This TiviMate setup guide takes you from a fresh install to a working channel list with a full TV guide in about ten minutes. You install TiviMate on an Android TV, Google TV or Fire OS device, add your provider’s Xtream Codes login or M3U URL, attach the EPG if it does not load automatically, and then tidy up groups and favorites. Each step is below, followed by fixes for the problems people hit most often.
If you want an overview of what TiviMate is and whether it is worth paying for first, read our TiviMate IPTV overview. This page is the hands-on part.
Before you start
You need three things:
- A supported device. TiviMate is built for Android TV and Google TV, including the Nvidia Shield and Google TV Streamer. It also runs on Amazon Fire TV devices that use Fire OS, such as the Fire TV Stick 4K, 4K Max and Fire TV Cube.
- Your login details. Either an Xtream Codes login (server URL, username, password) or an M3U playlist URL, plus an EPG (XMLTV) link if your provider gives one separately.
- A legitimate service. TiviMate ships with no channels. Its Google Play listing states that the app provides no content of its own.
One important limit: newer entry-level Fire TV Sticks run Amazon’s Vega OS, which does not run Android apps and does not allow sideloading. TiviMate cannot be installed on those models.
Step 1: Install TiviMate
On Android TV and Google TV
Open the Google Play Store on your TV, search for “TiviMate IPTV Player” and install the app published by Armobsoft FZE. This is the easiest and safest route, and it keeps the app updated automatically.
On Fire TV (Fire OS models)
TiviMate is not available in the Amazon Appstore, and listings there with similar names are not from the developer. Fire OS owners install it by sideloading:
- Go to Settings, then My Fire TV, then Developer Options, and allow installs from unknown apps for the app you will use to download.
- Install the official Downloader app by AFTVnews from the Amazon Appstore. Avoid paid lookalikes.
- Enter the download address listed on TiviMate’s official website and install the APK.
- Turn the unknown-apps setting back off afterwards.
Sideloading always carries some risk, so only use the developer’s own download link. If you are new to Fire TV setup, our Firestick IPTV guide covers the basics.
Step 2: Add your playlist
When you open TiviMate for the first time it asks you to add a playlist.
- Select Add playlist.
- Choose the type your provider gave you: Xtream Codes or an M3U URL. TiviMate also supports Stalker portal logins.
- For Xtream Codes, enter the server address with its port (for example http://line.example.com:8080), then your username and password. For M3U, type the full playlist URL (for example http://line.example.com/get.php?username=USER&password=PASS&type=m3u_plus).
- Select Next. TiviMate checks the login and shows how many channels, movies and series it found.
- Give the playlist a name and finish.
Prefer Xtream Codes when you have the choice. It usually loads the guide and catch-up information automatically, and you can refresh the list without retyping a long URL.
Step 3: Load the TV guide (EPG)
With Xtream Codes, the guide normally appears on its own after the first load. If you use M3U or the guide stays empty:
- Open Settings, then EPG, then EPG sources.
- Choose Add source and enter the XMLTV URL from your provider.
- Go back and update the EPG, then wait a few minutes for it to download.
If only some channels show program data, the channel IDs in your playlist do not match the guide. Your provider needs to fix that mapping, or you can assign the correct guide entry to a channel manually in TiviMate’s channel settings.
Step 4: Organize groups and favorites
A large channel list is hard to browse with a remote. Spend five minutes here and you will save time every day.
- Hide groups you never watch from the playlist settings, so foreign or adult categories do not clutter the guide.
- Reorder groups so your main channels appear first.
- Add favorites by long-pressing the select button on a channel and adding it to favorites.
- Set a parental PIN and lock any group you do not want children to open.
Step 5: Unlock Premium (optional)
The free version of TiviMate covers basic viewing. Features such as recording, multi-view and more customization sit behind Premium. You buy Premium through the official TiviMate Companion app on an Android phone or tablet, which manages your activated devices, then sign in to that account from TiviMate’s settings on your TV.
Annual and lifetime options have been offered. Prices change, so check the current price inside the Companion app before you pay, and confirm how many devices your license covers.
Common TiviMate setup problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Login failed” | Missing port or typo in the server URL | Re-enter the URL including the :port, with no trailing slash |
| No channels after loading | Account expired or wrong playlist type | Check the account status with your provider |
| Empty TV guide | No EPG source or EPG not yet updated | Add the XMLTV URL and update the EPG |
| Guide shows wrong times | Time zone offset | Adjust the EPG time shift in settings |
| Channels buffer | Network or server load | Use Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi and test another channel |
For deeper buffering problems, our IPTV connection troubleshooting guide walks through network checks step by step.
Getting the most from your setup
Once the basics work, set TiviMate to start on boot from its settings so your TV opens straight into live TV. Choose the guide layout you prefer, and if you have Premium, try multi-view for watching several games at once.
The app is only as good as the service you load into it. If you still need one, our plan, IPTV Journal, costs $89 for 12 months and gives you an Xtream Codes login and M3U link that work in TiviMate. You can see the plan details here. Whatever you choose, make sure the service has the rights to what it streams and that it is legal where you live.
FAQ
Is TiviMate free?
TiviMate is free to install and use for basic live TV. Premium features such as recording and multi-view require a paid upgrade bought through the TiviMate Companion app.
Can I install TiviMate on any Fire TV Stick?
Only on Fire TV devices running Fire OS, and only by sideloading, because TiviMate is not in the Amazon Appstore. The newer entry-level sticks that run Vega OS cannot install it.
Should I choose Xtream Codes or M3U in TiviMate?
Choose Xtream Codes if your provider offers it. It is easier to type, usually loads the guide automatically and supports catch-up more reliably. Use M3U when that is the only option.
Why is my TiviMate TV guide empty?
Either no EPG source is set or the guide has not finished updating. Add your provider’s XMLTV link under the EPG sources, update it and wait a few minutes before checking again.
Can I use TiviMate on my phone?
TiviMate’s Google Play listing says it is designed for Android TV and not optimized for touch devices. On a phone, a touch-first player is a better choice.
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