IPTV on PC and Mac: Which Player to Install and How

Which player fits which login

Your login decides the shortlist. An Xtream Codes login (server address, username, password) loads channels, guide and on-demand titles in one step, but only in players that have an Xtream option. An M3U link works almost everywhere, and the guide then needs its own address. M3U vs Xtream Codes explains the difference. This page is part of the Apollo Group TV setup guide, which covers every other device.

IPTVnator: the one player for Windows and Mac

IPTVnator is a free, open-source player whose code is public on GitHub, and it is the only player here that covers Windows, macOS and Linux with an Xtream Codes login and a TV guide. The project states that it does not sell IPTV subscriptions; it is a player only.

1. Download it from the project's GitHub releases page: the .exe file for Windows, or the .dmg for Mac (arm64 for Apple silicon, x64 for older Intel Macs). On a Mac with Homebrew, brew install iptvnator does the same.
2. Open IPTVnator and choose to add a playlist.
3. Pick the Xtream Codes option and enter the server address, including the port, then your username and password.
4. Save. The channel list loads first; the guide follows.
5. If you added an M3U link instead, add the guide's XMLTV address in the app's EPG settings so the programme grid fills.

Windows may warn that the download is from an unrecognised publisher. That warning appears for many open-source apps; check that the file came from the GitHub releases page before you allow it.

On Windows: MyIPTV Player

MyIPTV Player is a free Microsoft Store app from the publisher Vbfnet Apps, built for x64, x86 and ARM PCs. Its listing says it takes an Xtream Codes login or an M3U playlist and has a built-in guide. It is a good choice if you prefer apps that install and update through the Store.

1. Install MyIPTV Player from the Microsoft Store and check that the publisher shown is Vbfnet Apps.
2. Open Settings in the app and add a new playlist source.
3. Choose Xtream and enter the server address, username and password, or paste the M3U address.
4. Select the playlist, then open Channels. Refresh once if the guide has not appeared.

On a Mac: UHF

UHF is a Mac App Store player that takes an Xtream Codes login or an M3U playlist and shows a guide. Its listing requires macOS 13 or later and an Apple M1 chip or newer, so it will not install on an Intel Mac; use IPTVnator there. The app is free, with an optional paid Pro tier.

1. Install UHF from the Mac App Store.
2. Add a source, choose Xtream, and enter the server address, username and password.
3. Wait for the channel list and guide to load, then open Live TV.

VLC: an M3U link and nothing else

VLC is free, plays almost anything, and may already be on your computer. It has no Xtream Codes login and no option for a guide address, so it suits a quick check that the service plays rather than everyday viewing. You need the M3U link, which support sends on request.

1. Install VLC from videolan.org if you do not have it.
2. Choose Media, then Open Network Stream.
3. Paste the M3U address and press Play.
4. Open the playlist view to see the full channel list and pick a channel.

Kodi, for a full media centre

Kodi is free on Windows, macOS and Linux and is in the Microsoft Store from the Kodi Foundation. For live TV it uses the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on, which takes an M3U link and an XMLTV guide address but has no Xtream Codes login. It is more setup than the players above, and worth it if Kodi already runs your film library. The steps are in IPTV on Kodi.

Store listings that are not what they look like

Search the Microsoft Store for IPTV Smarters and you will find several apps with Smarters in the name. On 7 October 2026 none of them was published by the company behind IPTV Smarters; they came from three unrelated publishers. The Mac App Store's Smarters Player PRO is likewise a third party's, sold on a weekly subscription. We could not confirm an official Smarters desktop app.

A player you sign in to holds your login, so check the publisher before you install. If you cannot trace an app to its developer, use one of the players above instead. Windows owners who remember running Android apps such as TiviMate on Windows 11 should know that the Windows Subsystem for Android was withdrawn from the Microsoft Store on 5 March 2025.

Getting a smooth picture on a computer

• Use a cable if you can. A laptop on Wi-Fi in another room is the most common cause of stutter on live channels.
• Close other streams. A browser tab playing video, a cloud backup or a game download competes for the same connection.
• Keep the player updated. IPTVnator, MyIPTV Player and UHF all release fixes; an old build is a frequent reason a login that works on the TV fails on the computer.
• Watching on the TV instead? A player on the TV itself beats mirroring the laptop. IPTV on Firestick is the cheapest way to add one.

How this guide was checked

Checked on 7 October 2026 against each player's official listing or repository. We did not run these steps on a computer; menu labels change between versions, so look for the nearest option named playlist, source or Xtream if one differs.

• IPTVnator platforms, login types and downloads: the project README and its latest release.
• MyIPTV Player: Microsoft Store listing. UHF: Mac App Store listing.
• VLC menus: VideoLAN documentation. Kodi add-on: IPTV Simple Client README.
• Windows Subsystem for Android: Microsoft Learn.
• Smarters listings: the publishers shown on each Microsoft Store and Mac App Store page.

PC and Mac questions, answered