Two jobs in IPTV
- Portal logins. MAG boxes and apps that emulate them are identified by their MAC address; see Stalker portals.
- Smart TV player activation and uploads. Players such as Smart IPTV and IBO Player show a MAC address (or device ID) on screen. You enter it on the developer’s website to upload your playlist or activate the app. The app then fetches the playlist linked to that address.
In the second case the MAC address is only a label that pairs your TV with the playlist you uploaded. It doesn’t come from your IPTV provider.
Find the MAC address on your device
Menu names vary by model and software version. These are the usual places:
| Device | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Player app on a Smart TV | On the app’s start or settings screen. Use this one for uploads, not the TV’s |
| Fire TV | SettingsMy Fire TVAboutNetwork |
| Android TV and Google TV | Settings, then Network, or Settings, then About or Device info, then Status |
| Samsung TV | Settings, then Support or General, then About This TV, or the network status screen |
| LG TV | Settings, then Support or General, then TV Information or About This TV |
| Apple TV | SettingsGeneralAbout (Wi-Fi Address or Ethernet Address) |
| MAG box | On the label underneath, and in the system settings |
Why the MAC address changes
- Switching between Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Each connection has its own MAC address. IBO Player’s FAQ, for example, notes that each TV has two, and that the second becomes active when you switch connection type and restart the app.
- Some apps use a device ID instead. Smart IPTV notes that on LG webOS the newer app versions use a device ID because they can’t read the MAC address.
- Reinstalling an emulator app can generate a new virtual MAC.
- Randomised or private addresses on phones. Many phones use a different MAC address per Wi-Fi network for privacy. Portals shouldn’t rely on a phone’s MAC for that reason.
When an activation or playlist seems to vanish, compare the address the app shows now with the one you registered.
Keep your playlist safe
Anyone who knows your app’s MAC address could upload something to it on some services. Where the app or website offers it, lock your playlist settings with a PIN. Smart IPTV, for example, advises users to lock the MAC or ID in the app’s settings to stop a playlist being reset by someone else.