Xtream login, M3U URL or MAG portal: which one you have and why it matters
When your subscription is ready, you receive one of a few different-looking sets of details. Some people get a username, password and a server address. Others get a single long web link. A few get a portal address to paste into a set-top box. It is easy to assume these are different products, but in most cases they are simply different shapes of the same account.
This guide explains the three shapes you are likely to meet, how they relate to one another, which devices expect which, and which of these values you can safely pass to support if you ever need help.
Three shapes of the same account
When your subscription is ready you receive one of three formats, and it is easy to assume they are different products. In almost every case they are the same account presented in a different shape. Which one you use depends on the player in front of you, not on what you paid for. Knowing which is which saves a lot of confusion the first time you sign in.
- Xtream Codes login: a server address, a username and a password
- M3U URL: a single long web link that carries the same access
- MAG portal: a portal address you enter on a set-top box
Xtream Codes: the tidiest way in
An Xtream Codes login is three fields: a server or host address, a username and a password. It is the option to prefer where your app supports it, because the player uses those details to pull live channels, the seven-day guide, catch-up and the video-on-demand library into separate, browsable categories. Most dedicated IPTV apps on Fire TV, Android, Apple and smart TVs accept it.
The M3U URL: everything in one link
An M3U URL is the same access folded into a single web address. Some players only accept a playlist link rather than three separate fields, and the M3U is for them. It points at exactly the same channels and library as the Xtream login; it is simply a different door into the same room. The username and password sit inside the link itself, which matters for the sharing advice below.
MAG portals: for the box, not the phone
A MAG portal is a portal address you type into a MAG or compatible set-top box, which then loads its own on-screen menu rather than a separate app. Portals are frequently tied to the box's hardware MAC address, so a portal set up for one box will not simply move to a phone or a different device. If you want to watch on a phone or tablet, ask to be set up with an Xtream login or M3U URL instead.
Which values are safe to share with support
If you ever contact support, share your Xtream username and the server address, not your full M3U link. The M3U link contains your password in plain sight, so passing it around is the equivalent of handing over your login. With just the username and server we can find your account safely. If a link is genuinely needed to reproduce a fault, mask the password portion before you send it. Everyday account tasks can also be handled yourself in the Control Panel at https://iptv.chat/panel.
Quick answers
I was given an M3U link but the app asks for an Xtream login. What do I do?
Can I use the same subscription on more than one format at once?
Should I ever send support my full M3U link?
Why does my MAG portal not work on my phone?
A term and a login are all you need.