Live NetTV v5.0Live NetTV can hand a stream off to another video player installed on your device. This is not just a matter of taste. Different players use different decoders, and a stream that stutters or shows a black screen in one player often plays perfectly in another. If you regularly see playback problems on particular channels, setting up an external player is the single most useful change you can make.
When an external player helps
- Sound but no picture, or a green or black screen with audio playing.
- Picture but no sound, often caused by an audio format your device's built-in decoder does not support.
- Stutter or dropped frames on high-bitrate HD streams, especially on older TV boxes.
- Audio out of sync with the picture.
- You want features the built-in player lacks, such as aspect-ratio control, audio track selection or adjustable buffer size.
If a channel does not load at all, an external player will not help, because the stream itself is unavailable. See Live NetTV not working for that.
Which player to choose
| Player | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MX Player | Android phones and tablets | Fast, reliable hardware decoding. The free version shows ads. |
| VLC | Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, phones | Free, open source and ad-free. Plays almost any format and has a proper TV interface. |
| Device default player | Simple setups | Uses the system video player. Fine for most streams, but has limited format support. |
For most people on a TV device, VLC is the best choice. It is free, has no ads, works with a remote, and its software decoder can play streams that the hardware decoder rejects.
Step 1: Install the player
Android phone or tablet
Install MX Player or VLC for Android from the Google Play Store.
Android TV and Google TV
Open the Google Play Store on the TV, search for VLC and install VLC for Android. The same app adapts its layout for TV screens.
Fire TV and Firestick
Open the Amazon Appstore, search for VLC and install VLC for Fire. If it does not appear in your region, the Android TV version can be sideloaded with the Downloader app using the same method as in our Downloader guide.
Step 2: Choose the player in Live NetTV
- Open Live NetTV and open the side menu.
- Go to the player settings.
- Select the player you just installed. If it does not appear in the list, close Live NetTV completely and open it again so it detects newly installed apps.
- Open a channel. It should now launch in the player you chose.
Some versions instead ask which player to use each time you open a channel. Choose your player and, if offered, tick Always or Remember my choice.
Step 3: Tune the player for live streams
VLC
- Hardware acceleration: in Settings › Video › Hardware acceleration, start with Automatic. If you get a black screen or green blocks, switch to Disabled to use software decoding instead. It uses more processing power but plays more formats.
- Network caching: in Settings › Advanced › Network caching, raise the value from the default to around 3000 ms if streams pause often. A bigger buffer means a slightly longer wait before playback but fewer interruptions.
- Audio passthrough: if you use a soundbar or AV receiver and get no sound, turn Audio digital output (passthrough) off under Settings › Audio.
MX Player
- Tap the HW label during playback to switch between HW, HW+ and SW decoders. If one gives a black screen or no audio, try the next.
- If audio is missing on certain channels, MX Player may need its free custom codec pack. The app shows a prompt when that applies.
Troubleshooting
The external player opens but shows an error
The stream is probably offline. Go back and try another link on the same channel, or test a different channel to confirm the player works.
Live NetTV ignores the external player
Clear Live NetTV's cache (see fix 5) and select the player again. On Android, also check Settings › Apps › Default apps in case another player has been set as the default for video.
Playback is worse than before
Switch back to the built-in player for that channel. No single player is best for every stream, which is why it helps to keep two installed.
Frequently asked questions
Is VLC safe and free?
Yes. VLC is free, open-source software from the non-profit VideoLAN project. It contains no ads or in-app purchases. Install it from the Play Store or Amazon Appstore rather than from third-party sites.
Does an external player use more data?
No. The stream is the same, only the software playing it changes. Data use depends on the stream's quality, not the player.
Can I cast from an external player?
Yes. VLC can cast to Chromecast and Google TV devices directly. Our casting guide covers the options.