IPTV on Plex, Emby and Jellyfin: Live TV Setup
If you already run a media server at home, you can add IPTV live channels next to your own movies and shows. Here is what each one needs and how to set it up.
The Short Version
| Server | Accepts an M3U playlist? | Guide (XMLTV) | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jellyfin | Yes, directly | Yes | Free |
| Emby | Yes, directly | Yes | Live TV features need Emby Premiere |
| Plex | Not directly — needs a tuner bridge | Through the bridge | Live TV needs Plex Pass |
All three need two links from your subscription: the M3U playlist URL (the channels) and the XMLTV URL (the TV guide). Ask support for them if you only have Xtream Codes details.
Jellyfin
- Open the Jellyfin Dashboard and go to Live TV.
- Under Tuner devices, add a new tuner and choose M3U Tuner.
- Paste your M3U playlist URL and save.
- Under TV guide data providers, add XMLTV and paste your guide URL.
- Refresh the guide data. Live TV appears in every Jellyfin app.
Emby
- In the Emby server settings, open Live TV.
- Add a TV source and choose M3U Tuner, then paste your playlist URL.
- Add a guide data source of type XMLTV with your guide URL.
- Map channels to the guide if Emby asks, then refresh the guide.
Emby's live TV features are part of Emby Premiere — check the current plans on Emby's website.
Plex
Plex Live TV is designed for TV-tuner hardware, so it does not accept an M3U link on its own. The usual solution is a small tuner bridge program (Threadfin, the successor of xTeVe, is the common choice) that runs on the same computer as Plex, reads your M3U and XMLTV links, and presents them to Plex as a tuner.
- Install and start the tuner bridge, then add your M3U playlist and XMLTV guide links in it.
- Choose which channels to pass to Plex (Plex works best with a limited set).
- In Plex, open Settings > Live TV & DVR and set up a device — Plex finds the bridge as a tuner.
- Use the bridge's XMLTV link as the guide source.
Live TV in Plex requires a Plex Pass subscription.
Is It Worth the Setup?
A media server is worth it if you want one app for everything at home and features like DVR recording. If you just want to watch, a dedicated IPTV app is ready in five minutes and logs in with Xtream Codes directly: TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro or Kodi. Compare them on the IPTV apps page.
Channels freezing through the server? Transcoding on a slow computer is the usual cause — see the buffering guide.
Need Your M3U and Guide Links?
Message support and we will send the playlist and XMLTV links for your account, 24/7.
No subscription yet? View our IPTV packages.
Contact Support