An Android phone or tablet is the easiest second screen in the house: it is always charged, always nearby, and perfect for following a match from the kitchen or the garden. Setting up Pillar IPTV on one takes about five minutes.
Have your login ready before you start; the getting started guide explains what arrives after you order.
Choosing an app on Google Play
Search Google Play for a player that supports Xtream Codes logins. IPTV Smarters, GSE Smart IPTV and XCIPTV are long-standing options with phone and tablet layouts. TiviMate is designed for TV boxes and sticks rather than touch screens, so it is a better fit for Android TV devices than for phones.
Check the app’s recent reviews and update date before installing, and only use the official Play Store listing. Our player app comparison explains the differences between the main players.
Signing in
- Open the app and choose the Xtream Codes (or “login with username”) option.
- Copy the server address from your login message and paste it in; do the same for the username and password.
- Tap the login button and wait a minute while the channel list, guide and on-demand menus download.
- Open a live channel, then rotate the phone to landscape for full screen.
Watch out for the keyboard adding a capital letter or a space at the start of the username; switching autocorrect off for the entry, or pasting, avoids it.
Useful features on a phone
- Picture-in-picture: many players shrink the video into a floating window when you press home, so you can reply to messages without missing a goal.
- Favourites: build a short list so you are not scrolling through every country’s channels with your thumb.
- Quality setting: choose a lower default quality for mobile data and a higher one at home.
- Screen lock: some players can lock the touch screen so a pocket or a child does not change the channel.
Sending the picture to a TV
If your player supports casting, a Chromecast or a TV with Chromecast built in can show the stream on the big screen while the phone acts as a remote. Not every player casts live channels, and casting can add a few seconds of delay. For regular TV viewing, installing a player directly on a stick or the TV gives a smoother result; see installing IPTV on a Fire TV Stick for the most common option.
Battery and data
Streaming video drains a phone battery faster than most tasks. Lower the brightness, close other apps and plug in for long matches. On mobile data, an hour of Full HD can use 3 GB or more; our guide to IPTV data usage has figures for each quality level.
Remember that a phone playing at the same moment as the TV uses one of your plan’s connections.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best IPTV app for an Android phone?
IPTV Smarters, GSE Smart IPTV and XCIPTV all have phone layouts and accept Xtream Codes logins. TiviMate is designed for TV devices rather than phones.
Can I cast IPTV from my phone to my TV?
Yes, if your player supports Chromecast and your TV or dongle accepts it. A player installed directly on the TV or a stick is usually smoother.
Does watching on my phone use one of my connections?
Yes, whenever it is playing. A phone and a TV playing at the same time need a plan with at least two connections.
