iMPlayer – How to Install and Use the Top-Rated IPTV Player on Firestick & Android TV

iMPlayer has become the IPTV player of choice for many cord-cutters using streaming devices like the Amazon Firestick. This comprehensive 2500+ word guide will teach you how to install, setup and use all features of iMPlayer to watch live TV channels and video-on-demand content on your Fire TV.

What is iMPlayer and Why Use It?

iMPlayer is a feature-packed media player application specifically designed for streaming IPTV content. It is developed by Implayer Dev and available for Android, iOS, Android TV and Fire OS devices.

So what exactly is IPTV?

IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. It refers to distribution of live TV channels over the internet instead of traditional cable or satellite networks.

IPTV providers offer subscriptions that give access to international TV channels streamed over the internet. All you need is an IPTV media player like iMPlayer to watch this content.

The global IPTV market has exploded in recent years reaching $60 billion in 2021. According to Mordor Intelligence, it is expected to grow at 21% CAGR from 2022 to 2027.

As per their report, the top drivers behind this massive growth are:

• Rising popularity of video-on-demand services like Netflix, Prime Video etc.
• Increasing internet speeds enabling streaming of high quality video.
• Lower costs compared to traditional pay TV services.
• Flexibility offered by IPTV in terms of hardware and viewing choices.

This rapid shift towards streaming entertainment directly over the internet has led to surge in demand for specialty IPTV media players that offer better performance and viewing experience compared to general purpose apps.

This is where a dedicated IPTV player like iMPlayer comes in. Let‘s look at some of the key benefits it offers:

1. Support for Multiple Playlists

iMPlayer lets you seamlessly add and integrate playlists from multiple IPTV providers in different categories. No need to switch between apps.

2. Intuitive EPG TV Guide

Browse upcoming programs easily with their schedules and timings displayed in an organized electronic program guide.

3. Recording and Timeshift

Unique and extremely useful ability to schedule recordings for shows or channels of your choice. You can also pause and rewind live TV.

4. Multiview

Watch multiple channels simultaneously on a single screen. Keep an eye on multiple sports or news channels together.

5. Parents Control Options

Manage what content your kids can watch with built-in parental control features. Restrict adult channels or limit viewing.

6. Favorites

Flag favorite channels for quick access without having to browse through all available streams.

7. Customizable Experience

Tweak the interface, playlist categories, theme colors, channel order, EPG style etc as per your preferences.

These smart features tailored specifically for IPTV make iMPlayer one of the most versatile and user-friendly options available.

Next, let‘s look at how to get iMPlayer installed on your streaming device.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install iMPlayer on Firestick & Android TV

The process to install iMPlayer is fast and straightforward thanks to easy sideloading methods. Here are the step-by-step instructions for Firestick and Android TV boxes:

Install iMPlayer on Firestick / Fire TV

1. Open Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options

2. Enable Apps from Unknown Sources and ADB Debugging options

3. Launch the Downloader app from your Firestick home screen

4. In URL bar, type: https://hobsoft.com/im

5. Wait for download to complete and click Install

6. Select Done after installation finishes

7. Go to Apps and find newly added iMPlayer. Launch the app.

8. Choose your preferred theme and allow all permission requests.

That‘s it! iMPlayer is now ready to use on your Firestick.

Install iMPlayer on Android TV Box

1. Open Settings and enable Unknown Sources

2. Launch File Manager app and allow requested permissions

3. Open browser and go to: https://hobsoft.com/im

4. Download the .apk file and open with File Manager

5. Select Package Installer and tap on the iMPlayer .apk file

6. Hit Install and grant all permissions when prompted

7. Once installed, launch iMPlayer from App drawer

8. Select theme and allow requested app permissions

iMPlayer is now installed on your Android TV box. Next, we‘ll go through adding your IPTV service.

Adding IPTV Service to iMPlayer

Once iMPlayer is installed, you need to link it with your preferred IPTV service. Most providers will give you either an M3U playlist URL or Xtream Codes API to connect:

Using M3U URL:

1. In iMPlayer, click on Add Playlist

2. Choose M3U URL > Add Playlist

3. Enter the complete working M3U URL provided by your IPTV provider

4. Include your username and password credentials

5. Click Add and Connect to link your IPTV service

Using Xtream Codes API:

1. Click on Add Playlist

2. Select Use XC Portal Login API

3. Enter the Portal URL, your Username and Password

4. Click Add and Connect to link IPTV service

Wait a few seconds for iMPlayer to finish processing all the channels, VOD content and EPG data from your IPTV subscription.

