1. Install a player from Google Play
Open the Play Store on the TV (or install from play.google.com on your phone and pick the TV as the target). Search for one of these:
- TiviMate IPTV Player: the best choice for live TV and the guide. See our TiviMate setup.
- IPTV Smarters Pro, if your region lists it. Otherwise sideload it (step 2).
2. Or sideload it with Downloader
- Install Downloader by AFTVnews from Google Play.
- Allow it to install apps: Settings → Apps → Security & restrictions → Unknown sources → Downloader → ON. On Google TV this sits under Settings → System → Developer options, which you unlock by pressing Android TV OS build seven times under Settings → System → About.
- Open Downloader, enter the developer's official download link, and install.
3. Sign in
Choose Xtream Codes in the app and enter the server URL, username and password from your email. Leave the guide (EPG) setting on automatic. Xtream logins fetch it for you.
Tips for Nvidia Shield and 4K boxes
- Set Display & Sound → Resolution to 4K at 60 Hz, and turn on Match frame rate if your app supports it. Films play smoother.
- In TiviMate, open Settings → Player and pick the hardware decoder for 4K channels.
- Cheap unbranded boxes often throttle when they get hot. If 4K stutters after 30 minutes but HD is fine, the box is the limit.
Chromecast with Google TV storage
The HD model has 8 GB of storage, and most of it is used. Uninstall apps you don't use and clear your player's cache now and then (Settings → Apps → [player] → Clear cache). If live channels start lagging, see how to fix buffering.