PlayOnTV Server - Your private streaming service

Overview

PlayOnTV Server is a lightweight, cross-platform personal media server. Point it at your folders or existing M3U playlists, and it instantly creates a streaming service that any compatible IPTV player can connect to — including PlayOnTV Player.

What you get out of the box:

Scans local directories for video files (MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WebM, MPEG-TS)
Imports existing M3U / M3U8 playlists
Exposes content via M3U URLs and the full Xtream Codes API
Embedded SQLite database — no external dependencies
Web-based admin interface
Runs on Windows and Linux

Requirements

Platform	Requirements
Windows	Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
Linux	64-bit distribution with glibc 2.17+

No additional software or databases required. PlayOnTV Server uses an embedded SQLite database.

Getting Started

1. Download and run

Download the build for your platform and launch the executable. On first run, the server will:

Create a data directory for the database
Start the web interface on port 8080
Redirect you to the setup page to create an admin account

2. Initial setup

Open your browser and visit:

http://localhost:8080

Create your admin account with a username and password. You’ll use it to manage the server and generate connection credentials for IPTV players.

3. Add content sources

In the admin interface, add your content sources:

Local Directory: Point to a folder containing your media files.
M3U Playlist: Import an existing M3U or M3U8 URL.

After adding a source, click Sync to scan and import the content.

4. Connect your player

Go to Credentials in the admin interface to find your connection details. Use them in PlayOnTV Player — or any compatible IPTV client.

Configuration

Create a config.yaml in the same directory as the server executable to customize settings:

      
# Server settings
server:
  host: "0.0.0.0"      # Listen on all interfaces
  port: 8080             # HTTP port
  base_url: ""          # External URL (for remote access)

# Security settings
security:
  max_connections_per_user: 0  # 0 = unlimited

# Database settings
database:
  path: "./data/iptv.db"
      
    

Tip: For LAN streaming, set max_connections_per_user: 0 — video players often open multiple connections for seeking and buffering.

Connecting IPTV Players

PlayOnTV Player

In PlayOnTV Player, add a new playlist using the Xtream Codes option:

Server URL: http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8080
Username: Your admin username
Password: The stream token from the Credentials page

Other IPTV Players

PlayOnTV Server is compatible with any IPTV player that supports:

M3U Playlists: Use the M3U URL from the Credentials page.
Xtream Codes API: Use the server URL, username, and token.

Besides PlayOnTV Player, compatible players include TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, GSE Smart IPTV, VLC, and many others.

API Reference

Authentication

POST /api/auth/login

Authenticate and receive a JWT token for API access.

Content Sources

GET /api/sources

List all configured content sources.

POST /api/sources

Add a new content source (local directory or M3U URL).

POST /api/sources/:id/sync

Sync / scan a content source to import media.

Media Library

GET /api/library

List all media items in the library.

Playlist & Credentials

GET /api/playlist/credentials

Get the M3U URL and Xtream credentials for connecting players.

GET /api/playlist/m3u?token=TOKEN

Download the M3U playlist.

Xtream Codes API

Full Xtream Codes API compatibility for IPTV players:

GET /player_api.php?username=X&password=Y&action=ACTION

Main Xtream API endpoint. Supported actions include get_live_categories, get_live_streams, get_vod_categories, get_vod_streams, get_series_categories, get_series, and more.

GET /movie/USERNAME/PASSWORD/STREAM_ID.EXT

Stream VOD content (movies, series episodes).

GET /live/USERNAME/PASSWORD/STREAM_ID.ts

Stream live content.

Supported Media Formats

Format	Extension	Notes
MP4	.mp4, .m4v	Recommended for best compatibility
Matroska	.mkv	Full support including multiple audio / subtitle tracks
AVI	.avi	Legacy format, fully supported
QuickTime	.mov	Apple QuickTime format
WebM	.webm	Open web media format
MPEG-TS	.ts, .m2ts	Transport stream format

Troubleshooting

Can’t connect from other devices

Make sure the server is running with host: "0.0.0.0"
Check your firewall allows connections on port 8080
Use your computer’s LAN IP (e.g. 192.168.1.x), not localhost

Video won’t play / Error 429

Set max_connections_per_user: 0 in config.yaml
Restart the server after changing configuration

Media not showing after sync

Make sure files have supported extensions (.mp4, .mkv, etc.)
Check that the directory path is correct and accessible
Try syncing the source again

Legal Notice

PlayOnTV Server is designed for personal use with your own legally obtained media. You’re responsible for ensuring you have the right to use, store, and stream any content you add. See our Terms of Use for the full details.