How-To Guides

Beginner

2 min read 5 stepsMarch 24, 2026Verified March 2026

How to Set Up Netflix, iPlayer & Streaming Apps on Your TV

Get your favorite shows on the big screen — step-by-step setup for Smart TVs, Fire Stick, Chromecast, and Apple TV.

At a Glance

Find the app store on your TV

~27s

Most Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony) have a built-in app store. Press the Home button on your TV remote and look for "Apps," "App Store," or "Content Store." If you have a Fire Stick, press the Home button and select "Apps." For Apple TV, click the App Store icon on the home screen.

Quick Tip

If your TV is more than 5 years old and doesn't have apps built in, a $35 Fire Stick is the easiest way to add streaming.

Download Netflix (or iPlayer, Disney+, etc.)

~16s

Search for "Netflix" in the app store using the remote's on-screen keyboard. Select Netflix from the results and click "Download" or "Install." It only takes a minute or two. Repeat for any other services you want (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+).

Sign in to your account

~26s

Open the Netflix app and select "Sign In." Use your email address and password. On a Smart TV remote, typing can be slow — many services let you sign in via a code instead. Choose "Sign in with a code," then visit the URL shown on your TV from your phone or computer and enter the code. Much faster!

Quick Tip

If you don't have a Netflix account, you'll need to sign up at netflix.com on your phone or computer first.

Set up BBC iPlayer

~17s

Download BBC iPlayer from the app store. When you open it, it will ask if you have a TV License. Select "Yes" (or get one at tvlicensing.co.uk). You don't need to create an account to watch, but creating a free BBC account lets you save favorites and continue watching across devices.

Adjust picture and sound settings

~23s

Once streaming, if the picture looks dark or washed out, press the Settings button on your remote and look for "Picture Mode." Try "Standard" or "Movie" mode for the best colors. For sound, "Standard" or "Movie" mode usually sounds clearest. If using a soundbar, make sure it's set to the correct input.

Quick Tip

Turn off "Motion Smoothing" (sometimes called TruMotion or MotionFlow). It makes films look cheap and soap-opera-like.

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