M3U vs Xtream Codes comes down to this: an M3U log-in is a single playlist link, and Xtream Codes is a server address with a username and password that lets an app ask for more than a list. Where an app offers Xtream Codes, use it; use M3U where the app only takes a link. A third format, a MAC address log-in, ties the account to one device. This guide explains each and what to enter in your app.
In short
- M3U: one link to a playlist file.
- Xtream Codes: a server address, a username and a password.
- MAC address (portal): a link tied to your device's MAC address, set up on a website.
- Xtream Codes usually loads the programme guide and on-demand sections most completely.
- Treat your link and password like a password; do not post them.
The three formats at a glance
| M3U | Xtream Codes | MAC address (portal) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you enter | A playlist URL | Server URL, username, password | A portal link, or a MAC address registered on a site |
| Channel list | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Programme guide | Depends on the playlist and app | Usually loaded automatically | Depends on the portal and device |
| On-demand sections | Often a flat list | Usually organised by category | Depends on the portal |
| Typical apps | Almost every IPTV app | Many mainstream IPTV apps | Some set-top boxes and a few apps |
| Suits when | The app only takes a link | The app offers it | The device or app uses portals |
M3U
An M3U file is a list of channel addresses. You give the app the link, the app downloads the list, and the channels appear. Many M3U links contain the username and password inside the address, which means the link is an account in itself: anyone who has it can use the account. A plain M3U link carries little other information, so the app may need a separate guide address (an EPG link) to show a programme guide. Large playlists can also take a while to load on a weaker device.
Xtream Codes
Xtream Codes is a standard way for an app to log in to a service. You enter a server address, a username and a password. The app then asks the server for the channel list, the categories, the programme guide and, where the plan includes them, the on-demand titles, each in an organised form. That is why films and series appear in tidy sections and why the guide usually works without extra set-up. If your app has an Xtream Codes option, it is normally the better choice.
MAC address and portal log-ins
Some set-top boxes and a few apps work with a portal: a web address that the device asks for its list, identified by the device's MAC address, a unique hardware identifier. The account is set up on a website, and the device needs only the portal address. This ties the account to one device, which suits boxes made for it. It is less flexible if you change device, because the MAC address changes with it. The order confirmation tells you which log-in format to use; if a MAC or portal log-in matters to you, ask support before you buy.
Which to use in each kind of app
- Mainstream players on Fire TV, Android and iPhone: Xtream Codes where offered, M3U otherwise. See Smarters or TiviMate.
- Smart TV apps: often M3U or an activation page on the publisher's website. See Samsung and LG.
- Set-top boxes designed for portals: the portal or MAC route.
- Apple devices: the format the tvOS or iOS app accepts; see Apple TV and iPhone and iPad.
What British IPTV sends
The order confirmation tells you which log-in format to use. Premium goes with the AromaOtt player app, which has its own sign-in; aromaott.com explains how it works.
A worked example
Suppose your order message contains these made-up details: server address http://example-server.example:8080, username user123, password pass456. In an app with an Xtream Codes option, you would type the server address, the username and the password into three boxes. In an app that takes only a link, you would use the M3U link from the same message, which might look like the server address followed by a path that contains the username and password. The two routes lead to the same account. Note how the M3U link contains the password: that is why it must be kept private.
Common mistakes
- Pasting the link with a space at the end or the start.
- Mixing up the server address and the username.
- Typing a capital letter where the original has a lower-case one; passwords are case-sensitive.
- Using an M3U link in an Xtream Codes field.
- Sharing the link or the password in a public place.
If a list will not load, IPTV not working? takes you through the checks in order.
Why some apps need a separate guide link
A plain M3U file lists channels but carries little else. The programme guide usually comes from a separate guide file, often called XMLTV, and an app that takes an M3U link may ask for that address as well. If you use Xtream Codes, the app can usually fetch the guide from the same server without a second address. When a guide is blank in an M3U set-up, a missing guide link is the first thing to check; see IPTV EPG not working.
Keeping your details private
Store the details in a password manager or a private note rather than in a message you might forward. If you think someone else has them, tell support. See buying IPTV safely for more on protecting your account.