Want StbEmu on the big TV in the living room, without plugging in another box? On most smart TVs you can. The trick is knowing what kind of smart TV you have, because Samsung, LG and Android-based TVs each do it a little differently.
This guide walks you through all of them. Find your TV below, follow those steps, and skip the rest.
- Time10 to 15 minutes
- DifficultyEasy
- Works onSamsung, LG, Google TV, Android TV, Fire TV sets
Before you start
- Your StbEmu welcome email with your server address, username and password, plus the playlist link (M3U).
- Your TV connected to the internet. A network cable is best; strong Wi-Fi works too. Check your speed at Fast.com. You want 25 Mbps or more for HD.
- Your phone or computer nearby. Some TV apps ask you to finish the setup on a website.
No plan yet? Pick one on our pricing page first.
Step 1: Find out what kind of smart TV you have
Press the Home button on your remote and look at the screen. You’ll usually recognise one of these:
Google TV or Android TV
A row of apps with the Google Play Store. Common on Sony and on many TCL, Hisense and Philips models. Follow Option A.
Fire TV built in
The Amazon Fire TV home screen, with Find and Settings at the top. Follow Option B.
Samsung or LG
Samsung shows a bar of apps along the bottom; LG shows webOS cards and an Apps or LG Content Store button. Follow Option C.
Have a Roku TV?Roku TVs don’t let you install most IPTV players. The simplest fix is a Fire TV Stick plugged into a free HDMI port. Our Firestick guide takes about ten minutes.
Option A: Google TV and Android TV
Good news: these TVs run Android, so you can use the StbEmu app itself, exactly like on a streaming box.
- Open the Google Play Store on your TV and install the free Downloader app. Google explains how to install apps on Google TV if you need a hand.
- Open Settings, then Apps, then Security and Restrictions (the exact name varies a little by brand) and allow Unknown Sources for Downloader.
- Open Downloader, type the StbEmu download address from your welcome email and select Go.
- Choose Install, then Open, and sign in with the details from your email.
Prefer a cable-style TV guide? TiviMate runs beautifully on Google TV and Android TV, and IPTV Smarters Pro is another popular choice.
Option B: TVs with Fire TV built in
A TV with Fire TV built in works exactly like a Fire TV Stick, so the steps are the same. Follow our Fire TV Stick guide from Step 1.
Option C: Samsung and LG smart TVs
Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) TVs can’t install Android apps, so you use an IPTV player from the TV’s own app store and connect it to your StbEmu subscription. Your welcome email names the player we currently recommend for your TV brand.
1. Install the player
- Press Home on your remote.
- Samsung: open the menu on the left, choose Search and type the app name. Samsung has a short guide on installing an app on your Samsung TV. You need to be signed in with a Samsung account.
- LG: open Apps (on older models, LG Content Store), choose the search icon and type the app name. LG shows the steps in its guide to installing apps on an LG TV.
- Select Install, then Open.
2. Add your StbEmu subscription
Players on Samsung and LG TVs connect your subscription in one of two ways. The app shows you which one it uses on its first screen.
Sign in on the TV
The app asks for your details directly. Choose Xtream Codes if it’s offered and enter your server address, username and password. Otherwise choose M3U and enter your playlist link.
Add it on a website
The app shows your TV’s MAC address (and sometimes a device key) and the address of its website. Open that site on your phone or computer, enter the MAC address, paste your playlist link and save. Then restart the app on your TV.
Then load it
Give the app a minute to load your channels, movies and series. The first load is always the slowest.
About activation feesMany players for Samsung and LG are free to try for a few days and then ask for a one-time or yearly activation fee. That fee goes to the app’s developer, not to StbEmu, and we can’t refund it. Make sure everything works during the free trial before you pay.
Get the best picture on a smart TV
- Use a cable if you can. A wired connection is the single biggest upgrade for a TV that sits far from the router.
- Keep the TV updated. Install the latest software update from the TV’s settings. Older firmware is a common cause of apps closing or freezing.
- Try motion smoothing both ways. Settings such as Auto Motion Plus on Samsung or TruMotion on LG can make sports look smoother, but some people prefer them off. Pick what looks best to you.
When something isn’t right
I can’t find the player in my TV’s app store
Availability changes by TV model, year and country. Write to us with your TV brand and model, and we’ll tell you which app works on it. If your TV is older, a Fire TV Stick is often the easiest route.
The app says my playlist or login is wrong
Check the server address, username, password and playlist link for typos and extra spaces. If you added your playlist on a website, make sure you typed the MAC address exactly as the TV shows it, then restart the app.
Channels load but the TV guide is empty
Look for an EPG or TV Guide option in the app’s settings and refresh it. It can take a few minutes to fill in.
The picture buffers or freezes
Restart your router and switch the TV off at the wall for 30 seconds. Then use a network cable or move the router closer if you can. Most buffering on smart TVs comes from weak Wi-Fi.
Watching on other screens too? See our guides for iPhone, iPad and Mac and the Application page for every device.
Looking for another device or app? Browse all of our setup guides.
Not sure which app fits your TV?
Send us your TV brand and model. Our team is here 24/7 and will tell you exactly which app to install and how to connect it.
Message SupportSee Plans