How to set up IPTV on Android TV or Google TV (2026)

An Android TV box, a Google TV device, or a stick like the Chromecast with Google TV is one of the best ways to watch IPTV on a television, because it runs full Android and the Play Store. Setting it up is quick. Here is the step-by-step for the big screen.

Step 1: Install a player from the Play Store

Unlike a Samsung or LG TV, Android TV and Google TV run the Google Play Store, so you install a real IPTV player directly, no sideloading required for most:

1. From the home screen, open the Play Store.
2. Search for the IPTV player you want.
3. Select it and choose Install.
4. Open it once it finishes.

For which player to pick, our best IPTV player for Android TV and Google TV guides give the honest options. In short, TiviMate is the polished, subscription-backed favourite, and Streamblix is a free, ad-free, no-account option that runs on Android TV too.

Step 2: Add your source

The player is empty until you add your channels. You will enter one of two things, the same as on a phone:

• An M3U playlist URL, or
• An Xtream Codes login (server, username, password).

Typing a long URL with a remote is the one fiddly part. Many players offer to pair with a phone or show a code so you can enter the source from your phone's keyboard instead, which is worth using. Our M3U setup guide and Xtream setup guide cover the fields.

Step 3: Attach the program guide

Once channels load, attach or confirm the EPG so you get a proper now-and-next grid. An Xtream account often bundles the guide, so you may not need a separate link. A plain M3U usually needs its XMLTV guide attached once. A good player then keeps it refreshed, as our guide on updating the EPG explains.

Step 4: Get comfortable with the remote

The big difference from a phone is the D-pad remote. Navigation is up, down, left, right, and select, not touch. This is why a player built for the ten-foot experience matters on Android TV: the guide, the channel list, and the settings should all be reachable and readable from the sofa. A phone-first app ported to the TV can feel awkward here, which is the gap dedicated Android TV players fill.

A note on other TV systems

This guide is for Android-based TVs (Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV runs a variant too). If you have a Samsung (Tizen) or LG (webOS) set, the Play Store is not available and the steps differ, see best IPTV player for a smart TV and watching IPTV on Samsung and LG TVs.

The bottom line

On Android TV or Google TV, setup is three steps: install a player from the Play Store, add your M3U or Xtream source (using phone pairing to avoid typing with the remote), and attach the guide. Then it is just a matter of a remote-friendly player. Streamblix is a free, ad-free starting point on Android TV and Google Play.