How to Watch IPTV on VLC Media Player (Windows PC & Mac)

VLC media player is free, safe and already installed on millions of computers. It is also the quickest way to watch your AbyssTV subscription on a Windows PC or a Mac: there is nothing to configure, you simply open your M3U link and the channels appear.

VLC is a general media player, not a dedicated IPTV app, so it has no programme guide and no channel logos. For a quick look at a match on your laptop it is perfect. This guide shows you how.

Before You Start

You'll need:

1. Your AbyssTV M3U link from your welcome email (it is also shown when you sign in to your AbyssTV account).
2. A Windows PC or a Mac with VLC media player installed.

Don't have VLC yet? Download it free from the official VideoLAN website and install it like any other program. Only download VLC from its official site.

Step 1: Copy Your M3U Link

Open your AbyssTV welcome email on the computer, select the whole M3U link, and copy it (Ctrl + C on Windows, ⌘ + C on a Mac).

Tip: Make sure you have the complete link, from http to the very last character.

Step 2: Open the Link in VLC

On Windows

1. Open VLC media player.
2. In the menu bar, click Media, then Open Network Stream… (or press Ctrl + N).
3. Paste your M3U link into the box labelled Please enter a network URL.
4. Click Play.

On a Mac

1. Open VLC.
2. In the menu bar, click File, then Open Network… (or press ⌘ + N).
3. Paste your M3U link into the URL field.
4. Click Open.

VLC loads the channel list and starts playing the first channel. With a large line-up, give it up to a minute.

Step 3: Browse Your Channels

The channel list lives in VLC's playlist window.

• Windows: click View, then Playlist (or press Ctrl + L).
• Mac: click Window, then Playlist (or press ⌘ + Shift + P).

Double-click any channel to watch it. To find one quickly, type part of its name into the search box at the top of the playlist.

Step 4: Save the Playlist for Next Time

So you don't have to paste the link every time:

1. With the channels loaded, click Media → Save Playlist to File… (Windows) or File → Save Playlist… (Mac).
2. Choose a name, such as AbyssTV, and a place you'll remember, like the desktop.
3. Next time, just double-click that file.

Keep this file to yourself. It contains your personal login, so don't share it or upload it anywhere.

Getting the Best Picture

• Full screen: double-click the picture, or press F.
• Stuttering on a slower connection? In VLC's preferences, increasing the network caching value gives the player a bigger buffer.
• Audio and subtitles: right-click the picture to choose another audio track or switch subtitles on, where a channel offers them.

When to Use a Dedicated IPTV App Instead

VLC is great for quick viewing, but it is missing the things that make TV comfortable day to day: a programme guide, categories, favourites and channel logos. On a computer, IPTV Smarters Pro gives you all of that — see our IPTV Smarters Pro guide. On a TV, start with the guides for Firestick or Smart TVs.

Still Stuck? Troubleshooting

• "Your input can't be opened": The link is incomplete or has a space at the end. Copy it again from the email and paste it fresh.
• The first channel plays but there is no list: Open the playlist window as in Step 3 — the list is there, it's just hidden by default.
• Picture freezes: Close other programs that use the internet, then see how to fix IPTV buffering.
• Nothing happens at all: Update VLC to the latest version and try again.

Need help? Contact AbyssTV support and tell us whether you're on Windows or Mac — we'll walk you through it.

Not a customer yet? Try all 13,000+ channels with the free trial, or see the plans.