How to watch IPTV on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV

You can watch your IPTV playlist on an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV by installing a player app and pasting in the M3U link or Xtream login your provider gave you. OTOO is on the App Store for all three, so there is no sideloading, no computer and no developer account involved — you install it the same way you install any other app.

This guide covers the whole thing: the two playlist formats, the exact steps for each device, and what to do when something does not play.

What you need before you start

• An iPhone, iPad or Apple TV (OTOO needs iOS/iPadOS 15 or later, tvOS 15 or later).
• A playlist from your IPTV provider, in one of two forms:
  • an M3U link — a long URL ending in something like get.php?username=…&password=…&type=m3u_plus, or
  • Xtream Codes login details — a server address, a username and a password.
• That is it. OTOO does not include channels, so a provider you already pay is required.

If you are not sure which format you have, your provider's welcome email almost always contains both. Our guide on M3U vs Xtream Codes explains when each one is the better choice — the short version is that Xtream gives you a proper programme guide and catch-up, while M3U is a single link that works anywhere.

Install on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the App Store and search for OTOO Player, or go straight to the App Store listing.
2. Install and open it.
3. The first screen shows a device code (a MAC address) and a START button.
4. Tap START to look around immediately — a built-in demo playlist of free, openly licensed sample videos loads so you can see how the app behaves before connecting anything of your own.

Add your own playlist

There are two ways in, and they end up in the same place.

From your phone or computer (easiest): note the device code on OTOO's first screen, then open otoo.app/mylist in any browser, type that code, and paste your M3U link or Xtream details. The app picks the playlist up within a minute.

Inside the app: tap Connect a playlist manually on the first screen and enter the M3U URL, or the Xtream server, username and password.

Either way, your channels, films and series appear in Live TV, Movies and TV Shows.

Install on Apple TV

The Apple TV version is the same app with a remote-first interface, and it is a separate install.

1. On your Apple TV, open the App Store and search for OTOO Player.
2. Install and open it. The first screen again shows a device code.
3. Add your playlist exactly as above — otoo.app/mylist from your phone is much quicker than typing an Xtream password with the Siri Remote.

Useful remote shortcuts once you are watching: swipe down for the channel list, and hold select on a channel for its programme guide and catch-up, where your provider supports them.

Why installing from the App Store matters

Many IPTV players for Apple devices are not available on the App Store at all. The usual workarounds — sideloading with a developer certificate, re-signing an app every seven days, or installing a configuration profile — are fragile and stop working without warning.

OTOO went through Apple's review for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. In practice that means updates arrive automatically, nothing expires after a week, and you do not need a computer to install anything. It also means OTOO is a player only: Apple's rules are strict about third-party content, and the app ships no channels, no catalogue and no way to find a provider. You bring a service you already have.

Can I use AirPlay instead of installing on Apple TV?

Yes — you can start a stream on your iPhone or iPad and AirPlay it to an Apple TV, and for a quick look that is fine.

For regular viewing the native Apple TV app is the better experience: your phone is not tied up, playback does not stop when a call comes in, the battery is not draining, and the remote controls the player directly. AirPlay also adds a re-encoding step that can soften picture quality on a large screen.

When something does not play

Most problems on Apple devices fall into three groups.

Everything buffers or stutters. This is nearly always the network or the provider's server rather than the device. Our buffering guide walks through the fixes in order of how often they work — 5 GHz Wi-Fi and Ethernet on Apple TV solve the majority.

No programme guide. An EPG needs either Xtream credentials or a separate EPG URL; a plain M3U link often carries no guide data at all. The EPG troubleshooting guide covers every cause in order.

One channel fails, the rest are fine. That is the provider's stream, not the app. Try the same channel in another player — if it fails there too, report it to your provider.

Frequently asked questions

Is OTOO free? Every new device gets a free trial automatically. After that it is a one-time purchase — not a recurring subscription — which you can buy inside the app or on otoo.app/activate. There is also a free code given away daily.

Do I pay once for all my devices? Each device is activated separately, because the licence is tied to the device code shown on its first screen.

Does it work on an iPad in split view? Yes. The iPad layout is native rather than a stretched iPhone app, and the player keeps running alongside another app.

Which video formats are supported? The usual IPTV mix — HLS, MPEG-TS, MP4 and most codecs your provider will send, including H.264 and HEVC.

I have an Android phone and a Samsung TV too. OTOO runs on those as well. See OTOO on Samsung and LG Smart TVs, or the full list on the download page.

Get started

OTOO is on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and for Apple TV, and the download page has every other platform — Android, Google TV, Fire TV, Windows, Mac, Samsung and LG.

OTOO is a media player. It does not include, host or sell any channels or streams — you add your own playlist from your provider.