Yes, you can watch IPTV on more than one device. What matters is how many devices watch at the same time. Every IPTV plan includes a set number of screens (also called connections). Understanding how they work saves you from the most common family argument about IPTV: “Why did my show just stop?” Here is how watching IPTV on multiple devices works, and what your plan allows. For more background, see Speedtest.
Installed vs watching: the key difference
- Installed: you can install the app and log in on as many devices as you like: the living room TV, the bedroom Firestick, your phone, your tablet, your laptop.
- Watching: the number of devices playing a stream at the same moment is limited by your plan. A 1-screen plan allows one stream at a time; a 2-screen plan, two; and so on.
So a family with a one-screen plan can use IPTV on five devices, as long as only one plays at a time.
What happens if you go over your limit?
If more devices start watching than your plan allows, the service cannot serve them all. Usually the newest stream fails to start or one of the streams stops with an error such as “maximum connections reached”. Nothing is broken: stop one of the streams and the other plays again.
Things that count as a screen while they run:
- Any device playing live TV, a movie or a series.
- A recording in progress, even if nobody is watching it.
- An app left playing on a device in another room, or a phone that kept playing in a pocket.
- Multi-view in apps like TiviMate: each tile is a stream.
Browsing menus and the TV guide usually does not use a screen; playing video does.
How many screens do you need?
Think about your busiest evening, not an average one:
| Household | Suggested screens |
|---|---|
| One person, or a couple who watch together | 1 |
| Couple with separate tastes, or one TV plus a phone | 2 |
| Family with kids, TVs in two or three rooms | 3 |
| Large family, sports fans watching several games | 4 or 5 |
If you are not sure, start with fewer screens and add more later. Our plans let you choose 1 to 5 screens at checkout; see plans and prices and how to choose the right plan.
Setting up each device
Use the same login on every device. Our guides cover the popular ones:
- Amazon Firestick
- Samsung and LG Smart TVs
- Android TV and Google TV
- Apple TV and iPhone and iPad
- Windows PC
Give each device its own profile name in the app (for example “Basement” or “Mom’s iPad”). It makes it easier to see where a stream is running.
Tips to avoid interruptions
- Always exit the stream when you stop watching. Press Back to the channel list, or close the app, rather than turning off only the TV screen. A Firestick behind a TV that is turned off may keep playing.
- Turn on the TV’s HDMI-CEC (Anynet+ on Samsung, SIMPLINK on LG) so the stick sleeps when the TV turns off.
- Mind recordings: schedule recordings for times when fewer people watch.
- Kids’ devices: tablets are often left playing. Set a sleep timer or Screen Time limit.
Internet speed for several screens
Each screen needs its own bandwidth: about 15 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. Three HD screens at once need roughly 45 Mbps, plus whatever else your home uses. Most Canadian plans handle this easily, but Wi-Fi coverage in each room matters. See internet speed for IPTV.
One device, two TVs?
You can also send one device to two TVs with an HDMI splitter, but both TVs then show the same channel. For different channels in different rooms, you need a device per TV. Details in how to connect one IPTV box to two TVs.
IPTV on Multiple Devices: frequently asked questions
Can I use my subscription at the cottage?
Yes. Take your Firestick or use your phone. It still counts toward your screens while playing, so check nobody at home is using the last one.
Can I share my login with a friend in another city?
Your plan is for your household. Sharing a login uses your screens and can cause interruptions for you. It is simpler for your friend to get their own plan or free trial.
Can I add screens to an existing plan?
Yes. Contact us and we will upgrade your plan. Your login and setup stay the same.
Need help?
Seeing “maximum connections” errors? Message us and we will check which streams are open on your account. Want to test several rooms first? Start a free trial.