Set Up IPTV Buddy on Your Phone

What You’ll Learn

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:

• complete the Initial Setup wizard in the mobile app
• sign in to the required IPTV Buddy account with email and one-time code
• connect an IPTV provider with Xtream Codes or add an M3U list
• choose the content categories they want to see
• optionally pair a TV device from the mobile app later

This tutorial does not include the first playback. Playback is covered in the mobile playback tutorial.

Before You Start

Make sure you have your IPTV provider information ready.

For Xtream Codes, you need:

• Provider URL
• Username
• Password

For an M3U playlist, you need:

• M3U list name
• M3U list URL

You also need to sign in to your IPTV Buddy account during setup. This is required because IPTV Buddy uses the account to sync data between devices and to restore data after reinstalling the app or switching phones.

Keep access to your email inbox available. IPTV Buddy sends a one-time code to your email address during sign-in.

If you want to pair a TV device later, IPTV Buddy must also be installed and open on the TV. This tutorial only explains the mobile side of pairing. TV installation and TV usage belong in the separate TV tutorial area.

Tutorial Steps

1. Open IPTV Buddy and Start Initial Setup

Open IPTV Buddy on your phone.

When you open the app for the first time, it shows the Initial Setup wizard.

The first screen says Welcome to IPTV Buddy. It explains that the wizard guides you through the key settings.

On this screen, you can also change:

• Language
• Theme

Tap Continue when you are ready.

2. Sign In With Email

The next step asks you to sign in with your email address. This step is required.

Enter your email address and tap Send code.

Open your email inbox, copy the one-time code, and enter it in IPTV Buddy. The app checks the code automatically when it is complete, or you can tap Confirm code.

After sign-in, IPTV Buddy shows Account connected successfully and Signed in as your email address.

Why this step matters:

• IPTV Buddy can sync your settings and app data between devices.
• Your data can be restored after reinstalling the app.
• TV pairing and synced favorite lists depend on the account sync infrastructure.

Tap Continue after the account is connected.

If you are already signed in with the required account, this step may already show the connected state.

If you entered the wrong email address, use Use another email before confirming the code.

3. Allow Notification Permission

The next step is Notifications.

The app shows Permission required and the button Allow permission.

Tap Allow permission and accept the system permission request.

If the permission was previously blocked, IPTV Buddy may show Open settings instead. Use this if your phone requires you to enable notifications from the operating system settings.

Why this step matters:

• reminders for programmes need notification permission
• some background-related app behavior depends on the permission being available

The setup screen also states: We won’t send you any notifications - promise!

Tap Continue after notifications are allowed.

If notifications are already allowed, the app shows Notifications are already allowed.

4. Check This Phone’s Connection

The next step is Device connection.

This screen shows This Phone and the phone’s current connection information. It can also show whether the phone is connected through VPN.

You will also see VPN Kill Switch.

During quick setup, you only need to decide whether this phone should be allowed to use IPTV without VPN:

• leave VPN Kill Switch off if you do not use VPN or are not sure
• turn VPN Kill Switch on only if IPTV on this phone should be blocked whenever the phone is not connected through VPN

If VPN Kill Switch is enabled but the phone is not connected through VPN, IPTV Buddy can warn that this device is not connected through VPN.

Tap Continue when the phone connection setup is ready.

The full explanation of the Mobile VPN Kill Switch is in the account, sync, and security tutorial.

5. Choose How You Want to Add IPTV

The Provider step is where you connect your IPTV source.

IPTV Buddy offers two setup paths:

• Xtream Codes credentials
• M3U list

Use Xtream Codes when your IPTV provider supports it. This is the recommended setup path because it gives IPTV Buddy better access to live TV, VOD, series, category, and provider information.

Use M3U if your provider gave you a playlist URL instead of Xtream Codes credentials.

6. Set Up Xtream Codes

On the Connect your IPTV-Provider screen, enter:

• Provider URL
• Username
• Password

Then tap Test connection.

If the connection works, the app shows a success state with a checkmark. You can then tap Continue.

