An iPhone or iPad is the easiest second screen for IPTV. Everything installs from the App Store, the players are well made, and with AirPlay your phone doubles as a way to put a channel on the TV. The same login you use on your living-room TV works here too.
Choosing an IPTV app for iPhone and iPad
Look for a player that supports Xtream Codes (so channels, the guide and the films library load from one login), has a readable TV guide, and supports AirPlay and Picture in Picture. Popular App Store players include IPTVX, UHF and iPlayTV. Many also run on Apple TV and can sync your playlists and favourites through iCloud, which saves setting everything up twice.
Most are free to download with a paid upgrade for full features. Check the current price, the developer name and recent reviews on the App Store listing before paying, because look-alike apps with similar names exist.
How to set up IPTV on iPhone or iPad
Install a player
Open the App Store, search for the player you want and tap Get.
Add your login
Open the player, choose to add a playlist or provider, and select Xtream Codes. Copy the server address, username and password from our welcome message and paste them in; copying avoids typing mistakes. If you received an M3U link, choose M3U and paste the whole address.
Load the guide and set favourites
Wait a minute while the channels and guide load. Then add the channels you watch most to favourites so they’re at the top of the list.
Set the quality for mobile data
In the player’s settings, look for a mobile data or quality option and set a lower quality for cellular. Your phone’s screen doesn’t need 4K, and it saves a lot of data.
Watching on the TV with AirPlay
AirPlay sends what’s playing on your iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV or an AirPlay-compatible Smart TV, which includes many recent Samsung and LG models.
- Make sure your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Start a channel in the player.
- Tap the AirPlay icon in the player (a rectangle with a triangle), or open Control Centre → Screen Mirroring, and choose your TV.
For everyday viewing, installing a player on the TV itself (see our Apple TV, Samsung and LG guides) is smoother, because the stream doesn’t have to pass through your phone.
Mobile data: how much IPTV uses
| Quality | Data per hour (approx.) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Low / SD | under 1 GB | Saving data on the move |
| HD (720p) | 1.1–1.8 GB | Phones |
| Full HD (1080p) | 1.8–3.6 GB | Tablets |
| 4K | 6.8–11.3 GB | TVs only; not worth it on a phone |
On an unlimited plan, stream as you like. On a capped plan, use Wi-Fi when you can, lower the quality for cellular in the player, and check Settings → Mobile Service (or Cellular) to see how much data the player has used.
Tips for a better mobile experience
- Picture in Picture. In players that support it, swipe home while a channel is playing and it keeps going in a small window.
- Lock the screen orientation. Stops the picture rotating when you lie down to watch.
- Background audio. Some players keep the sound going with the screen off, which suits news and radio-style channels.
- Headphones. AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones work normally, with a small audio delay on some models.
iPhone and iPad troubleshooting
The stream keeps stopping on mobile data
Your signal may be dropping between cells, especially when travelling. Lower the quality in the player’s settings, or wait for a stronger signal. Indoors, Wi-Fi is far more reliable.
AirPlay shows a black screen or no sound
Restart the player and the TV, and check both are on the same Wi-Fi network. Some TVs need AirPlay switching on in their own settings. If mirroring is choppy, use the player’s AirPlay button rather than Screen Mirroring.
The guide is empty
Refresh it in the player’s settings. With an M3U link, add the guide link we sent. See TV guide (EPG) problems for more.
Try it on your iPhone or iPad
Request a free trial and test live TV, the guide and AirPlay to your TV.