What is Xtream Codes?
Xtream Codes is an API standard many IPTV providers use to expose their full catalog — Live TV, Movies, Series, and EPG — through a single authenticated endpoint.
Xtream Codes is a server-side IPTV management platform whose API became a de-facto standard. Providers who adopted it expose their catalog through three pieces of info — server URL, username, and password. A compatible player authenticates and pulls down structured data: Live channels, VOD movies, Series with seasons and episodes, and EPG. Unlike a raw M3U URL, Xtream responses include poster artwork, descriptions, and episode listings, which is why Xtream-backed libraries typically look richer than M3U ones.
Three pieces of info, one full catalog.
When you add an Xtream Codes playlist in a media player, the app hits the provider's server at paths like:
/player_api.php?username=...&password=...&action=get_live_categories/player_api.php?...&action=get_vod_streams/player_api.php?...&action=get_series/xmltv.php?username=...&password=...(EPG)
Each endpoint returns JSON (or XMLTV for the guide). The player reassembles that into a proper library with categories, posters, episodes, and a TV guide — no manual formatting required.
Kyro Player uses this data to build the same rich UI across iOS, Android, and Windows.
Your provider issues these. Kyro Player stores them on your device only.
A brief history.
Xtream Codes SRL was an Italian company that built a popular IPTV server management platform starting in the early 2010s. The company itself ceased operations in 2019 after a European law-enforcement action. However, its API had already become the most widely-adopted standard in the IPTV ecosystem — and clones, forks, and third-party servers implementing the same API continue to dominate.
Today, "Xtream Codes API" typically refers to the format, not the original vendor. Any provider advertising "Xtream Codes compatible" exposes the same endpoints any Xtream-capable player can authenticate against.
M3U or Xtream?
| M3U URL | Xtream Codes | |
|---|---|---|
| Live TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Movies (VOD) | Basic | Full metadata + posters |
| Series structure | Limited | Seasons + episodes |
| EPG | Needs separate XMLTV URL | Bundled |
| Auth method | URL token | User + password |
| Best for | Simple lineups | Full catalogs with VOD |
If your provider offers both, prefer Xtream — richer data, less configuration.