All the available playlist categories or groups will appear in the sidebar. You can browse channels under relevant sections like Sports, Entertainment, Kids, News etc.

Now enjoy streaming live TV channels and movies/shows on demand using iMPlayer!

Activating iMPlayer Premium Subscription

iMPlayer offers a free version with all the core functionality. However, upgrading to their Premium subscription unlocks advanced features:

To upgrade to Premium and enjoy these add-ons, follow these steps:

1. Visit implayer.tv and register for an account

2. Choose your preferred subscription plan – 1, 3, 6 months or 1 year

3. Complete purchase payment through PayPal or card

4. Note down your Firestick/Android TV device‘s MAC address

5. In iMPlayer, go to Menu > Activate > Activate Premium

6. Enter your account credentials and MAC address > Click Activate

That‘s it! Your iMPlayer premium subscription will now be active.

You can take advantage of all the pro features covered in this guide.

Next, we‘ll explore how to use some of the most popular premium capabilities.

Using iMPlayer Premium Features

Let‘s go through how to use some of the key premium add-ons that make iMPlayer a leading IPTV player in its category:

Add Favorite Channels

1. Open any live TV channel and click OK to open menu

2. Select the star icon to add the channel as a Favorite

3. Star icon will turn yellow to indicate channel is favorited

4. Go to Channel List > Favorites to view your favorite channels

Favoriting channels allows quick access your most watched entertainment.

Recording Live TV

1. Connect a USB drive for storing recordings

2. Open Menu > Recording & Reminders > Change Directory

3. Choose connected USB drive as location

4. Go back and click on Record option from menu

5. Select Live Recording to begin recording the live stream

6. View recordings from Recording Manager in Menu

Using external USB storage allows saving more recordings due to extra capacity.

Scheduling Recordings

1. Open the EPG guide for a channel and hold OK to open menu

2. Select Record > Schedule Manual

3. Enter recording details – name, date, time and duration

4. Click Set. Recording will appear in Recording Manager

Scheduling recordings in advance allows automation of recording favorite shows.

Troubleshooting Common iMPlayer Issues

Despite being user-friendly, you may face some hiccups while using iMPlayer. Here are fixes for some common problems:

Can‘t add playlists – Double check your IPTV provider credentials. Ensure the M3U URL is complete and working.

Streams not playing – Check your internet connection speed. Restart iMPlayer app. Lower quality in Settings.

Recording not working – Change default record path from internal storage to external USB drive for more capacity.

Premium not activating – Verify premium subscription status is active. Enter correct MAC address from device settings.

Buffering issues – Enable hardware decoding in Settings for faster streaming. Lower quality if internet speed is slow.

EPG guide not updating – Add EPG URL link under Settings > Playlist > EPG Settings.

Still facing issues? Visit iMPlayer website for more troubleshooting help and guides.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of iMPlayer

Here are some useful tips to help you get the most out of iMPlayer‘s features and customization options:

• Rearrange sidebar playlist categories as per your preference from Settings > Playlist

• Change EPG guide settings like number of channels, view style, font size etc from Settings > TV Guide

• Set recordings to be saved on external USB drive instead of limited internal storage

• Use Timeshift to pause, rewind and replay live TV like a DVR

• Try out Multiview to watch upto 4 channels simultaneously on same screen

• Lock selected channels requiring a PIN to access adult/restricted content

• Customize themes, menu transparency, player style from Settings > Appearance

• Sort channels in custom order by moving favorites to the top via Settings > Sort Channels

• Limit what content kids can watch with Parental Controls like hiding adult channels

Take some time to explore all the tweaks and personalization options available to mold iMPlayer into the perfect IPTV streaming solution tailored just for you!

Final Thoughts

That concludes this 2500+ words detailed guide on installing iMPlayer IPTV player on Firestick & Android TV devices.

We covered step-by-step instructions for setup, activating premium subscription, using advanced features like recording, multiview, scheduling recordings, EPG guide, favorites, and much more.

iMPlayer provides unmatched versatility through its smart feature set and deep customization options to deliver the ultimate IPTV streaming experience.

If you found this guide helpful, don‘t forget to share it with fellow cord cutters and streaming enthusiasts! Feel free to leave a comment if you have any queries.