TiviMate IPTV Player — Complete Setup Guide
TiviMate is widely regarded as the best IPTV player app available for Android-based devices. It offers a premium EPG experience that closely resembles a traditional Sky or Virgin Media programme guide, with support for catch-up TV, recording, multiple playlists, and deep customisation. This guide covers installation, playlist setup, EPG configuration, and the settings that matter most for a smooth UK viewing experience.
What Is TiviMate and Why Use It?
TiviMate is an IPTV player application built specifically for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV devices. Unlike simpler players such as IPTV Smarters, TiviMate focuses on delivering a polished, set-top-box-like experience with a full electronic programme guide, channel grouping, favourites management, and catch-up TV support. For UK viewers who want their IPTV subscription to feel as familiar and intuitive as Sky Q or Virgin TV 360, TiviMate is the closest you can get.
The free version of TiviMate allows one playlist and provides access to all core features. TiviMate Premium (a one-time purchase, not a subscription) unlocks multiple playlists, recording, scheduled recordings, and the ability to manage favourite channel groups. Most serious IPTV users upgrade to Premium within days of trying the free version.
Compatible Devices
- Amazon Firestick (all models — Lite, 4K, 4K Max, Cube)
- Nvidia Shield TV and Shield TV Pro
- Android TV boxes (Mecool, Formuler, X96, T95)
- Google Chromecast with Google TV
- Smart TVs running Android TV OS (Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips)
TiviMate does not run on Samsung Tizen TVs, LG webOS TVs, or iOS/Apple TV natively. If you have a Samsung or LG TV, you can still use TiviMate by plugging a Firestick or Android TV box into your HDMI port.
What You Need
- An Android-based streaming device (see compatible list above)
- Your IPTV subscription credentials — Xtream Codes or M3U URL
- A stable broadband connection (15 Mbps minimum for HD, 25+ for 4K)
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Installing TiviMate
On Android TV / Nvidia Shield / Google TV
Open the Google Play Store on your device, search for “TiviMate”, and install it directly. This is the simplest method and ensures you always receive automatic updates.
On Amazon Firestick
TiviMate is not available on the Amazon App Store, so you need to sideload it using the Downloader app. If you have not already installed Downloader, follow steps 1 and 2 in our Firestick setup guide. Then open Downloader, enter the TiviMate download URL (available from the official TiviMate website or your IPTV provider), and install the APK.
Adding Your IPTV Playlist
Open TiviMate and Start Setup
Launch TiviMate for the first time. You will see a welcome screen prompting you to add a playlist. Tap Add Playlist to begin.
Choose Your Connection Method
TiviMate offers two options:
Xtream Codes (Recommended): Select this if your IPTV provider gave you a server address, username, and password. This is the preferred method because it enables full EPG integration, catch-up TV, and automatic channel categorisation. Enter your server URL (without the /get.php part — TiviMate adds this automatically), your username, and your password.
M3U Playlist: Select this if your provider gave you a single URL ending in .m3u or .m3u8. Paste the full URL. M3U works well for basic channel loading but may not support catch-up TV or VOD sections depending on your provider.
Wait for Playlist to Load
After entering your credentials, TiviMate will connect to your IPTV server and download your channel list. Depending on the size of your subscription (some providers have 10,000+ channels), this can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes on first load. A progress indicator will show the download status.
Set a Playlist Name
TiviMate will ask you to name your playlist. Give it something recognisable like “Main IPTV” or your provider name. This is especially useful if you later add a second playlist (Premium feature). Tap Done and your channels will appear.
Configuring the EPG (Programme Guide)
The EPG is where TiviMate truly shines. A properly configured EPG transforms your IPTV experience from a basic channel list into a full TV guide with programme names, descriptions, start and end times, and genre icons.
Go to Settings > EPG. If you connected via Xtream Codes, your EPG source should already be configured automatically. Enable Auto-update EPG and set the update interval to every 4 to 8 hours. This ensures your programme guide stays current without consuming excessive bandwidth.
To access the EPG view, press the OK/Select button on your remote while watching a channel, then navigate to the TV Guide option. You will see a familiar grid layout with channels on the left and time slots across the top — identical to how Sky Q and Virgin Media display their programme guides.
Setting Up Favourite Channels
With thousands of channels available, you do not want to scroll through the entire list every time you watch TV. TiviMate lets you create custom favourite groups to organise your most-watched channels.
While browsing the channel list, long-press on any channel and select Add to Favourites. You can create multiple favourite groups — for example, “UK Entertainment”, “Sports”, “Kids”, and “Movies”. To switch between your favourite groups, press the Left arrow on your remote from the channel list view and select your desired group.
Enabling Catch-Up TV
If your IPTV provider supports catch-up (also called timeshift or archive), TiviMate can display past programmes in the EPG and let you watch them on demand. This works similarly to BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub catch-up, but directly within your IPTV app.
Go to Settings > Playback > Catch-up and ensure it is enabled. When browsing the EPG, past programmes on supported channels will appear with a different colour or icon. Select a past programme and it will start playing from the beginning, just like on-demand.
Optimising Playback Performance
For the best streaming experience, adjust these settings under Settings > Playback:
- Video decoder: Set to “Hardware” for the best performance on most devices. Only switch to “Software” if you experience playback issues with specific channels.
- Buffer size: The default “Auto” setting works for most connections. If you experience occasional buffering during peak hours, increase the buffer size to “Medium” or “High” — this pre-loads more content before playback begins.
- Audio track: Set to “English” as the preferred language so channels automatically select the English audio track where multiple language options exist.
Troubleshooting
EPG Not Showing Programme Names
Go to Settings > EPG and manually trigger an EPG update. If programmes still do not appear, your IPTV provider may use an external EPG source — contact them for the EPG URL and add it manually in Settings > EPG > EPG Sources.
TiviMate Crashes After Loading Large Playlist
Playlists with 15,000+ channels can overwhelm lower-powered devices like the Firestick Lite. Go to Settings > General > Channels and hide channel groups you never watch (such as foreign language categories). This reduces memory usage and improves stability significantly.
Catch-Up Not Available on Any Channels
Catch-up availability depends entirely on your IPTV provider, not TiviMate. Not all providers enable catch-up on their servers. If your provider advertises catch-up support but it does not work in TiviMate, contact their support team to confirm it is enabled on your account and to get the correct Xtream Codes portal URL (some providers have separate catch-up servers).
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