How to Set Up DVR and Record Live Streams on TiviMate

The Prerequisite: Provider Connections

Before configuring any storage, verify that your IPTV subscription allows at least two simultaneous connections.

⚠️ The "1-Minute Recording" Bug

If your line only supports a single connection, starting a recording while watching another channel will flag your account for multi-login. The provider's server will forcefully cut the stream — causing recordings to stop writing after roughly one minute.

Step 1: Configure Your Storage

TiviMate needs a dedicated destination for its .ts video files. Because Smart TVs and streaming sticks have minimal onboard storage, recordings must be routed externally. You have two options:

Route A: Network Storage (SMB) — Recommended

Using an SMB share (NAS, a shared PC folder, or a USB drive plugged into your router) is the most stable method. It bypasses the strict scoped storage permissions introduced in Android 11+ that frequently block TiviMate from writing to local USB drives.

Set up the network share — Create a shared folder on your local network. The most power-efficient method is plugging a high-capacity USB drive into your router and enabling "File Sharing" or "SMB" in the router's admin dashboard.
Open TiviMate settings — Navigate to Settings > Other > Recording.
Open the SMB setup — Click Recordings folder > Select folder > Setup SMB.
Enter network credentials — Input your server IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1), the exact shared folder path, and the username/password for the share.
Select and confirm — Once authenticated, navigate into your target directory and click Select on the right side of the screen.

Route B: Local USB Storage (OTG)

If you're using an OTG cable with a USB flash drive on a Fire Stick or Chromecast, you must manually grant Android write permissions:

Format the USB drive to FAT32 (Fire OS) or exFAT (Android TV / Nvidia Shield).
In TiviMate, go to Settings > Other > Recording > Recordings folder.
Choose System picker to open the native Android file manager.
Navigate to your USB drive, create a folder named TiviMate_DVR, and click Use this folder.
Accept the OS-level permission prompt to allow TiviMate to write files.

Step 2: Schedule and Record Live Streams

Once your storage path is confirmed, the recording process is straightforward.

Record the Current Program

While watching a live stream, press the Select/OK button to open the player menu. Scroll to the bottom control bar and click the Record icon (the circle).

Schedule a Future Recording

Open the TV Guide (EPG).
Navigate to the future program you want.
Long-press Select/OK on that program.
Select Record from the context menu.

Custom Recordings (No EPG Data)

If your EPG is missing data for a channel, long-press the channel name itself, select Custom recording, and manually input the start time and duration.

Troubleshooting

• Stuttering or artifacting recordings: Go to Settings > Playback and increase the Buffer size to Large or Max to handle network ping spikes without dropping the write process.
• Recording stops after ~1 minute: Your IPTV provider likely only allows one simultaneous connection. Upgrade to a plan with at least two connections.
• Permission errors on USB: Use the System picker instead of TiviMate's internal browser, and always accept the OS-level write permission prompt.

Need a Multi-Connection IPTV Plan for DVR?

Our IPTV service supports multiple simultaneous connections — perfect for running TiviMate DVR in the background while watching live TV. Compatible with TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, Open TV, and all major players.

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