommended

Xtream Codes

Three separate fields — server URL, username, password. More secure than M3U and EPG is included automatically without a separate URL.

Server: http://server.com:8080
Username: youruser
Password: yourpass
Less common

Stalker Portal

Portal URL plus a MAC address. Used by some Middle Eastern and Eastern European providers. The MAC address is whitelisted on the provider's server.

Portal: http://portal.com/c/
MAC: 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX

How to Add Each Playlist Type

All three live behind the same entry point: Settings → Playlists → Add Playlist. The format you pick on the next screen determines which fields TiviMate asks for.

Add an M3U Playlist

  1. Open the Add Playlist screen
    TiviMate ▸ Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ Add Playlist ▸ M3U Playlist
  2. Paste the full M3U URL Use the on-screen keyboard or — much easier — pair your phone via TiviMate Companion and type from there. Give the playlist a recognisable name.
    Tip
    If channels load with no categories, ask your provider for the m3u_plus version of the URL — it includes group titles that TiviMate uses for categories.
  3. Tap Add TiviMate fetches the playlist and lists channels within seconds.
    ⚠ Never share an M3U URL publicly
    The URL contains your username and password in plain text. Anyone who has it can use your subscription on their device until you change credentials.

Add an Xtream Codes Playlist

  1. Open the Add Playlist screen
    TiviMate ▸ Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ Add Playlist ▸ Xtream Codes
  2. Enter Server, Username and Password Three separate fields exactly as they appear in your welcome email. Server includes the http:// and port (e.g. :8080).
  3. Tap Add TiviMate authenticates and pulls channels, categories and EPG in one step.
    ✓ Why Xtream Codes is preferred
    EPG is included automatically — no separate EPG URL needed. Credentials are not exposed in a single shareable URL.

Add a Stalker Portal Playlist

  1. Open the Add Playlist screen
    TiviMate ▸ Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ Add Playlist ▸ Stalker Portal
  2. Enter the portal URL and tap Next twice The portal URL usually ends in /c/ or /stalker_portal/c/. TiviMate auto-generates a MAC address on the next screen — do not keep it.
  3. Replace the auto-generated MAC with your provider's MAC Delete the generated MAC and paste in the exact MAC address from your welcome email. Format 00:1A:79:XX:XX:XX.
    ⚠ Auto-generated MAC will never work
    Stalker Portal authenticates by MAC. Your provider has whitelisted one specific MAC on their server. Any other MAC — including the one TiviMate generates — is rejected.
  4. Tap Next twice, then Done TiviMate connects to the portal and loads channels.

Managing Multiple Playlists (Premium Feature)

The free version of TiviMate limits you to one playlist. Premium removes this limit entirely. If you have more than one IPTV subscription — or want to test a new provider alongside your existing one — here is how to manage them cleanly.

Cleanup

Hide duplicate channels

When two playlists carry the same channel, TiviMate can hide the duplicates so the channel list stays tidy.

Settings ▸ Playlist Settings ▸ Channel Options ▸ Hide Duplicates
Priority

Set playlist priority order

The first playlist in the list takes priority — its version of a duplicated channel is the one that plays. Drag to reorder.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ drag to reorder
Refresh control

Per-playlist update interval

Different providers update at different rates. Set each playlist to refresh on its own schedule.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ select ▸ Update Interval
Tidy lists

Hide unused groups

Most playlists ship 20+ category groups you do not watch. Hide them once and the channel grid becomes immediately easier to navigate.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ select ▸ Manage Groups

The Output Format Setting — MPEG-TS vs HLS

This is a setting that makes a real difference on some connections and almost no guide covers it. Available for Xtream Codes playlists only.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ select playlist ▸ Xtream Codes Parameters ▸ Output Format
Default

MPEG-TS

Higher quality video and audio. Requires more bandwidth and a consistent connection. Best for fast stable Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet.

Fallback

HLS

Lower bitrate, less bandwidth required. Handles unstable connections better. If you have weak Wi-Fi or ISP throttling, switching to HLS can eliminate buffering on channels that struggle in MPEG-TS.

Recommended approach
Try MPEG-TS first. If you get buffering on certain channels that your connection speed should handle, switch that playlist to HLS and test again. Many users find HLS more reliable on shared household Wi-Fi during peak hours.

How to Reload and Refresh Your Playlist

Three different refresh actions for three different situations.

Scheduled

Update playlist

Manual trigger of the scheduled update. Use when channels are missing after your provider added new ones.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ select ▸ Update
Force

Force reload

Bypasses TiviMate's cache and re-fetches the playlist from scratch. Use when Update does not pull in obvious changes.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ long-press playlist ▸ Reload
Last resort

Delete and re-add

Removes all cached data including grouping and favourites for that playlist. Use only when reload does not fix authentication or channel-list issues.

Settings ▸ Playlists ▸ long-press ▸ Delete

Quick Reference — Every Playlist Action

ActionPath
Add M3U playlistSettings → Playlists → Add Playlist → M3U Playlist
Add Xtream CodesSettings → Playlists → Add Playlist → Xtream Codes
Add Stalker PortalSettings → Playlists → Add Playlist → Stalker Portal
Update playlistSettings → Playlists → select playlist → Update
Force reloadSettings → Playlists → long-press playlist → Reload
Set update intervalSettings → Playlists → select playlist → Update Interval
Hide duplicate channelsSettings → Playlist Settings → Channel Options → Hide Duplicates
Hide unused groupsSettings → Playlists → select playlist → Manage Groups
Change output formatSettings → Playlists → select → Xtream Codes Parameters → Output Format
Reorder playlistsSettings → Playlists → drag to reorder
Delete playlistSettings → Playlists → long-press → Delete

Keep going with TiviMate

For a full TiviMate setup from scratch see our TiviMate Setup guide. For complete EPG configuration including the best free sources see our TiviMate EPG guide. For the best IPTV services that work with TiviMate see our best IPTV services guide.

Browse top IPTV services