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FAQ & User Guide

Everything you need to know about setting up and using TIVRA on your Android TV.

Getting Started Remote Controls Live TV Player TV Guide (EPG) Settings Troubleshooting General FAQ

Getting Started

How do I install TIVRA on my Android TV?
TIVRA is installed via sideloading (it's not on the Play Store yet). The easiest method:
  1. Install the Downloader app from the Google Play Store on your TV
  2. Open Downloader and enter: tivratv.com/downloads/tivra-latest.apk
  3. Wait for the download, then select Install
  4. If prompted, enable "Install unknown apps" for the Downloader app in your TV's settings
How do I create an account?
Open the app and tap Sign in with Google. Use any Google account. Your TIVRA account is created automatically on first sign-in.
How do I add my IPTV provider?
After signing in:
  1. Go to Settings from the sidebar
  2. Select Providers
  3. Enter your M3U playlist URL or Xtream Codes credentials (server, username, password)
  4. Save and wait for channels to load
What IPTV formats are supported?
TIVRA supports M3U/M3U8 playlists and Xtream Codes API. Both live streams and VOD catalogs are supported. EPG data can be loaded from XMLTV sources.

Remote Control Quick Reference

Tip: TIVRA is designed entirely for D-pad navigation. Every feature is accessible with the standard Android TV remote — no mouse or touchscreen needed.

Long-Press Actions

These actions require holding the button for the specified duration.

WhereButtonHoldAction
Live TV PlayerRight arrow800msOpen channel history popup
TV Guide (EPG)Back500msFullscreen player (if preview active)
Channel cardOK / Enter500msAdd/remove favorite
Category pillOK / Enter500msMove or hide category

Global Controls

ButtonAction
BackClose overlay/menu, or navigate back. On a top-level page, opens the sidebar.
OK / EnterSelect, confirm, or toggle the player overlay
D-pad arrowsNavigate menus, lists, and grids
0-9 number keysDirect channel entry (auto-tunes after 1.5s)

Live TV Player

Channel Navigation

ButtonAction
Up / DownChange channel (wraps around)
Right arrow tapJump to last watched channel
Right arrow hold 800msOpen recent channels list (up to 10)
Left arrowOpen channel sidebar
0-9Type channel number directly

Overlay & Info

ButtonAction
OK / EnterShow/hide program info overlay
SpacePlay / Pause

Audio & Subtitles

Open the overlay (OK), then navigate to the Audio or Subtitle button. Only one selector can be open at a time.

Exiting

Press Back to close overlays one at a time: history popup, audio/subtitle selector, sidebar, overlay, then exit the player.

TV Guide (EPG)

Grid Navigation

ButtonAction
D-pad arrowsMove between program cells
OK (first press)Preview channel in the top-left video window
OK (second press)Enter fullscreen player for that channel
G keyJump grid to current time
Page UpScroll back 2 hours
Page DownScroll forward 2 hours

Back Button

ButtonAction
Back tapOpen sidebar menu
Back hold 500msFullscreen player for preview channel

Category Tabs

Press Up from the grid to reach category tabs. Use Left/Right to navigate. OK to filter. Hold OK to move or hide a category.

Tip: Use the refresh button in the top-right corner to manually update EPG data from your XMLTV source.

Settings & Customization

Color Schemes
Go to Settings → Appearance. Use Left/Right to browse 11 color schemes. Press OK to apply. The entire app re-themes instantly.
Hiding Categories & Channels
Go to Settings → Content. You'll see two tabs: Visible and Hidden.
  • Press Left on a category to focus the eye icon, then OK to hide/show it
  • Press OK on a category name to drill in and manage individual channels
  • Inside a category, use the eye icon on each channel to hide/show it
  • Press Back to return to the category list
EPG Settings
Settings → EPG lets you configure the XMLTV source URL and automatic sync interval (1, 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours). You can also set it to manual-only and use the refresh button on the TV Guide page.

Troubleshooting

Channels aren't loading or showing "No channels"
  • Check that your provider URL or credentials are correct in Settings → Providers
  • Make sure your IPTV subscription is active with your provider
  • Try updating the playlist (Settings → Providers → Update)
  • Check your internet connection
Streams are buffering or skipping
  • This is usually a network or provider issue, not the app
  • Try a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi
  • Check if the issue occurs on specific channels (provider-side) or all channels (network-side)
  • In Settings → Playback, try adjusting the buffer size
EPG (TV Guide) shows no program data
  • Go to Settings → EPG and verify your XMLTV source URL is correct
  • Trigger a manual sync using the refresh button on the TV Guide page
  • EPG data can take a few minutes to download and process, depending on source size
  • Not all providers include EPG data — check with your provider
App shows splash screen every time I open it
Android TV devices have limited RAM and may kill background apps. When this happens, the app restarts fully. This is normal Android behavior. Using a release build (not profile/debug) helps reduce memory usage and keeps the app alive longer.
How do I update the app?
Download the latest APK from tivratv.com/downloads/tivra-latest.apk using the Downloader app and install it over the existing version. Your settings and favorites are preserved.

General FAQ

Does TIVRA include any TV channels or content?
No. TIVRA is a pure media player. It contains no content. You must supply your own M3U playlist URL or Xtream Codes credentials from a separately obtained IPTV subscription.
Is TIVRA an IPTV service?
No. We are a software application, not a service or content provider. TIVRA is comparable to TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro, or GSE Smart IPTV.
What am I paying for?
You are purchasing a license for the TIVRA media player software. No TV channels, live streams, or on-demand content are included.
Can I use TIVRA on a phone or tablet?
TIVRA is currently designed for Android TV only. Phone/tablet, iOS, and web versions are planned for the future.
How many devices can I use?
The Personal plan supports 1 device. The Family plan supports up to 5 simultaneous devices.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to Settings → Account in the app to manage your subscription through the Stripe billing portal. You can cancel anytime — your access continues until the end of the current billing period.
Is using TIVRA legal?
TIVRA itself is legal software. The legality of the content you stream depends entirely on your IPTV provider and your local laws. We require users to only use TIVRA with content they are legally licensed to access.