With an Android TV device, you can easily receive IPTV channels – provided you use a suitable app and a legally compliant channel source.
Setting up IPTV with Android TV: Requirements and legal information
To use IPTV on your Android TV device, you need three things: First, a stable internet connection (at least 25 Mbit/s for HD, 50 Mbit/s for UHD), second, a device with the latest Android TV or Google TV system (e.g. Nvidia Shield, Google Chromecast, Xiaomi TV Stick 2), and third, an IPTV-compatible app such as TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro, or Kodi.
- Important to know: IPTV apps do not provide their own content. You must enter a playlist (e.g., in M3U format) or access data from a provider yourself. Please ensure that your source is legal, as illegal pay TV streams violate copyright laws and may result in warnings.
- Alternatively, you can use completely legal IPTV services such as Zattoo, waipu.tv, or MagentaTV. These offer licensed channels, HD quality, recording functions, and reliable support—without any legal gray areas.
Recommended apps and features
The most popular IPTV players on Android TV currently include:
- TiviMate IPTV Player: A modern and intuitive player with electronic program guide (EPG), favorites lists, multi-view, recording function, timeshift, and parental control options. The basic version is free, the premium version costs approximately $12.99 per year or $29.99 one-time.
- IPTV Smarters Pro: Particularly user-friendly and visually appealing. Supports multiple profiles, catch-up TV, multi-screen, and parental controls. Free with ads, the ad-free full version is available for a fee.
- Kodi (with IPTV Simple Client): A completely free and open solution that can be expanded with add-ons. It offers a lot of flexibility but requires some familiarization.
- These apps offer extensive features such as: Electronic program guide (EPG), recording to USB or network, timeshift (live pause and rewind), multi-view (watch multiple channels simultaneously), and parental controls via PIN and user profiles.
Setting up IPTV – step by step (using TiviMate as an example)
Once you have chosen a suitable IPTV app and have a valid channel source, you can begin the setup process. In the following example, we will show you the steps using the popular TiviMate player, as it is particularly user-friendly and functional. The procedure is similar for other apps.
- Install the app: Open the Google Play Store on your Android TV and download “TiviMate IPTV Player.”
- Add playlist: Launch the app, select “Add playlist” and enter your M3U URL or Xtream Codes login details (server, username, password). You can obtain these from a legal IPTV provider.
- Activate EPG: If your provider offers an EPG URL, you can enter it in the settings to get a program preview.
- Customize favorites and layout: You can save channels as favorites, sort groups, and customize logos and views.
- Unlock premium features (optional): For recording, timeshift, and multi-view, you need the paid premium version. This can be purchased via the separate “TiviMate Companion” app on an Android smartphone.
- The setup works similarly with IPTV Smarters Pro. Kodi users must activate the “PVR IPTV Simple Client” add-on and manually insert their M3U playlist.
Alternative: Legal IPTV services without any hassle
If you don’t use your own playlists or want to avoid legal risks, we recommend the following legal providers:
- Zattoo offers over 200 channels in HD, with cloud recording, restart function and EU-wide streaming.
- waipu.tv combines around 300 channels with Netflix options, 4K stick offers, and cloud DVR.
- MagentaTV from Telekom offers a comprehensive TV and streaming package including media libraries, Disney+, and a recording function.
- All of the services mentioned can be installed directly as apps on Android TV. They are legally secure, easy to use, and offer transparent monthly subscriptions – ideal for anyone who wants an uncomplicated TV experience.
