Hectic TVApp Store

Set up

About a
minute.

Everything starts at Home → Add your TV. Use the details your provider or server gave you. Hectic TV never supplies them.

01 — M3U

M3U or M3U8 playlist

A web address ending .m3u or .m3u8, or containing get.php?username=. Or a playlist file.

  1. Open Home → Add your TV → M3U Link.
  2. Paste the address. You can leave out http://.
  3. Add the guide address if your provider gave you one. Left blank, Hectic TV uses the guide named inside the playlist when there is one.
  4. Tap Add. Big lists keep importing in the background.

Got a file? Choose M3U File and pick it from Files or iCloud Drive.

02 — Xtream Codes

Xtream Codes login

A server address, a username and a password.

  1. Open Home → Add your TV → Xtream Codes.
  2. Enter the server, for example provider.example:8080.
  3. Enter your username and password, then tap Add.
  4. Channels load first; movies and series follow. Catch Up appears on Home if your provider archives channels.

Your password goes in your iCloud Keychain, never the app’s database. No server address? Ask your provider for the “Xtream server URL”.

03 — Jellyfin

Jellyfin server

Your own media server, at home or online.

  1. Open Home → Add your TV → Jellyfin.
  2. Enter the address you use in a browser, such as jellyfin.local:8096 or 192.168.1.20.
  3. Sign in with your password, or choose Quick Connect and approve the code in Jellyfin on your phone or computer (profile → Quick Connect). Quick Connect must be on in Jellyfin’s dashboard.
  4. Films, series, episodes and live TV with its guide appear in Hectic TV.

Hectic TV keeps the server’s access token in the Keychain, not your password. Playback uses Jellyfin’s HLS stream, so the server converts anything Apple devices can’t play directly. Hectic TV may ask for local network access.

04 — TV guide

TV guide (EPG / XMLTV)

An XMLTV address ending .xml or .xml.gz.

  1. Open Settings → Playlists and choose your playlist.
  2. Paste the guide address. Add more under More guide addresses; they’re merged.
  3. Programmes match channels by tvg-id, or by name when that’s missing.
  4. Times wrong? Time Shift moves the guide by whole hours.

Some providers don’t supply a guide. Channels still play.

05 — Other sources

Other sources

No provider needed for some of these.

  1. Single Stream: one HLS or MP4 address. Nothing is saved. YouTube links play in YouTube’s own player.
  2. Local Video: films on your device.
  3. Free Sample Films: five openly licensed films in HD. They don’t count towards the free playlist limit.
  4. Free Films & Cartoons: public-domain titles from the Internet Archive.
06 — Other devices

Your other devices

Set up once.

  1. Buy Hectic TV Pro once (Settings → Hectic TV Pro).
  2. Make sure iCloud is on for Hectic TV.
  3. Install Hectic TV on iPad, Mac or Apple TV with the same Apple Account. Playlists, favourites, locks and history arrive. No codes.

On Apple TV, type with the keyboard that appears on your iPhone, or turn on Use iPhone or iPad as Remote.

07 — Troubleshooting

If something’s
not right.

  1. 01

    The Add button stays grey

    Hectic TV shows under the form what's missing. For Xtream you need a server, username and password. Addresses can be typed without http://; Hectic TV adds it. Remove any spaces you pasted by accident.

  2. 02

    The TV guide is empty

    Open Settings → Playlists → your playlist and check the guide address, or add another under More guide addresses. Some providers don't supply a guide at all; channels still play without one.

  3. 03

    Programmes show at the wrong time

    Settings → Playlists → your playlist → Time Shift. Move the guide by whole hours until programmes line up.

  4. 04

    A channel won't play

    Apple devices play HLS (.m3u8) and MP4 natively, and Hectic TV tries Xtream .ts links as HLS automatically. RTMP, RTSP, UDP, RTP and MMS links can't be played by Apple's media engine. If a stream drops, Hectic TV reconnects and, if the same channel is in another of your playlists, switches to it. Try Settings → Playback → Stream Format → HLS, check your connection, or ask your provider whether your subscription allows more devices at once.

  5. 05

    Which formats does Hectic TV play?

    HLS (.m3u8), MP4 and MKV. MKV films are repackaged on your device, without re-encoding, so Apple's player can open them when they use codecs Apple devices decode. AVI isn't supported; if a film won't play, Hectic TV asks your provider for an HLS version, otherwise ask your provider for MP4.

  6. 06

    It stops when someone else is watching

    Many providers limit how many devices can stream at once on one subscription. That limit is set by your provider, not Hectic TV; ask them how many connections your plan allows.

Hectic TV is a media player only. It doesn’t include, sell or recommend any channels, playlists or streams; the only content it offers itself is five openly licensed sample films and public-domain titles from the Internet Archive. Add only content you have the right to watch.