TiviMate is a player app popular with people who watch live TV on Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV devices. It does not supply channels itself. Like any IPTV player, it is an empty shell until you give it a playlist or login from your subscription. What it does well is present those channels in a clean, remote-friendly layout with a proper programme guide, favourites and quick channel switching. This guide covers installation, setup and the settings worth changing.
What TiviMate is and where it runs
TiviMate is built for Android-based televisions and boxes, which includes Android TV, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV devices. It is not an app for Apple TV, Roku, Samsung or LG televisions, so check your hardware first. If you are on one of those platforms, look at our guides for Apple TV, Samsung or LG instead. You can read about the app on the official TiviMate website and find the listing on Google Play.
TiviMate has a free version and optional paid upgrade features, with some conveniences such as extra playlists and recording usually sitting behind the upgrade. Pricing and feature lists change, so check the official site rather than relying on a third-party summary.
What you need
- A compatible device: Google TV, Android TV or a Fire TV Stick or box
- A stable internet connection, ideally wired for the main TV
- Your provider's M3U playlist link or Xtream login (server address, username, password)
- Optionally, an XMLTV guide address if your provider supplies one separately
A subscription such as Sonix IPTV supplies those credentials after you sign up. Not sure which type you have? The quick rule is that Xtream login is shorter to type and usually pulls in the guide automatically.
Step 1: install TiviMate
On Google TV or Android TV, open the Play Store from the home screen, search for TiviMate and install the app. On Fire TV, search the Amazon Appstore first; if the app is not listed for your device, the usual route is the Downloader app with the official download address published on the TiviMate website. Only use the official source, never a random mirror site, because modified copies of apps are a common way to spread malware. Our Firestick guide explains how to enable installs from the Downloader safely.
Step 2: add your playlist
Open the app and choose Add playlist. You will see options for an M3U link, Xtream codes login and sometimes others such as a Stalker portal. Pick the type your provider gave you.
- M3U playlist: paste the full link exactly. Typing it with a TV remote is slow, so use a phone keyboard app or a USB keyboard if you can
- Xtream codes: enter the server address, username and password in the three fields. Include the port if the address has one
- Give the playlist a recognisable name, then let it finish loading before pressing back
Loading thousands of channels can take a minute on the first run, so wait until the guide and categories appear rather than restarting. If the app says the playlist is invalid, re-check for extra spaces, a missing character, or an expired subscription.
Step 3: guide, groups and favourites
With Xtream login, TiviMate normally loads programme guide data automatically. With a plain M3U, you may need to add an EPG source address in the playlist settings. After that, spend a few minutes organising: hide channel groups you will never open, rename or reorder groups, and create favourite groups such as Sports, News and Kids. This makes the app feel far faster, because you reach your channels in two presses. If schedule data looks wrong or shows no information, our EPG explainer lists the usual causes.
Settings worth checking
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Automatic frame rate / resolution matching | Can reduce judder if your TV handles mode switching well; test on and off |
| Buffer size | A slightly larger buffer can help on unstable networks, at the cost of longer channel start times |
| Update interval for playlist and guide | Keeps channel lists fresh without manual reloading |
| Default player and audio language | Saves changing audio tracks on every channel |
Swipe to see more →
Troubleshooting
- Playlist will not load: re-enter the details, then confirm your subscription is active and your device clock is correct
- No guide data: check the EPG source, wait for the first update, then match channels if the app offers manual matching
- Buffering on all channels: test a wired connection and follow the steps in our buffering fix guide
- Single channel failing: it may be a stream issue on the provider side, so note the channel name and contact support
A few habits keep TiviMate running well over months rather than days. Avoid loading several huge playlists you never use, because every extra list means more data for the app to refresh on a modest device. Back up your settings if the app offers a backup option, so that a factory reset or a new box does not mean rebuilding your favourites by hand. After a major app or device update, open the guide and check that your favourite groups and recordings, if you use them, are still intact.
If you share the TV with family, set up separate favourite groups instead of one long list. A Kids group, a Sports group and a News group mean nobody has to scroll past channels that do not interest them, and parental controls, where the app offers them, can keep the Kids group tidy. Finally, remember that TiviMate only displays what your subscription provides. If a channel is missing or dead in every app, the cause is on the service side, and the quickest route to a fix is a clear message to support naming the channel.
If you hit something this guide does not cover, contact Sonix IPTV support with your device model and the exact message you see. Details like these help far more than a general description.