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BBC iPlayer is an on-demand streaming platform that offers content on numerous categories like Films, Comedy, Documentaries, History, Lifestyle, Food, Music, Sport, News, Arts, and more. Moreover, the platform covers content from the channels, such as CBBC, CBeebies, Alba, S4C, BBC One, Two, and more. BBC iPlayer is compatible with almost all devices, including Android TV. You can install the BBC iPlayer on Android TV from the Google Play Store. By installing BBC iPlayer, you can stream popular content like Tangled, Apocalypse Now, Shadowlands, and more.
How to Install BBC iPlayer on Android TV from Play Store
1. Go to the home screen on your Android TV and click on Apps.
2. Open Google Play Store and click the Search icon.
3. Enter BBC iPlayer in the search bar and locate the app.
4. Select BBC iPlayer from the suggested result.
5. Click Install to get the app on your Android TV.
6. Once the app is installed, click Open to launch the app.
7. When the home screen appears, play your favorite content. (skip this step if activation is needed)
How to Activate BBC iPlayer on Android TV
1. Open the BBC iPlayer on your Android TV. Select Sign In.
2. You will get the activation code along with the activation page URL.
3. Now, go to the BBC iPlayer activation website on your smartphone or PC.
4. Enter the code and click the Sign In on your TV button.
5. After that, sign in with your TV provider or subscribed account to complete the activation.
6. Now, the BBC iPlayer will be activated on your Android TV. You can access all the content.
How to Install BBC iPlayer on Android TV Outside UK
If you can’t find BBC iPlayer in the Play Store, it must be geo-restricted. Therefore, you need to use the Downloader app to sideload the APK file.
1. Install the Downloader app on your Android TV from the Play Store.
2. Click the Settings icon on your Android TV.
3. From the options, go to Device Preferences.
4. Click Security & Restrictions → Unknown Sources → Turn on the Downloader toggle.
5. Now, open the Downloader app on Android TV from the home screen.
6. Tap Allow to accept the storage permissions.
7. Choose Home from the left pane, and enter the download link of BBC iPlayer APK in the URL field.
8. Click Go to download the BBC iPlayer APK on your Android TV.
9. Once the file is downloaded, open it and click Install.
10. Next, install any of the VPNs on your Android TV, like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, and connect to the UK server.
11. Then, click Open to launch the app and watch the content.
How to Watch BBC iPlayer Using Browser
In the Play Store, there are quite a number of web browsers available for Android TV. You can use any of those web browsers on your Android TV to access BBC iPlayer.
1. Open a web browser on your Android TV.
2. Enter the URL bbc.co.uk/iplayer in the address bar and go to that website.
3. The home screen of the BBC iPlayer will appear on the TV screen.
4. Click the Sign In button and enter your credentials.
5. Then, you can access your favorite content on your Android TV.
How to Cast BBC iPlayer on Android TV
The BBC iPlayer is compatible with built-in Cast support. With that, you can easily cast the BBC iPlayer from your smartphone to Android TV.
1. Install BBC iPlayer from the Google Play Store.
2. Connect your smartphone and Android TV to the same WiFi network.
3. Open BBC iPlayer on your smartphone and log in with your account.
4. Play the video content that you want and click the Cast icon.
5. From the list of devices, choose your Android TV.
6. Play the video content on the app. Now, the content will appear on your Android TV.
How to AirPlay BBC iPlayer on Android TV
Before you mirror the content, ensure to enable AirPlay on your Android TV.
1. Connect your smartphone and Android TV to the same WiFi network.
2. Download the BBC iPlayer on your iPhone/iPad from the App Store.
3. Log in to the BBC iPlayer app once installed.
4. Play the video content on the app.
5. Go to the Control Centre and tap the Screen Mirroring icon.
6. Choose your Android TV. Now, the video content will appear on your Android TV.
How to Fix BBC iPlayer Not Working on Android TV
The BBC iPlayer app might not work on your Android TV due to certain issues like slow internet, app compatibility, and more. You can still fix these minor issues with the below-listed troubleshooting methods.
1. Check your Android TV is connected to the WiFi connection.
2. If you can’t mirror the content, check if the devices are connected to the same WiFi.
3. Check the server status of BBC iPlayer on Twitter and third-party sites like Downdetector if you can’t access the content.
4. Update the browser on your Android TV, if it gets crashed.
5. Try restarting the BBC iPlayer app, if the app is frozen.
6. Update the app on your Android TV and check again.
7. Upgrade your Android TV and try using the app again.
8. Reset your Android TV to the factory settings, and start setting up BBC iPlayer from scratch.
Supported Android TVs
- Sony Smart TV
- TCL Smart TV
- OnePlus Smart TV
- Sharp Smart TV
- Vu Smart TV
- Philips Smart TV
- Xiaomi Mi Smart TV
- Hisense Smart TV
Supported Android TV Boxes
- Nvidia Shield TV
- NVIDIA
- Mi Box and Mi Box S
- Mecool Android TV Box
- MXQ Pro 4K
- Mi Box 4K
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, BBC iPlayer is available on Google TV and you can install it directly without sideloading.
BBC iPlayer has a standalone application for Fire TV and you can install it from the Amazon App Store.
BBC iPlayer doesn’t have subscription or membership plans. However, you will need a TV license to stream the content on BBC iPlayer.
