Device guide
IPTV on a Smart TV: which guide to follow
Two Smart TVs that look alike can work very differently, because the system inside decides which apps you can install. Start here if you are not sure what your television runs.
- Depends on
- The TV's operating system
- Easiest systems
- Google TV, Android TV, Fire TV
- Login
- Xtream Codes, M3U or a web portal
- Always possible
- Adding a streaming stick
Why the brand of the TV matters
A Smart TV is a screen with a small computer inside, and that computer runs an operating system chosen by the manufacturer. Each system has its own app store. An IPTV player made for one system does not install on another, in the same way that an iPhone app does not run on an Android phone.
So the question is never really "does IPTV work on my Smart TV?" but "which players does my TV's store offer?". Once a player is installed, the rest is the same everywhere: you enter the access details Smartiflix sends you and start watching.
Find your system, find your guide
The name of the system is usually shown when the TV starts, in its settings under About, or on the box it came in. The home screen is a good clue too.
| Your TV has | Usually found on | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Google TV or Android TV | Many Sony, TCL and Hisense models | Install a player from the Play Store: Android TV guide |
| Fire TV built in | Some Insignia and Toshiba models | Same steps as a Firestick: Firestick guide |
| Tizen | Samsung | A smaller store and a web portal for some apps: Samsung TV guide |
| webOS | LG | A smaller store and a web portal for some apps: LG TV guide |
| Roku TV | Some TCL and Hisense models | No IPTV players to install: Roku guide |
| Another system | Other brands | Check its store for an IPTV player, or add a streaming stick |
The same brand can sell televisions with different systems. A TCL or a Hisense may run Google TV, Roku TV or something else, so check the model you own before you follow a guide.
What to expect from each kind of TV
Televisions with Google TV, Android TV or Fire TV are the straightforward ones. Their stores carry several IPTV players, you log in with a username and a password, and you can change player whenever you like.
Samsung and LG televisions have their own stores with fewer IPTV players. Some of those apps do not ask for a login on the TV at all: they show a code for the television, and you add your playlist from a phone or a computer on the app's website. It works well once it is set up, and the two brand guides explain it.
Roku televisions are built for the channels in the Roku store and do not let you install an IPTV player. The Roku guide explains the two ways round that.
The streaming stick route
Whatever the television, there is a route that always works: a streaming stick or box in one of its HDMI ports. The TV becomes a plain screen, and the stick brings its own store full of players.
| Compared | App built into the TV | Streaming stick or box |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Different for each brand | The same on any television |
| Choice of players | Whatever the TV store offers | The wide choice of Fire TV or Android TV |
| Updates | Stop after some years | Replace the stick and keep the TV |
| When you change TV | Start again on the new set | Unplug it and take it with you |
If your TV runs Google TV, Android TV or Fire TV, the built-in route is all you need. On the others, a stick often saves time, and it can move to another room or another house.
What every setup needs
- A stable internet connection, wired where the TV has an Ethernet port.
- A player app, which Smartiflix does not supply. It has to read M3U playlists or Xtream Codes.
- Your access details, sent by WhatsApp or email once your order is confirmed.
- A few minutes of patience the first time, while the channel list and the TV guide load.
Not sure your television will cope? A free trial lets you find out on your own screen before you choose a plan.