IPTV guide
M3U link or Xtream Codes: what's the difference?
When setting up your IPTV app, two options often appear: add an “M3U playlist” or log in with “Xtream Codes”. Both give access to the same subscription, but they do not work the same way. This guide explains what these formats are, which one to choose for your app, and how to avoid the most common typing errors.
What is an M3U link?
M3U is a playlist format, originally designed for music. An M3U file is a simple text file listing stream addresses, one per programme, along with information such as the channel name, its logo or its group.
For IPTV, you usually receive a link to this playlist, which looks like a rather long web address. The app downloads the playlist, then displays the programmes it contains.
M3U’s strengths
- It is recognised by almost every player app, including general-purpose players such as VLC on a computer.
- A single link to copy, with no extra fields.
Its limits
- The programme guide (EPG) is not always included: you sometimes need to add a second link in XMLTV format separately.
- Video on demand and series are shown as a long list, which is less convenient to browse.
- The link is long: a single copying mistake and the playlist will not load.
What is Xtream Codes?
Xtream Codes is a login method that has become a de facto standard in IPTV apps. Instead of a playlist, you enter three pieces of information:
- the server address (URL), sometimes followed by a port number;
- your username;
- your password.
The app then queries the server directly to retrieve, in an organised way, live channels, video on demand, series and the programme guide.
Xtream Codes’ strengths
- The programme guide is retrieved automatically.
- Content is sorted into categories: live TV, movies, series.
- There is less to type and mistakes are easier to spot.
- Catalogue changes appear without having to reload a playlist.
Its limits
- Not every player supports it, especially general-purpose video players.
- You must keep the three fields apart: enter an address in the username field and nothing works.
Which one should you choose for your app?
If your app offers both, prefer Xtream Codes: browsing is more pleasant and the programme guide appears with no extra steps. Choose M3U when your player only accepts that format, or for occasional use on a computer.
Both methods give access to the same subscription and count the same way towards the number of screens allowed. Our setup guides show the simplest method for each device.
What about the programme guide (EPG)?
The programme guide, or EPG (Electronic Program Guide), shows what is on now and next. With Xtream Codes, the app retrieves it automatically from the server. With an M3U playlist, you often need to enter a second link, in XMLTV format, in a separate field of the app, often labelled “EPG” or “TV guide”. If your guide stays empty, check that this link has been entered correctly, then give the app a few minutes to download it: the first load can take a while.
Common typing errors
Most “connection failed” or “empty playlist” messages come from a small mistake when copying the login details. Check the following points:
- Invisible spaces: copying and pasting from an email sometimes adds a space at the beginning or end of a field. Delete it.
- The protocol: the server address must start with http:// or https://, exactly as shown in your email.
- The port: if it is part of the address (for example :8080), do not forget it.
- Capital letters: username and password are case-sensitive.
- Similar characters: the number 0 and the letter O, the number 1 and the letter l are easily confused.
- The wrong field: the server address goes in the URL field, not the username field.
If the app connects but the picture then cuts out, the problem is no longer in what you typed: read IPTV buffering or freezing: the fixes.
Protect your login details
Your login details give access to your subscription. Do not publish them or share them outside your household: if other people use them at the same time as you, you will exceed the number of screens allowed and playback will stop. To watch on two screens at once, choose the 12-month 2-screen subscription.
Where can you find your Vepix TV login details?
Once you have paid for your order through the secure link sent by email, you receive a second email containing your login details. Check your spam folder if you cannot find it. The ordering steps are detailed in our FAQ.
In short
M3U is a universal playlist, simple but less convenient; Xtream Codes is a login with a server, username and password, which organises the content and retrieves the programme guide. Use Xtream Codes when your app allows it, and check every character when typing.
No subscription yet? Discover our IPTV subscription plans, from 3 to 24 months. To understand the basics, also read IPTV: what is it and how does it work?
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