How can we help with PixelPlay?

PixelPlay is a native iOS media player for live TV streams. It is a Bring Your Own Content (BYOC) utility, and the app itself does not include, host, or provide any TV channels or video content.

You connect your own content sources (M3U playlists, Xtream Codes providers, or the optional free public catalog) and PixelPlay plays them through a polished, native interface.

No. PixelPlay does not come with any pre-loaded channels, streams, or video content. It is a player, like a web browser for live streams.

You can optionally browse the free public catalog powered by the open-source iptv-org project, which lists publicly available, legally free channels from broadcasters around the world.

There are two ways to get started:

• Free public channels: Tap Add Source on the empty screen, or go to Settings → Content Sources and tap +. Choose Legal Public Channels, then tap Activate Public Catalog. Over 8,000 legally free channels from 150+ countries load with no further setup.
• Your own source: Go to Settings → Content Sources, tap +, then pick Remote M3U URL or Xtream Codes API.

No account is required to start watching.

No. PixelPlay works fully without an account. Sign-in (via Apple ID or Google) is optional.

No. In Guest mode everything stays on the one device.

If you sign in with Apple or Google, your favorites and locked channels/categories sync across all devices signed in to the same account, stored in Firebase and/or your private iCloud account.

An M3U file is a plain-text playlist format that lists stream URLs. Many IPTV providers distribute their channel lists as M3U files or URLs ending in .m3u or .m3u8.

To add one in PixelPlay: Settings → Content Sources → + → Remote M3U URL, then paste your playlist link. The M3U setup guide covers the local-file route and the EPG field.

Xtream Codes is a widely-used IPTV server API. If your provider gives you a portal URL, username, and password instead of an M3U file, that's Xtream Codes.

To add it: Settings → Content Sources → + → Xtream Codes API, then enter a name, your portal URL including the port, your username, and your password. The full setup guide covers the errors you might hit.

The free version includes one custom source (plus access to the public catalog). PixelPlay Pro adds unlimited M3U and Xtream Codes sources. Get it as a one-time lifetime purchase, or subscribe yearly with a free trial.

PixelPlay plays streams as your source provides them. If a channel doesn't load, the stream is at fault more often than the app:

• The stream URL may be offline or geo-restricted.
• Your source provider's servers may be temporarily down.
• The stream format may not be supported by the iOS media engine (HLS/m3u8 works best).

Try the same channel in Safari by pasting the stream URL directly. If it doesn't work there either, the stream is the issue, not PixelPlay.

PixelPlay periodically checks the health of channels in the free public catalog. A "Likely offline" badge means recent checks suggest the stream may not be broadcasting right now, though you can still tap to try playing it, since stream availability can change.

PixelPlay Pro unlocks:

• Unlimited Sources: add as many M3U and Xtream providers as you need
• Picture-in-Picture: watch while using other apps
• Multi-View: up to 4 live streams at once
• Channel Locks: protect content with Face ID, Touch ID or a PIN
• Advanced TV Guide: full 24-hour EPG grid with scrollable timeline, plus program reminders

Get Pro as a one-time lifetime purchase, or subscribe yearly with a free trial.

Open PixelPlay → go to Settings, then Restore Purchases in the PixelPlay Pro card at the top. Make sure you are signed in to the same Apple ID used for the original purchase. Your Pro status will be restored at no charge.

If Restore does not work, please contact support and include your Apple ID email (not your password).

Pro is sold two ways. Lifetime is a one-time purchase: you pay once, and there's nothing to renew or cancel. Yearly is an auto-renewing subscription that starts with a 3-day free trial, then renews once a year until you cancel it in Apple Account settings. Both unlock the same Pro features.

First, try Settings, then Restore Purchases in the PixelPlay Pro card at the top. If Pro still isn't active after restoring, please email our support team with your Apple ID email and we will resolve it promptly. Do not share your Apple ID password with anyone.

In the Advanced TV Guide (Pro), tap any upcoming program and turn on Remind me 5 minutes before. PixelPlay schedules a local notification on your device that alerts you when the program starts, with no account or internet connection required at notification time.

Try these steps in order:

• Check your internet connection, since live streams need a stable one (5+ Mbps for HD).
• Tap the channel again to reload the stream.
• Refresh your source: Settings → Content Sources, then swipe right on the source and tap Sync.
• Try a different channel from the same source to determine if it's one channel or all.
• If all channels fail, the issue is likely your source provider's servers. Contact your provider.

PiP requires PixelPlay Pro. If you have Pro and PiP still doesn't work:

• Make sure PiP is enabled on your device: iOS Settings → General → Picture in Picture, then toggle it on.
• PiP only works with streams that iOS can natively play (HLS/m3u8). Some stream formats may not support it.
• Swipe up from the player (or press Home) while a stream is playing to trigger PiP.

Some streams contain multiple audio tracks (e.g. different languages). Tap the stream once to show the player controls, then look for an audio track selector. Try selecting a different track.

Also check that your iPhone is not in Silent mode (the switch on the left side of the device).

It depends on the source type. An Xtream Codes account supplies its own guide, so PixelPlay loads it for you.

An M3U playlist carries no guide of its own. Paste your provider's XMLTV address into the EPG (Optional) field when you add or edit the source, under Settings → Content Sources. Without that address the guide stays empty for an M3U source, however the playlist itself is written.

Ask your provider for the XMLTV or EPG URL if you do not have one. The M3U setup guide shows where the field sits.

Please try the following:

• Force-quit and relaunch PixelPlay.
• Update to the latest version from the App Store.
• Restart your iPhone.

If the issue persists, email us with a description of what happened, your iPhone model, and your iOS version (found in iOS Settings → General → About). Crash reports go out on their own so we can fix issues faster.

PixelPlay is a media player utility. It does not provide, host, or distribute any content. The app is fully compliant with Apple's App Store Guidelines.

Users are solely responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to access the streams they connect. PixelPlay recommends using only legally acquired content or publicly available, open-source channels.

PixelPlay collects minimal, anonymous analytics to improve the app (e.g. crash reports, feature usage counts). We do not track what you watch, and we do not sell or share your data with advertisers.

One thing worth naming: for channels in the free public catalog, the app reports an aggregate play-and-failure count per channel, which is how we flag streams that have stopped working. It counts the channel, not you, and channels from your own M3U or Xtream sources are never included.

Nothing you save leaves the device unless you sign in. Once you do, your favorites and your locked channels and categories sync across every device on that account, stored in Firebase and/or your private iCloud account.

Your Xtream Codes password is stored in your device's iOS Keychain and is never uploaded to our servers.

Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

You can delete your account at any time from Settings → Account → Delete Account . This works whether you're signed in or using Guest mode. It permanently removes your synced data (favorites and locks) from Firebase and/or your private iCloud account.

Local-only data (watch history, preferences, source credentials) is removed when you uninstall the app, or via Settings → Data Management → Clear History & Favorites.