If the connection test fails, check:

• whether the Provider URL is complete and spelled correctly
• whether the username and password match the provider data exactly
• whether your provider subscription is still active
• whether your current network can reach the provider
• whether VPN is required by your provider or blocks the provider

After a successful Xtream Codes setup, the wizard continues with category selection.

7. Add an M3U List Instead

If you do not want to use Xtream Codes, tap Import M3U list instead.

IPTV Buddy asks you to confirm that you want to add an M3U list. The app explains that it is primarily optimized for Xtream Codes, but you can still continue with M3U.

Confirm with Add M3U list.

On the Add M3U list screen, enter:

• M3U list name
• M3U list URL

Then tap Add M3U list.

When the list was loaded successfully, the app shows M3U list added successfully.

Tap Finish to complete setup.

With the M3U setup path, the wizard finishes after the M3U list has been added. You can still add Xtream Codes credentials later from Profile & Provider if you receive them from your provider.

8. Select Live Categories

If you set up Xtream Codes, the wizard shows Select Live categories.

Choose the live TV categories you want to see in IPTV Buddy.

You can:

• tap a category to select or deselect it
• use Select All
• use Deselect All

Only select categories you actually need. Very large provider lists can take longer to load and are harder to browse.

Tap Continue when your Live categories are selected.

9. Select VOD Categories

The next screen is Select VOD categories.

Choose the video-on-demand categories you want to see.

If you do not use VOD, you can leave categories unselected. You can change category selections later from the VOD area.

Tap Continue when you are done.

10. Select Series Categories

The next screen is Select Series categories.

Choose the series categories you want to see.

After this step, tap Finish.

IPTV Buddy saves your setup and opens the main app.

11. Pair a TV Device Later from the Mobile App

TV pairing is not part of the main Initial Setup wizard, but the pairing process is started from the mobile app.

To pair a TV later:

1. Open the app menu.
2. Go to TV Devices.
3. Tap Connect TV if no TV device is connected yet, or Connect New TV Device if you already have a device.
4. If IPTV Buddy asks Enable VPN Kill Switch?, decide whether playback on that TV should be blocked when the TV is not connected through VPN.
5. Scan the pairing QR code shown by IPTV Buddy on the TV.

If pairing works, the app shows TV paired successfully.

If pairing fails, generate a new QR code on the TV and scan it again.

This section only covers the mobile pairing action. It does not explain how to install IPTV Buddy on a TV or how to use the TV app.

Troubleshooting

The Provider URL, Username, or Password Does Not Work

Check the exact values from your IPTV provider. Provider URLs often fail because of missing protocol, typing mistakes, or copied spaces.

If the credentials look correct but Test connection still fails, try again from another network or check whether VPN changes the result.

I Only Have an M3U URL

Use Import M3U list instead. Enter a name for the list and the M3U list URL. M3U is supported, but Xtream Codes gives IPTV Buddy a richer feature set when available.

I Cannot Continue Past Account Sign-In

Account sign-in is required. Make sure the email address is valid, enter the complete one-time code, and wait until IPTV Buddy shows the account as connected before tapping Continue.

If the code expired or you used the wrong email address, request a new code or use another email.

The Phone Is Blocked by VPN Kill Switch

Either connect your VPN or turn off VPN Kill Switch for this phone. The detailed explanation is in the account, sync, and security tutorial.

FAQ

Do I need Xtream Codes to use IPTV Buddy?

No. You can also add an M3U list. Xtream Codes is recommended when your provider supports it because it gives IPTV Buddy more complete provider data.

Why does IPTV Buddy require account sign-in?

The account is required for sync. IPTV Buddy uses it to keep app data available across devices and after reinstalling the app.

Why does IPTV Buddy ask for notification permission?

Notification permission is needed for reminders and related app behavior.

Should I enable VPN Kill Switch during setup?

Enable it only if IPTV on this phone should work exclusively through VPN. If you do not use VPN, leave it off.

Can I pair my TV after setup?

Yes. Open TV Devices in the mobile app and use Connect TV or Connect New TV Device.