IPTV on Samsung Smart TV: how to set it up
How IPTV on Samsung Smart TV works
Samsung televisions run a system called Tizen. Getting IPTV on Samsung Smart TV therefore means using a player that was built for Tizen and published in the Samsung Apps store. Android apps such as TiviMate cannot be installed.
The set-up has three parts: install a player, connect it to your subscription, load the channels.
What you need
- a Samsung Smart TV connected to the internet, ideally by cable;
- a Samsung account signed in on the TV;
- your IPTV login: M3U link, Xtream Codes login or portal address;
- a phone or computer nearby, to enter the playlist on the player’s website.
No login yet? Ask for the free 24h IPTV trial.
Step 1: find a player in the Samsung store
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Open Apps.
- Select the magnifying glass and search for “IPTV”.
The catalogue depends on your country and the year of your TV, and it changes over time. Players you may find include Smart STB, IPTV Smarters Pro and several others with similar names. Pick one that supports the login type you have.
| Your login | Look for a player that offers |
|---|---|
| Xtream Codes login | “Login with Xtream Codes” or “API login” |
| M3U link | “Add playlist” or “M3U URL” |
| Portal address | Portal or “Stalker” support, for example Smart STB |
Install the player and open it.
Step 2: connect the player to your subscription
There are three common ways. Your player uses one of them.
A. Direct login on the TV
The player shows a form for server address, username and password. Type the three values with the remote, including the port number in the address, and confirm.
B. Activation through the player’s website
The player shows a MAC address or device ID on the screen.
- On your phone or computer, open the website named in the app.
- Enter the MAC address or device ID shown on the TV.
- Paste your M3U link, or enter your Xtream Codes details.
- Save, then restart the player on the TV.
This is how Smart IPTV works; see how to set up IPTV via Smart IPTV (SIPTV).
C. Portal with a virtual MAC address
Portal players such as Smart STB behave like a MAG box. The app shows a virtual MAC address. You send it to your provider, who registers it, and you enter the portal address in the app. The full procedure is in how to set up IPTV via Smart STB.
Step 3: load and check
After the connection the player downloads the channel list, library and guide. Open a channel, then check the programme guide. If the times are shifted, correct the time zone in the player’s settings.
About player licences
Several Tizen players are free for a test period and then ask for a one-time or yearly licence. This fee goes to the developer of the player. It is separate from your IPTV subscription and we do not receive it. Check the terms in the app before you decide which player to keep.
Samsung-specific fixes
The app store shows very few apps. Check that the TV’s software is up to date under Settings > Support > Software Update.
The player freezes or will not start. Switch the TV off, unplug it for one minute and start again. Samsung TVs stay in a deep standby that keeps apps in memory.
Apps misbehave after an update. Reset the Smart Hub under Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Reset Smart Hub. You will need to sign in to your Samsung account again and reinstall the player.
Picture stops in the evening. Connect the TV by Ethernet cable. The Wi-Fi modules in TVs are weaker than those in phones.
More general advice is in buffering in IPTV: causes and fixes and Smart IPTV app problems.
The alternative: a stick in the HDMI port
If your store offers no suitable player, or your TV is an older model, a streaming stick solves it in a few minutes. It also gives you the full choice of Android players.
Many Samsung owners end up preferring the stick, because its apps are updated more often than those in the TV’s store.
Test, then decide
With the player running, use your trial evening for the IPTV test checklist. The overview for all brands is how to set up IPTV on Smart TV, and every tutorial is in the IPTV installation guides.
Need an IPTV subscription for this device? Start with the free 24h IPTV trial, compare the IPTV subscription plans from 38 € for 6 months, or open the installation guides for your device.
