How to watch your M3U playlist or Xtream account on Apple TV

By the Supernova developer · · 4 min read

Apple TV doesn’t open IPTV playlists on its own: you need a player app from the App Store. This guide walks you through the whole setup with Supernova, the app we make, from installation to your first channel. Most steps are similar in other players.

Before you start, one reminder: Supernova is a player and doesn’t provide any content. You need your own M3U playlist or Xtream account, from a source you are authorised to use.

What you need

  • An Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K running tvOS 26 or later (Settings › General › About shows your version).
  • Your access details, as given by your source:
    • for an M3U playlist: a single URL, usually ending in .m3u or .m3u8, or containing type=m3u;
    • for an Xtream account: a server address (sometimes with a port, like :8080), a username and a password.
  • A stable connection. For 4K, a wired Ethernet connection or good Wi-Fi makes a real difference.

Not sure which one you have? If you were given three pieces of information (server, username, password), it’s Xtream. If you were given one long link, it’s M3U. When both are available, Xtream usually gives a better-organised library with movies, series and the TV guide.

Step 1: install Supernova on the Apple TV

On the Apple TV, open the App Store, search for Supernova IPTV and download it. You can also install it from the App Store page on your iPhone, and turn on automatic app downloads on the Apple TV.

Playback is free and unlimited with one playlist or account, so you don’t need to subscribe to try everything below.

Step 2: add your playlist or account

  1. Open Supernova and choose Add Profile.
  2. Under Type, pick M3U playlist or Xtream Codes.
  3. Fill in the fields:
    • M3U: a Name for the profile (for example “Home”) and the M3U URL;
    • Xtream: a Name, the Server, your Username and your Password, exactly as your source gave them.
  4. Choose Save Profile.
  5. On the Who’s Watching? screen, select the profile. Supernova checks the source at that moment and loads your library.

Detailed versions of these steps, with the checks to make if it doesn’t work, are in our guides to add an M3U playlist and connect an Xtream account.

Typing with your iPhone

Long URLs are painful to type with the Siri Remote. When a text field is open on the Apple TV, your iPhone shows a keyboard notification: tap it and type (or paste) with your phone. It’s built into tvOS and works in every app.

Or add it on your iPhone first

If you also use Supernova on iPhone, iPad or Mac, you can add the profile there. Profiles are synced through iCloud: with the same Apple account, it shows up on the Apple TV by itself, along with your favourites and watch progress.

Step 3: find your way around

  • Movies, Series and Live TV at the top of the screen. Movies and series get posters, plots, cast and seasons from TMDB, even from a plain M3U playlist.
  • Guide and Replay on a channel, if your source provides a TV guide and catch-up.
  • Favorites and Resume: pick up where you left off, on any device.
  • Top Shelf: put Supernova in the top row of the Apple TV home screen to see what you were watching straight away.
  • Manage categories in the settings: hide the categories you never watch, so the lists stay short.
  • Profiles for each member of the family, each with their own favourites and progress.

Step 4: get the best picture and sound

Two Apple TV settings matter a lot for IPTV: Settings › Video and Audio › Match Content, with Match Dynamic Range and Match Frame Rate turned on. With them, your TV switches to HDR or Dolby Vision only when the film is in HDR, and plays at the film’s real frame rate, without judder.

On Apple TV, Supernova uses its own engine, NovaEngine, which plays Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, passes Dolby Atmos through to your receiver, and decodes TrueHD and DTS. We explain all of it in Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Atmos in IPTV on Apple TV.

If something doesn’t work

  • “Unable to connect” with Xtream: check the server address character by character, including http:// or https:// and the port. Check that your access is still active.
  • The M3U playlist doesn’t load: make sure you entered the playlist link and not the website of your source. Open the link in a browser on your computer: it should download a text file.
  • One channel or film doesn’t play: try another playback engine in the player settings (Supernova can also fall back to VLC automatically). If nothing plays, the stream itself may be offline.
  • Stutters on 4K content: prefer Ethernet, and check that Match Frame Rate is on.
  • Still stuck? Write to us from the support page: we answer every message. Never send your full URL or password.

FAQ

Does Supernova come with channels?

No. Supernova only plays the playlist or account you add. It doesn’t sell, include or recommend any content or provider.

Can I add several playlists?

The free version handles one account or playlist. Premium ($1.99 per month with a one-week free trial, $17.99 per year, or $29.99 per year for Family) adds more, along with multiview on Apple TV.

Which other apps can I use?

We compared six players in The best IPTV players for Apple TV in 2026.

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