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Setup Guide

How to Record IPTV — DVR Guide for 2026

Never miss a game, show, or movie again. This guide covers every way to record live IPTV — from TiviMate's built-in DVR to Kodi and PC screen capture.

Vivimate·June 2026·8 min read

One of IPTV's most underused features is DVR recording. Unlike cable DVRs that charge $10–$15/month, IPTV recording requires no extra subscription — just the right app and some storage space.

This guide covers all recording methods: TiviMate Premium (best for Android TV/Firestick), Kodi PVR (all platforms), VLC (Windows/Mac), and catch-up TV as a no-setup alternative.

Recording Methods at a Glance

MethodBest ForCostDifficulty
TiviMate PremiumFirestick / Android TV$4.99/yearEasy
Kodi PVRAll platformsFreeModerate
VLC (PC)Windows / MacFreeEasy
OBS StudioPC (any stream)FreeModerate
Catch-Up TVSupported channels onlyIncludedNone

Method 1: TiviMate Premium (Recommended)

Best Option

TiviMate Premium includes a full DVR feature that records directly to USB storage or your device's internal drive. It's the cleanest, most integrated way to record IPTV on Firestick and Android TV.

Step 1: Upgrade to TiviMate Premium

Open TiviMate → Settings → Premium → Purchase. At $4.99/year, this unlocks recording, multiple playlists, and advanced catch-up. You can also purchase via the TiviMate Companion app.

Step 2: Set Up Storage

  1. 1Plug in a USB drive (FAT32 or NTFS formatted) to your Android TV box or Fire TV Cube. A minimum 32 GB drive is recommended for a few hours of HD recordings.
  2. 2In TiviMate: go to Settings → Recording.
  3. 3Set the Recording Path to your USB drive or internal storage folder.
  4. 4Optionally set a maximum storage limit to prevent recordings from filling your drive.

Step 3: Schedule a Recording

  1. 1Open the TV Guide in TiviMate.
  2. 2Navigate to the programme you want to record.
  3. 3Press OK or long-press on the programme.
  4. 4Select Record (one-time) or Record Series (all episodes).
  5. 5TiviMate will automatically start recording when the programme begins.

Step 4: Watch Recordings

Recorded content appears in TiviMate's Archive section. Files are saved in .ts format (compatible with VLC and most media players). You can also transfer recordings to a PC for permanent storage.

💡 Tip: Fire TV Sticks don't have a USB port. Use the Fire TV Cube or an Android TV box for TiviMate recording with external storage.

Method 2: Kodi PVR Recording

Kodi's PVR (Personal Video Recorder) functionality lets you record from any IPTV channel through the built-in TV guide. Works on all Kodi-supported platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, and Raspberry Pi.

  1. 1Install Kodi and configure the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on with your Vivimate M3U URL.
  2. 2Go to TV in the Kodi menu → EPG to load your channel guide.
  3. 3Select a programme from the guide and press the Record button (or use the context menu).
  4. 4Set your recording directory in Settings → PVR & Live TV → Recording → Recording path.
  5. 5Recordings are saved as .ts files and appear in TV → Recordings in Kodi.

For the full Kodi setup guide, see IPTV on Kodi — Install & Configure.

Method 3: VLC Stream Recording (Windows/Mac)

VLC can record any network stream to a file. This works for M3U streams and requires only your Vivimate M3U URL.

  1. 1Open VLC → Media → Open Network Stream.
  2. 2Paste your Vivimate M3U URL (or a specific channel URL).
  3. 3Click the arrow next to Play and select Stream.
  4. 4In the Stream Output dialog, choose File as the destination.
  5. 5Select MP4 or TS as the output format and choose a save location.
  6. 6Click Stream — VLC will begin recording while playing.

Alternative: Use Catch-Up TV

If you just need to watch something you missed rather than build a permanent library, Catch-Up TV is the easiest solution — no recording setup required.

Vivimate includes catch-up TV for supported channels, typically covering the last 7 days of broadcasts. In TiviMate, look for the clock icon next to a channel in the TV Guide to see catch-up availability.

Catch-Up vs Recording

  • •Catch-up: Instant, no storage needed, limited to last 7 days, depends on channel support
  • •Recording: Permanent, stored locally, works on any channel, requires storage space

Storage Space Estimator

QualityPer Hour32 GB holds128 GB holds
SD (480p)~1 GB~30 hours~120 hours
HD (720p)~2.5 GB~12 hours~50 hours
Full HD (1080p)~4 GB~8 hours~32 hours
4K (2160p)~8–15 GB~2–3 hours~8–15 hours

Need help with TiviMate setup? Read our full TiviMate review →

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