IPTV on PS5 or PS4: The Honest Answer (2026)

The PS5 is already plugged into the best TV in the house, so it seems like the obvious place to run IPTV. Plenty of websites will tell you it works perfectly. The honest answer is less convenient: PlayStation is one of the weakest devices for IPTV, and it's better to know that before you spend an evening trying.

Why PlayStation is awkward for IPTV

Sony controls which apps appear on the PlayStation Store very tightly. The dedicated IPTV players that work so well on other devices, such as TiviMate and IPTV Smarters, are not available on PS5 or PS4. There is also no way to sideload apps onto a PlayStation as you can on a Firestick or Android box.

What about the workarounds?

You'll find guides suggesting a few tricks. Here's how they hold up:

• The hidden web browser. The PS5 has no proper browser app. Workarounds that reach a browser through messages or settings are clumsy, break after system updates, and don't play streams reliably.
• Media server apps. Media server apps on PlayStation are designed for your own media library. Getting live IPTV channels through them needs a separate computer running a server and extra configuration. It's possible, but it's fragile and far more work than it's worth.
• Screen casting. PlayStation consoles don't act as casting receivers for IPTV apps.

None of these gives you a proper TV guide, catch-up or a remote-friendly interface. We'd rather tell you that than have you blame the service when a workaround fails.

The five-minute fix

Your PS5 is connected to a TV with more than one HDMI port. Plug a Firestick into another port and you get the best IPTV experience available, with a full guide, catch-up and 4K, for about the price of one new game. Switching between the two is one press of the input button.

If your TV is a recent Smart TV, you may not even need that. Samsung, LG and Sony Bravia sets can all run IPTV apps directly.

What about Xbox?

Xbox is more open than PlayStation and does have IPTV-capable apps in its store. If you have both consoles, the Xbox is the better bet. See our guide to IPTV on Xbox.

Gaming and IPTV on the same connection

If someone is gaming online while someone else watches IPTV, both share your broadband. A large game download can use most of your bandwidth and make the stream buffer. Pause downloads during the match, or set them to run overnight. Our internet speed guide explains how much each needs.

The bottom line

You can't run IPTV properly on a PS5 or PS4, and the workarounds aren't worth your evening. Use the TV's own apps or add a Firestick. See every option on our supported devices page, then test your chosen setup with a 6-hour free trial.