Putting Xtream credentials into TiviMate

The exact fields TiviMate asks for, why it wants a playlist name, and what to do when the channel list comes back empty.

What TiviMate needs

TiviMate asks for three things when you add an Xtream playlist: the server URL, a username and a password. That is the entire Xtream contract — those three values are what the API authenticates on, and every field the app shows afterwards is derived from them.

Enter the server URL exactly as given, including the port. A URL like http://example.com:8080 will fail if you drop the :8080, because the provider is almost never listening on port 80. Do not add /c, /player_api.php or any other path — TiviMate appends those itself, and adding them by hand produces a doubled path the server rejects.

Adding the playlist

Open TiviMate, go to Settings, then Playlists, then Add playlist. Choose "Xtream Codes" rather than "M3U playlist" — the Xtream option gives you a proper programme guide, catch-up and series support, where the M3U option gives you a flat channel list and little else.

The playlist name is cosmetic and local to your device. Give it something you will recognise later; if you end up testing several endpoints, "Server 1" and "Server 2" beats three playlists all called "IPTV".

When the channel list comes back empty

An empty list after a successful login almost always means the account authenticated but has no active bouquets assigned. That is a provider-side state and nothing you can fix from the app. Generate another credential rather than reinstalling anything.

If the login itself fails, work through it in order. Check the expiry date first — an expired account returns an authentication error that looks identical to a wrong password. Then confirm the port. Then try the same credentials in VLC or a browser: if http://server:port/player_api.php?username=U&password=P returns JSON, the credentials are fine and the problem is in the app.

Buffering that is not the server's fault

TiviMate has a buffer setting under Settings, Playback. The default is deliberately small to keep zapping fast. If streams start and then stutter a few seconds in, raise it before you blame the endpoint — the symptom of an under-sized buffer on a jittery connection is indistinguishable from an overloaded server.

Wired Ethernet fixes more IPTV stuttering than any app setting. Wi-Fi throughput is usually adequate; the problem is jitter, and a cable removes it entirely.