The Amazon Fire TV Stick is the device most of our IPTV UK customers watch on. It costs less than a takeaway for two in a sale, plugs into any TV with an HDMI port, and turns even an older set into a smart TV. This guide covers the whole setup, from opening the box to watching your first live channel.
Before you start
- A Fire TV Stick (any current model; the 4K versions are worth it on a 4K TV).
- Your home Wi-Fi name and password.
- Your IPTV login details: a username, a password and a server address. If you do not have them yet, ask for a free trial.
Step 1: set up the Fire TV Stick itself
Plug the stick into a free HDMI port on the TV and power it from the mains adapter in the box, not from the TV's USB port, which often cannot supply enough power. Switch the TV to that HDMI input, pair the remote, connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with your Amazon account. A UK Amazon account works fine.
Step 2: allow the player app to be installed
Player apps for IPTV are not always in the Amazon Appstore, so Fire TV needs your permission to install one.
- From the home screen, search for Downloader and install it.
- Go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer options.
- Choose Install unknown apps and switch it on for Downloader only.
Cannot see Developer options? Go to Settings → My Fire TV → About, highlight the device name and press the select button seven times. A message confirms that developer mode is on.
Step 3: install the player
Open Downloader and type the app address or short code we send with your login details. Downloader fetches the app and asks whether to install it: choose Install, then Done. Delete the installation file when prompted to save space.
Only use the address your provider gives you. Apps from random links can contain malware.
Step 4: log in
Open the player app and choose the option to log in with provider details (often labelled Xtream Codes or similar). Enter:
- Username and password, exactly as in the e-mail. They are case-sensitive.
- Server address, including
http://and any port number.
The channel list and TV guide load, which can take a minute the first time.
Step 5: tidy up
Go back to Developer options and switch Install unknown apps off for Downloader. Then move the player app to the front of your home screen: hold the Home button, choose Apps, highlight the player, press the menu button (three lines) and choose Move to front.
Fixing common problems
"Invalid login" or "account not found". Check for a stray space or a capital letter in the username or password. Copying from the e-mail on your phone and typing carefully usually solves it.
The list loads but channels buffer. The Fire TV Stick's Wi-Fi is the weak link in many UK homes, especially in older houses with thick walls. Move the router closer, use the 5 GHz network if your router offers one, or add an Amazon Ethernet adapter for a wired connection. Our buffering guide goes through every fix.
The picture is fine at 7pm but stutters at 9pm. That is usually congestion on your broadband at peak time. Lower the stream quality in the app's settings, or plug in a cable.
The stick restarts or freezes. Make sure it is powered from the mains adapter, then clear the player app's cache in Settings → Applications → Manage installed applications.
Still stuck?
Send us a photo of the screen on WhatsApp and we will tell you exactly what to press next. Setup help is included with every plan. The full setup guide also covers smart TVs, phones, MAG boxes and computers.