Android TV Setup, From Play Store to First Channel

Android TV is the easiest platform to set up, because the players are in the Play Store and install like any other app. That covers Google TV, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast with Google TV and the many generic Android boxes.

Before you start

• An Android TV device, Google TV device or Android box
• The activation details from your provider: server URL, username and password
• A stable connection — wired if the device has an ethernet port

Step-by-step

1. Open the Play Store

   From the home screen, open the Google Play Store.

2. Install a player

   Search for IPTV Smarters Pro or TiviMate and install whichever you prefer. TiviMate suits guide-heavy viewing; Smarters suits films and series.

3. Open the app

   Launch it and accept the terms on the first screen.

4. Choose Xtream Codes

   Select Xtream Codes or Login with Xtream Codes API, rather than a plain M3U link, so you get live channels, on-demand content and the guide together.

5. Enter your details

   Type the server URL, username and password from your activation message, then confirm.

6. Wait for the first load

   The channel list arrives first, the programme guide shortly after. Leave the app open until both have finished.

7. Set your preferences

   Mark favourites, hide unused categories and, if the picture stutters, change the decoder setting from hardware to software or back.

Tips that save time

• Boxes with an ethernet port are worth using wired — it removes most buffering complaints in one step.
• Cheap Android boxes with little memory struggle with large channel lists. Hiding categories you do not watch helps considerably.
• If a channel plays sound but shows no picture, switching the decoder between hardware and software in the player's settings usually resolves it.

Questions about Android TV