Adding Playlists

IPTVBoss can import a genuine M3U playlist from a URL or local file, or connect to a provider using an Xtream Codes source.

Warning

Use only playlist sources that you are authorized to access. Treat provider URLs, usernames, and passwords as private credentials.

For individual stream addresses entered manually, use Custom Sources.

What are you adding?

Use the source type that matches the information supplied by the provider:

Choose	When to use it
M3U source	You have a complete playlist URL or a local .m3u file.
Xtream Codes source	You have a server address, username, and password, or a URL containing get.php?username=...&password=....

Both workflows require you to refresh and select provider categories before saving. If the source fields are valid but no categories have been loaded yet, IPTVBoss opens the category manager when you select Save so you can complete that step. See Playlist Categories for every category action.

When you add a new playlist source in the desktop GUI, IPTVBoss starts its first source synchronization after the source is saved. When you edit an existing source, IPTVBoss saves the settings first and asks Sync now? only when the changes affect source synchronization, such as the provider connection, included categories, or content-processing options. Select No to keep the saved settings without synchronizing yet. See Sources Manager for startup synchronization and cancellation.

Add an M3U source

1. Open Sources.
2. Select Add M3U Source.
3. Enter a descriptive value in Name.
4. Enter the playlist address in Source Link, or select Browse to choose a local .m3u file.
5. If the source requires authentication, enable the username/password option and enter the provider credentials.
6. Select Manage Categories before saving the source. If you skip this step, selecting Save with valid source fields and no loaded categories opens the category manager automatically.
7. In the category view, select Refresh Categories and wait for IPTVBoss to load the provider's current categories.
8. Select the categories you want to import, then close the category view.
9. Review the output and category options.
10. Select Save. The first source synchronization starts after the source is saved.

Add an Xtream Codes source

Use the Xtream Codes workflow when your provider supplies a standard login connection. This is the recommended choice for a link such as:

http://provider.example:8080/get.php?username=myuser&password=mypass&type=m3u_plus&output=ts

Do not paste the entire get.php link into the connection dialog. Extract these three fields:

• Address: http://provider.example:8080/ — keep the scheme, hostname, and port; remove /get.php and everything after the ?.
• Username: the value after username= — myuser in the example.
• Password: the value after password= — mypass in the example.

If a value contains URL-encoded characters such as %2B or %40, copy the value exactly as provided rather than changing it. If the provider gives you a standard Xtream Codes link with a different filename or additional query parameters, the same rule applies: use the server portion as the address and copy the username and password parameter values.

1. Open Sources.
2. Select Add XC Source.
3. Enter the provider server address.
4. Enter the supplied username and password.
5. Select Manage Categories before saving the source. If you skip this step, selecting Save with valid source fields and no loaded categories opens the category manager automatically.
6. In the category view, select Refresh Categories and wait for the category list to load.
7. Select the categories and content types to include.
8. Review whether VOD or series content should be included in the M3U output.
9. Select Save. The first source synchronization starts after the source is saved.

Note

Use Add M3U Source for a genuine M3U playlist URL or local .m3u file that is not a standard Xtream Codes login link. When the URL follows the get.php?username=...&password=... pattern, use Add XC Source so IPTVBoss can retrieve the provider's Live, VOD, and Series categories through the Xtream Codes connection.

For channel-name cleanup, see Prefix Removal and Tags. The Custom Sports Channel Names field uses TXT Fixture Names for AEDs.

Disable automatic NoGUI user checks for a source

Both M3U and Xtream Codes source editors include Disable NoGUI user checks. Enable it when NoGUI synchronization should skip automatic provider credential and expiry refreshes for that source. This is stored per source and does not disable playlist synchronization or manual credential refreshes.

Automatic NoGUI checks apply to enabled, at-risk user credentials for Xtream Codes sources and password-backed M3U sources that have an XC URL. Each credential is checked at most once every 24 hours for the same connection details. See External noGUI Scheduling for the scheduling behavior and eligibility rules.

Leave the option disabled when expiry and credential metadata should be refreshed automatically. A source-level opt-out is useful for providers that do not support these account-information requests or that impose strict request limits.

Synchronize the source

1. Open Sources → Sources Manager, then open the IPTV Sources tab.
2. Select the source you added.
3. Select Sync in the source action bar.
4. Wait for the synchronization to finish before editing channels or generating output. Select Cancel in the progress view to request cancellation; the current network or processing step may finish first.
5. Review the imported categories and channel count.

If synchronization fails, confirm that the URL is reachable, credentials are correct, and the provider is online. Then review Common Problems.

If you cancel a synchronization, the source is marked Sync cancelled in Sources Manager. Run Sync again after confirming the source settings.

Free and Pro

Source limits are listed only in the canonical Free vs Pro comparison. If you reach the current limit, remove an unused source or review the available Pro plans.

Note

Menu labels and screenshots may change between desktop releases.