Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OnTiv, M3U playlists, and Xtream Codes.
What is OnTiv? +
OnTiv is a free, browser-based IPTV player for your own M3U playlists and Xtream Codes provider logins. It's available on the web, as a Windows desktop app, and on Android — with live TV browsing, an EPG program guide, catch-up TV, VOD (movies and series), favorites, and parental controls.
Is OnTiv free to use? +
OnTiv's Free tier is genuinely free forever, with an ad-free player, on every platform: Live TV, your own M3U/M3U8 playlists, category management, and favorites. Premium ($4.99/mo or $39.99/yr) is optional and unlocks Xtream Codes & Stalker Portal support, Movies & Series, and more — see the next question for the full breakdown.
What's the difference between Free and Premium? +
Free covers Live TV from an M3U/M3U8 playlist (URL or file upload), plus category management and favorites. Premium adds Xtream Codes and Stalker Portal support — including the Movies & Series library that comes with it — along with watch history and resume, casting, subtitles, parental controls, cross-device sync, Catch Up, Multiview, DVR recording, offline downloads, and advanced player settings.
Does OnTiv provide TV channels or content? +
No. OnTiv doesn't create, host, sell, or curate any channel, stream, or Xtream Codes account. It's a player only — every playlist or login you use comes from a source you choose. See our Terms of Service for details.
What is an M3U playlist? +
M3U (and M3U8) is a plain-text playlist format that lists stream URLs and channel metadata — it's the most common way IPTV providers and free channel lists distribute their lineup. OnTiv can load one from a remote URL or a local file on your device.
What are Xtream Codes? +
Xtream Codes is a common IPTV provider API — logging in with a server URL, username, and password (given to you by your provider) gives OnTiv access to live TV, VOD (movies and series), and EPG data in one login, instead of a single M3U file. Xtream Codes and Stalker Portal logins are a Premium feature.
How do I add a playlist to OnTiv? +
From the Playlists screen, pick M3U/M3U8 URL, M3U/M3U8 file, or Xtream Codes, enter what your provider gave you, and load it. Once loaded, it's saved so you can reconnect, edit, or switch between multiple playlists later without re-entering anything.
What platforms does OnTiv support? +
OnTiv runs in any modern desktop or mobile browser at ontiv.app, plus native apps for Windows and Android — see the Desktop App and Mobile App sections below for download links.
Does OnTiv store my playlist or password? +
Playlists you save are kept on your own device (or synced to your account if you sign in) so OnTiv can reconnect you — they aren't shared with anyone else. See our Privacy Policy for the full picture of what's stored and why.
My stream won't play — is that an OnTiv bug? +
Usually not — playback depends entirely on your playlist provider's servers, which OnTiv doesn't control. Try reconnecting your playlist, checking the stream in another player, or contacting your provider. If OnTiv itself is misbehaving, we'd like to know — see Contact below.