IPTV is already irrevocably gaining popularity among computer and mobile technology users around the world. On your own device, having only the desired program and Internet connection, you can watch any channels even without the obligatory presence of all kinds of TV set-top boxes, connecting cable pay TV or satellite dishes. One of the most successful, as it is believed, means for such purposes is the well-known VLC player. We’ll further consider setting up VLC to watch IPTV, separately giving instructions for both Windows and Android mobile systems.
Nuances of installing a VLC player
So first, let's look at some important aspects when installing the player. In the future, when you configure VLC to watch IPTV, such a performance of some preliminary steps and setting important parameters will save you from unnecessary additional operations. After starting the installer, you need to follow the instructions, and you do not need to change anything in the default options.
But at the stage of choosing associations with files or objects that will automatically be opened using the player, it is recommended to immediately note the playlist items (M3U and M3U8).
Windows primary settings
At the end of the installation, in theory, you can immediately proceed to configure the VLC to watch IPTV, if not for one “but”. The fact is that if the installation was carried out in Windows 10, which in itself is a rather capricious system, you may need to set the player to be used by default.
Firstly, when you open a playlist or link on the Internet in the absence of an association, you can use the PCM menu, select an application from the list of suitable programs and check the item of constant use of the player to open all objects of this type.
Secondly, you can go to the properties of the opened file and change the default application associated with it to the installed player. Alas, it is not always possible to make it the default player in the system settings.
Instructions for viewing IPTV through the VLC program: how to use playlists?
Now in the player you can use the simplest operations. First of all, download the playlist you need from the Internet and open it in the player using one of your preferred methods.
If you didn’t download the playlist, but decided to use the exclusively online resource, at the opening, select the URL opening point, then specify the address of the page on which the playlist is located on the Internet. After that, the broadcast will start automatically.
Note: downloading from the Internet or using links located on websites is better for self-updating playlists, since you will not need to download their contents again after the expiration date. In addition, keep in mind that when you close the main window, the player minimizes to tray, so sometimes you may experience problems opening other lists. To avoid their appearance, do a preliminary exit, and only then open a new file or link on the Internet.
How to optimize settings?
However, let's pay attention to the fact that the VLC configuration for watching IPTV on this is still far from complete. The fact is that with the options installed by default, switching between channels is inconvenient.
To optimize settings, go to the display section of the playlist contents by clicking the button on the main panel, after which you can select one of the channels in the list. But still, in full-screen mode, such an opportunity will not be. Thus, in the VLC settings for watching IPTV, you need to add the corresponding element.
To do this, use the interface settings item in the tool menu, and then on the full-screen mode tab, drag the playlist button up onto the panel, adding it to the standard tools.
If you want the playlist to load automatically, in the settings section, expand all the parameters, and in the address field located in the default flow block, paste the playlist URL copied from the site.
Configure VLC to watch IPTV on Android
On mobile devices, you can also make such settings. Installing and configuring IPTV on Androi using the mobile version of the player is very similar, but has its own nuances. First, install the player from the "Play Store" or using the APK-file, allowing the installation from unknown sources, and then open the pre-loaded file format M3U or XSPF.
But sometimes this may not work. To resolve possible problems (we assume that the PC and the mobile device are in the same home network) associated with broadcasting via Multicast via UPD, install the UDP-to-HTTP Proxy application on the Windows computer, select the last one from the IP address list that corresponds to the address stationary terminal or laptop, and then turn on the server.
On the mobile device in the running player, go to UDP settings, enter the computer address, specify port 7781, if it is not automatically set, and set UDP-to-HTTP Proxy (Windows) in the type, then just save the settings. After that, even when broadcasting in a multicast with stream playback, there will be no problems.