Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD both follow these steps. The Siri Remote is enough. A paired iPhone keyboard makes the URL easier to type.
In short
- Install iPlayTV or GSE Smart IPTV from the App Store.
- Add the playlist with Xtream Codes or the M3U link.
- Turn the programme guide on and set the clock to London.
What you need
- An Apple TV signed into the App Store.
- Your Xtream username, password and server URL, or the M3U link.
- The TV input set to the Apple TV HDMI port.
Recommended app
Use iPlayTV. iPlayTV is simple on the Siri Remote. GSE Smart IPTV is the alternative if you already use GSE on an iPhone. Other players that also work: GSE Smart IPTV .
Step by step
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Install the player from the App Store
Open the App Store on Apple TV and search for iPlayTV. Install the official app. GSE Smart IPTV is the other listing if iPlayTV is not shown in your store region.
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Add the playlist
Open the app and choose Add playlist or Xtream Codes. Enter a name, the username, the password and the server URL. If the app only shows a URL box, paste the M3U link instead.
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Enable the programme guide
Open the guide tab. If it is empty, paste the XMLTV URL into the EPG field and refresh. Leave the Apple TV date and time on Set Automatically with the timezone set to London.
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Play a channel and check the picture
Open a UK channel in HD first. If it plays, try a 4K channel only when your line holds about 25 Mbps. You can change the video quality inside the player if a 4K stream stalls.
If something goes wrong
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Buffering | The Wi-Fi drops, or the stream is 4K on a line that cannot hold it. | Apple TV prefers 5 GHz or Ethernet. A box in a closed cabinet drops frames. Lower the stream to FHD if 4K keeps pausing. |
| Black screen | The player opened the stream but the video decoder failed. | Press Menu and reopen the channel. If it stays black, delete the playlist and add the Xtream details again. One bad character in the URL causes a black frame rather than an error. |
| Login failed | A username, password or URL was typed with a space or a missing character. | Use the iPhone remote keyboard so you can paste. The Siri Remote keyboard often adds a space at the end of the password. |
| EPG not loading | The guide URL is empty, or the device clock is wrong. | Refresh the guide after the first login. If it stays blank, the EPG URL is missing. Paste the XMLTV link from the welcome message. |
| App not installing | Unknown sources are off, or the store cannot see the app. | Sign out of the App Store and back in if the search returns nothing. Set the store country to the United Kingdom. |
| Guide times are an hour out | The EPG offset does not match UK time, or daylight saving has changed. | Offset 0 is correct for London. After the clocks change, reboot Apple TV so the guide matches the new time. |
Apple TV questions
Does this need a jailbreak?
No. Install from the App Store only. We do not provide or support modified Apple TV apps.
Will it work on an old Apple TV (3rd generation)?
No. That model cannot install these players. You need Apple TV HD or any Apple TV 4K.
Can I use the same login as my iPhone?
Yes. It is the same username and password. Two screens at the same time need two connections on the plan.
The App Store asks me to pay for the player. Is that your fee?
No. Some players sell their own unlock inside the App Store. That payment goes to the app maker. It is separate from the IPTV plan.