Fixing Smart IPTV MAC address change on Android Devices

An IPTV player with a novel playlist adding feature is the Smart IPTV application. The program creates a TV MAC, or virtual MAC address, which must be matched with your IPTV account’s M3U address on their website. The TV MAC on gadgets like Firesticks and Smart TVs often stays static and won’t change unless the device undergoes a hardware reset. However, this application has revealed an issue that causes the TV MAC, which is produced by the device’s network interface, to change each time the wifi reconnects for Android smartphones running Android OS 10 or later.

Devices with OS systems version 10 and higher, such as tablets, media setup boxes, and phones (not generic Android devices like Firestick), undergo changes with each restart and power on/off. This isn’t the case, though, if your smartphone is linked to the internet via WiFi, since the app’s virtual MAC address is generated to be, well, almost exactly, the device’s network interface.On the other hand, this problem should not arise if you utilize a LAN connection, which involves connecting the device to the network router via a wire.

If you are looking for a guide to install this app, read this tutorial on How to Install Smart IPTV on FireStick & Android.

To address the issue of the changing virtual MAC address (TV MAC) in the Smart IPTV application on Android devices running OS version 10 and above, you can follow these steps to stabilize the MAC address:

1. Use LAN Connection
– Switch to a Wired Connection: If possible, connect your device to the internet using a LAN cable. This should prevent the TV MAC from changing, as the virtual MAC address is stable when the device is connected via Ethernet.

2. Change Wi-Fi Settings
– Disable MAC Address Randomization: Some Android devices have a feature that randomizes the MAC address for privacy. Disabling this feature can help maintain a static MAC address for your device.

– Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
– Select your Wi-Fi network and look for Advanced settings.
– Find the option for MAC Address and change it from Randomized to Phone’s MAC.

On this gallery image you can see an example on my Android Phone how I did it.

3. Use a Static IP Address
– Set Static IP: Although this does not directly affect the MAC address, setting a static IP address can help maintain a consistent connection.
– Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
– Select your connected network and tap on Advanced.
– Change the IP settings from DHCP to Static and enter the desired IP address, Gateway, and DNS.

4. Reinstall Smart IPTV
– Reinstall the App: Sometimes, reinstalling the app can resolve bugs. Uninstall the Smart IPTV app, restart your device, and then reinstall the app from the Google Play Store.

5. Use a Different IPTV App
– Explore Alternatives: If the issue persists and significantly disrupts your viewing experience, consider using a different IPTV application that does not exhibit this MAC address behaviour.

6. Contact Support
– Reach Out to Smart IPTV Support: If none of the above solutions work, contact Smart IPTV support for assistance. They may have updates or patches available to address this issue.

By following these steps, you should be able to mitigate the problem of the changing MAC address on your Android device and ensure a more stable experience with Smart IPTV.