How can we help?

What you need

A compatible source you are allowed to use: an M3U or M3U8 playlist address, or an Xtream-compatible server address with a username and password. These come from a TV provider you subscribe to or a server you run yourself.

Universal Player does not include channels or content, so the app stays empty until you add a source.

Phones, tablets and TVs

On a TV, everything works with the remote's arrows, OK and Back. On phones and tablets, everything works by touch; tablets in landscape use the same layout as the TV.

Add a playlist or account

Open Sources and choose Add source. Pick M3U playlist and paste its address, or Xtream Codes and enter the server address, username and password exactly as your provider gave them, including http:// or https:// and the port.

After adding, the channel list loads. Movies, series and the guide can be loaded from the source's details page.

The HTTP warning

If a source uses http:// instead of https://, its traffic is not encrypted. Universal Player explains this and only connects after you allow it for that one source. You can withdraw the permission later in the source's details.

Refreshing a source

Channels, the guide, movies and series are refreshed when you ask, from the source's details page. While a refresh runs, the previous catalogue stays usable; a failed refresh keeps it as it was.

Finding channels

Choose a category, type in the category filter, or search all channels of the source. Now and Next appear when the source has guide data for a channel.

Favorites

Mark a channel as a favorite from its details or while watching. Favorites are kept per source on the device.

Why some channels have no guide

The guide comes from your source's guide data. Channels the data does not describe, or cannot be matched to with certainty, show no programme information rather than a guess.

Catch-up

Programmes that can be replayed carry a replay mark. Catch-up is only offered for channels whose source says an archive exists, and only for as many days as that archive keeps.

Loading the library

Movies and series are loaded on request from the source's details page. Large libraries can take a few minutes on slower TV devices; the rest of the app stays usable meanwhile.

Resume and Continue watching

Universal Player remembers where you stopped in a movie or episode and offers to resume it. Nothing starts playing on its own.

The provider refused the stream

The source's server answered but would not send the stream. Common causes are an expired subscription, too many devices watching at once, or a channel your account does not include. Check with your provider.

The format is not supported or cannot be decoded

Some streams use formats or codecs a particular device cannot decode. Try another channel or version of the title, or another device. Universal Player uses the device's own hardware decoders.

No connection

Check the device's internet connection, and that the source address, including http:// or https:// and the port, is still correct.

Supported devices

Universal Player is built for Android phones and tablets, Android TV and Google TV. Other platforms are planned but not available.

Picture and sound

Which video and audio formats play depends on the device's decoders. Many TVs decode more formats in hardware than phones; surround sound may be passed to your TV or sound system.

Your accounts

Server addresses, usernames and passwords are stored encrypted on your device and are only sent to the source they belong to. There is no Universal Player account.

A new device

Universal Player's data is not included in device backups or transfers to a new device, and its encryption keys cannot leave the device. On a new phone or TV, add your sources again; favorites and progress start fresh.

Diagnostics

Settings → Diagnostics shows versions, catalogue status and recent problems as codes, without names, addresses or passwords. On a phone you can copy it to include in an email to support.