Add an M3U playlist on Apple TV

An M3U playlist is a list of channels and their stream addresses. Guidevi is an M3U player and TV guide for Apple TV, iPhone and iPad: you add a playlist you have the right to use, and Guidevi shows it. It brings no playlists of its own.

Add it by address on Apple TV

Open Settings, then Sources, choose Add a Source, then “Add on This Apple TV”.
Choose “Playlist URL” as the source type.
Enter the M3U or M3U8 link, for example https://…/playlist.m3u. The address comes from your own server or from the provider you subscribe to.
Optionally add a guide address in “Guide (XMLTV) URL” (see the XMLTV guide) and a name.
Choose “Test Connection”, then “Save”.

Typing a long address with the remote is slow. The next section avoids it.

Add it from your iPhone, with a code

On Apple TV, open Settings, then Sources, and choose Add a Source. The page shows a QR code.
Point your iPhone’s camera at the code. If the camera can’t read it, open the address shown on screen in a browser.
On the page that opens, choose Playlist URL and enter the address. Guide address and name are optional.
Choose “Send to Apple TV”. The Apple TV tests the connection first, then saves the source and starts the import.

Both devices must be on the same home network; guest networks are often separate. The page works only while the code is on screen and closes after 15 minutes of inactivity. What you type goes straight to the Apple TV, not to the internet, but on your home network it travels unencrypted, so use it only at home.

Add it from a file on iPhone and iPad

Open Sources: on iPhone it is in Settings (the gear button on the Live tab), on iPad in the sidebar, choose to add a source, then “File”.
Choose “Choose a File…” and pick the M3U file in Files.
Choose “Save”. If you move the file later, pick it again.

Apple TV has no file picker. There, use the address or your phone.

Playlist from your own server

If the playlist comes from a home server, Guidevi can build both addresses for you. See the guides for TVHeadend, Tunarr, ErsatzTV and Dispatcharr.

The guide

If the playlist names its own guide, Guidevi uses it. An address you add yourself is used together with it. No guide? The channels still open; add an XMLTV address later in the source’s settings.

More guides

Guidevi’s free version includes one source and the guide from yesterday to 24 hours ahead. Premium is optional; see what it adds.