Gather these first
- Your personal SMARTIFLIX M3U link from the activation message
- A player that accepts an M3U URL, such as VLC, Kodi with the PVR IPTV Simple Client or Smart IPTV
- Optional: the XMLTV guide address for players that ask for it separately
Waiting on credentials? You can follow along with a free 24-hour trial login, or see the plans in US dollars first.
The setup, one screen at a time
Check you really need M3U
If your player offers an Xtream Codes login, use that instead; it brings the guide and on-demand sections automatically. M3U is the right choice for players without an Xtream option. Before starting, copy the link from your activation message. It looks like an address ending in get.php followed by your username and password as parameters, which is why it deserves the same care as a password. Check the connection on the device where you will watch, since large playlists load slowly over weak Wi-Fi.
Paste it into VLC
On a Windows PC, open Media, then Open Network Stream, or press Ctrl+N. On a Mac, use File, then Open Network, or Cmd+N. Paste the link and select Play. Open the playlist view to browse by channel name; VLC shows the whole list rather than folders, so its search box is the quickest way to find a channel.
Or add it to Kodi
In Kodi, go to Add-ons, then install PVR IPTV Simple Client from the PVR clients section if it is not already there. Open its settings, choose the remote path option for the M3U playlist, and paste your link. Enable the add-on and restart Kodi. Channels then appear under TV in the main menu, with a guide if an XMLTV source is set.
Or send it to Smart IPTV
Smart IPTV on Samsung and LG takes the link from another device. Note the MAC shown in the app on the TV, visit siptv.app/mylist on your phone, enter the MAC, paste the M3U link and send it, then restart the app. Take a photo of the MAC address rather than copying it by eye, because one wrong character sends the list to someone else’s television. Each TV has its own MAC, so a second set in the house needs its own upload. The Smart IPTV guide has the details, including the one-time activation its developer charges after the trial.
Add the guide if the player asks
Some players want the program guide as a separate XMLTV address. It uses the same server as your playlist, ending in xmltv.php with your credentials attached. Our support team can send it in the right form. Once it is added, check the player’s time settings, and the device clock, so that listings match your province rather than another time zone.
Find Canadian channels quickly
Playlists carry group labels, and players that read them, such as Kodi, show those groups as folders. Open the Canadian groups first and add the channels you use to favourites, where the player supports them. In VLC, which has no favourites for streams, save a smaller playlist of your regular channels using the Media menu’s save option, then open that instead of the full list.
Protect the link like a password
Store the M3U link in a password manager or a private note rather than in a shared family chat. Do not post it in forums or paste it into websites other than the official pages of the player you use. If someone outside your household gets hold of it, their viewing counts against your simultaneous-stream limit, and it can look like buffering or disconnections on your own screens. Support can issue new credentials if you think the link has spread.
Keep it smooth on a cold, busy night
A big playlist is a lot of text to load on a busy connection, and simple players read every line before showing anything. On winter evenings when the network is crowded, open a saved smaller playlist rather than the full list, choose HD channel versions over 4K, and use a cable for the computer or box if possible. If a player struggles with the full list every time, a player with categories, such as TiViMate or IPTV Smarters, handles large line-ups better.
If a step does not work
The list takes a long time to load
Thousands of entries take time to parse on simple players. Wait for loading to finish before selecting a channel, or ask our support team whether a playlist limited to the categories you use is available for your account.
Channels open but the guide is empty
The M3U link lists channels, not schedules. Add the XMLTV guide address in the player’s guide settings, then allow a few minutes for it to load.
The link stopped working after I shared it
Anyone holding your M3U link is using your account, and streams played by others count against your plan. Stop sharing the link and contact support to have your credentials changed if needed.
Kodi shows no channels after adding the link
Check that the add-on is enabled and that the link was pasted into the remote path field, not the local file field. Restart Kodi after any change so the client reloads the playlist.
More players you can pair with SMARTIFLIX
Smart IPTV (SIPTV)
Smart IPTV (SIPTV) on Samsung and LG TVs in Canada: find the MAC, send your M3U link, reopen the app and sort Canadian channels. 25,000+ channels.
Windows PC and Mac
IPTV on a Windows PC or Mac in Canada: the desktop Smarters app, VLC with your M3U link, audio tracks and guide time by province. 25,000+ channels.
Back to every guide
The full set of device and player walkthroughs for Canadian homes.
Get your M3U playlist watching tonight
Plans start at $12.99 USD a month for 25,000+ channels, and credentials arrive on WhatsApp in under 15 minutes.
M3U playlist: setup questions
Why do free M3U lists from the internet stop working?
They are usually streams copied from elsewhere and posted publicly, so thousands of people pull from the same source until it is blocked or overloaded. There is no one to contact when they fail, and sites offering them are a common source of malware. A personal link tied to your account avoids all of that.
Is the M3U link the same account as my Xtream login?
Yes. Both point to the same subscription in different formats. Use Xtream wherever a player supports it and M3U where it does not; your plan’s stream limit applies to both combined.
Can I use the M3U link on a TV at the cottage?
Yes, in any player on that TV that accepts playlists. On a slower rural connection, give the list extra time to load the first time, and choose lower-quality channel versions.
Does VLC show a program guide with my M3U link?
No. VLC plays the streams but does not display a TV guide. If you want listings on a computer, use a player with guide support, such as the desktop version of IPTV Smarters, or Kodi with an XMLTV guide source added.
Can I edit the M3U file to remove channels?
You can save a copy and remove lines in a text editor, since each channel is a pair of lines. The copy will not update when the line-up changes, though, so keep the original link for when you want the full list.
What does m3u_plus in the link mean?
If your link includes it, it asks the server for the extended playlist format that carries group names and logos. Players that read those details can show channels in folders, which makes the Canadian groups easier to find.