TiviMate Setup Guide: Why It’s the Best TV Player for Android TV & Fire Stick

TiviMate: The Ultimate TV Player for Android TV & Fire Stick (Full Setup Guide)

TiviMate is our most-recommended TV player for Android TV and Fire Stick. Learn why it stands out and follow our step-by-step guide to install, activate Premium, and add your channel list with a clean, TV-friendly interface.

Reading time: ~8 minutes

Last updated: 21 August 2025

What is TiviMate?

TiviMate is a powerful TV player designed specifically for big screens—Android TV devices and Amazon Fire TV/Fire Stick. It doesn’t provide channels by itself; instead, it plays streams from your TV provider using an M3U URL or Xtream Codes login. Think of it like a sleek, modern “skin” that puts your channels, TV guide, and on-demand content into a beautiful, remote-friendly app.

Legal note: Use TiviMate only with content you’re entitled to watch. TiviMate is a player, not a content source.

Why we recommend TiviMate

• TV-first interface: Familiar grid EPG, quick-switch zapping, and a polished design made for remotes.
• Fast and reliable playback: Smooth channel changes, hardware acceleration, and adaptive buffering options.
• Fantastic EPG (TV Guide): Multi-day guide, channel logos, programme info, and catch-up tagging (if your provider supports it).
• Multiple playlists: Combine or switch between different line-ups (e.g., home, holiday, kids).
• Profiles & Favorites: Create profiles (Premium), set Favorites, hide or reorder channels for a streamlined lineup.
• Search everything: Quickly find channels, movies, or series (when provided by your source).
• Backup & restore (Premium): Save your layout and settings to cloud storage so you never set up from scratch again.
• Recording & Timeshift (Premium): Record programmes and pause live TV on supported devices with sufficient storage.
• Picture-in-Picture (device-dependent): Keep a small live window while browsing the guide.

TiviMate Free vs Premium (at a glance)

How Premium works: You purchase TiviMate Companion on an Android phone/tablet (Google Play). That account unlocks Premium features inside the TiviMate TV app.

What you need before you start

• Device: Android TV box/TV (e.g., Google TV, NVIDIA SHIELD, Sony/Philips Android TV) or Amazon Fire TV/Fire Stick.
• Internet: Stable broadband; Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi is ideal for HD/4K.
• Your playlist details: Either an M3U URL (+ EPG URL if separate) or Xtream Codes (server, username, password).
• (Optional) Google account: To buy/restore Premium via TiviMate Companion.

How to install TiviMate

A) Android TV / Google TV (Play Store install)

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android TV/Google TV device.
2. Search “TiviMate”.
3. Select TiviMate IPTV Player and choose Install.
4. Once installed, open TiviMate from Apps.

Tip: If you plan to use Premium, also install TiviMate Companion on your Android phone/tablet to purchase the license. (You don’t install the Companion app on the TV.)

B) Amazon Fire TV / Fire Stick (sideload install)

TiviMate isn’t in the Amazon Appstore, so you sideload the official APK.

1. On your Fire device, go to Settings › My Fire TV › Developer Options.
2. Open Install unknown apps and Allow it for the Downloader app.
3. From the Amazon Appstore, install Downloader by AFTVnews.
4. Open Downloader and enter the official TiviMate download link or a reputable source.
   
   • Only use trusted sources; avoid random mirrors.
6. When prompted, confirm to Install TiviMate.
7. Launch TiviMate from Your Apps & Channels.

Safety tip: Only sideload apps you trust. Keep your device updated and scan files when possible.

Activate TiviMate Premium (optional but recommended)

1. On an Android phone/tablet, open Google Play and purchase TiviMate Companion.
2. Create or use the Google account you’ll keep for your license.
3. On your TV, open TiviMate › Settings › Account and Sign in with the same account to unlock Premium features.
4. In Settings › Backup, connect cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive) so you can back up your layout.

