IPTV on an old Smart TV: how to get an IPTV player running

A television bought a few years ago can still have a perfectly good screen, yet its built-in apps may be out of date, slow to open, or simply missing from the store. If you want IPTV on an old Smart TV, you will save a lot of frustration by separating two questions: is the picture fine, and is the software fine? When the answer to the first is yes and to the second is no, the sensible fix is to leave the TV as a display and add a small streaming device.

Signs that the TV software has reached its limit

• The app store search does not list QwertyPlayer, even after you check the spelling.
• The store refuses to open, shows a blank page or reports a certificate or date error.
• The menu takes several seconds to react to every button press.
• The manufacturer no longer publishes system updates for your model.
• Apps close on their own while you watch.

One or two of these may be fixed with a restart or a software update. If you see most of them, an external device will give you a better result than any amount of tweaking. Models from Turkish-market names such as Regal, Vestel, Arçelik, Beko, Axen, Dijitsu, Finlux, Woon or Altus, and older sets from Samsung, LG or Sony alike, can all land in this situation, depending on year and system.

Three devices that work with almost any TV

Each of these needs only a free HDMI port and a power source, and each runs QwertyPlayer.

1. Fire TV Stick. Install QwertyPlayer from the Amazon Appstore. Our Fire TV guide covers the full setup, and the page on adding an M3U playlist on Fire TV deals with the playlist.
2. Android TV or Google TV box. A box with its own remote and Google Play. See the Android TV box guide.
3. Chromecast with Google TV. A dongle with a remote and Google Play built in. Read Google TV and Chromecast for IPTV.

Not sure which to pick? The comparison in the best device for IPTV on a TV lays out the differences.

Will my old TV accept the device?

Look at the back and sides of the set for a port marked HDMI. Almost every flat-screen TV from the last decade has at least one, and most have two or three. If the only free input is a different type, such as a scart socket or component inputs, check the device's manual, because adapters can reduce picture quality and are not a clean solution. A TV without any HDMI input is usually too old to be a good candidate for streaming at all.

Power is the second thing to check. Streaming sticks draw power from a USB port on the TV or from a wall adapter. A USB port on an older TV may not supply enough current, and a stick that keeps restarting is the typical symptom. Use the wall adapter that comes in the box.

Setting up the device in five moves

1. Plug the device into HDMI and select that input with the TV's source button.
2. Follow the on-screen start-up and join your Wi-Fi. If the device or an adapter allows a cable, use it.
3. Open the device's store and install QwertyPlayer.
4. Add your provider's M3U link or Xtream Codes account. Instead of typing with a small remote, use the Connect to TV page from your phone.
5. Set the TV to start on that HDMI input if it has such an option, so you do not have to switch every time.

Keep the old TV for what it still does well

Using an external device does not mean giving up the TV's own tuner, antenna input or built-in apps. They remain available on their own inputs. If you plan to watch in more than one room, the playlist can also run on a phone or a computer; the overview of IPTV players for every device shows where to start. Should you also see stuttering on the new setup, the Smart TV buffering checklist applies equally to streaming sticks.

One point about content

The player only plays what you supply. Check that your provider's service is something you may use where you live.

Frequently asked questions