Add your channels (M3U or Xtream Codes)

1. Open TiviMate and choose Add playlist.
2. Pick your method:
   
   • M3U playlist → paste the M3U URL.
   • Xtream Codes → enter Server URL, Username, and Password.
4. If your provider gives a separate EPG URL, add it when prompted (or later via Playlist settings › EPG).
5. Choose Update interval (e.g., every 6–12 hours) for automatic refresh.
6. Wait for channels and guide to load. You’ll land on the Live TV grid.

Make your lineup clean & simple

1. Set Favorites: On a channel, long-press (or use the options button) → Add to favorites.
2. Reorder/Hiding (Premium):
   
   • Go to Settings › Channel list › Manage channels.
   • Hide channels or groups you don’t watch.
   • Drag to reorder groups and channels.
4. Logos & EPG mapping:
   
   • Settings › EPG to adjust time offset if programme times look off.
   • If logos don’t appear, enable Use logos from EPG or provide a separate logo pack if you have one.
6. Profiles (Premium):
   
   • Settings › Profiles → create e.g., “Kids” with only child-friendly groups visible.

Playback & quality tips

• Decoder: In Settings › Playback, try Auto first. If you see stutter, test Hardware vs Software decoding.
• Buffer size: Increase buffer slightly if your connection fluctuates; reduce it on low-memory sticks.
• Match frame rate (if available): Enabling frame-rate matching can smooth sports and live events.
• Preferred player: TiviMate uses its internal player. Only switch to an external player if you have a specific need.
• Network: Use Ethernet or strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Avoid congested 2.4 GHz if possible.

Using Catch-Up, Timeshift & Recording (Premium)

• Catch-Up TV: If your provider marks programmes as catch-up, you’ll see a replay icon in the EPG. Select past shows to watch instantly.
• Timeshift (Pause Live): Enable Timeshift in Settings › Playback and set the storage location.
• Recording:
  
  1. In Settings › Recording, choose a storage folder (internal or USB).
  2. From the EPG, select a programme and choose Record (one-off or series, if available).
  3. Keep the device powered and ensure there’s enough free space.

Note: Some devices limit background recording or deep-sleep during standby. If recordings fail, keep the app in foreground and prevent sleep during that time.

Optional: Add VOD & Series

If your provider supplies VOD (movies) and Series, they’ll appear as separate sections. Use the Search function to find titles quickly and add them to Favorites.

Troubleshooting (quick fixes)

• Black screen / no audio: Toggle decoder (Auto/Hardware/Software) and restart the app.
• Guide times wrong: Set EPG time offset (e.g., +1 hour) in Settings › EPG.
• Missing channels: Pull-to-refresh or Settings › Other › Update all playlists. Verify your M3U/XC credentials.
• Stutter/buffering: Prefer Ethernet or 5 GHz; reduce buffer size if memory-limited; close background apps; reboot device/router.
• App crashes on Fire Stick: Clear cache (Settings › Applications › Manage Installed Applications › TiviMate › Clear cache) and keep at least 1–2 GB free storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TiviMate free?

Yes, with core features. Premium adds multi-playlist management, recording, profiles, backup/restore and more via a low-cost license (purchased through TiviMate Companion on Android).

Does TiviMate work on iPhone, iPad, Samsung/LG TVs?

No. TiviMate is for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. For other ecosystems, use a player built for that platform.

Can I use multiple devices with one license?

The Companion app license generally supports multiple devices within fair use under the same account. For households with many TVs, consider multiple licenses to stay within terms.

Where do the channels come from?

From your IPTV provider via M3U URL or Xtream Codes. TiviMate itself does not include content.

Quick start checklist

• Install TiviMate (Play Store on Android TV, sideload on Fire).
• (Optional) Buy TiviMate Premium via TiviMate Companion on your Android phone.
• Add your M3U or Xtream Codes.
• Add your EPG URL (if separate).
• Create Favorites, hide clutter, and reorder channels.
• Tune playback (decoder, buffer, frame-rate match).
• Enable Backup (Premium) so you can restore anytime.

Need a hand?

If you’re new and want a hassle-free setup, we can provide your playlist details and guide you through the whole process. Ask about our 24-hour trial to test drive the experience first.