MAG Box IPTV Setup: Portal URL, MAC Address & STB Emulator
MAG set-top boxes sign in differently from apps like TiviMate. Instead of a username and password, they use a portal address and the box's own MAC address. Here is how to set one up, how to fix the common errors, and how to get the same experience without a MAG box.
Updated · By the IPTV PROS support team
Quick answer
To set up IPTV on a MAG box, send your provider the box's MAC address (on the label underneath, starting with 00:1A:79). Once it is activated, go to Settings › Servers › Portals, enter the portal URL you were given as Portal 1, save and reboot. No MAG box? STB Emulator on Android or Fire TV and Smart STB on Samsung and LG TVs imitate one with the same portal URL and a MAC address.
How MAG portal login works
MAG boxes are made by Infomir and have been an IPTV staple for years. The current range is the MAG 5xx series (such as the 520, 524, 540 and 544), while older 250, 254 and 322 models are still in many homes. They run a simple TV-style menu rather than an app store, and they connect to the provider through a portal: a web address that serves the channel list, the guide and the on-demand library.
Instead of a password, the provider recognizes your box by its MAC address, a unique hardware ID that, on MAG boxes, starts with 00:1A:79. Your provider adds that MAC to your account, and from then on the box logs in by itself. That also means the MAC works like a password: keep it private.
Set up a MAG box step by step
- 1
Find the MAC address
It is printed on the sticker under the box and shown in the box's device or system information screen. MAG MAC addresses start with 00:1A:79.
- 2
Send it to your provider
Share the MAC when you order; IPTV PROS customers can send it through live support. You receive a portal URL once it is activated.
- 3
Connect and power on
Plug in Ethernet if you can, since it is steadier than Wi-Fi, connect HDMI to the TV and power up.
- 4
Enter the portal
Open Settings › Servers › Portals. Give Portal 1 any name and type the portal URL exactly as provided, including http:// and anything at the end such as /c/.
- 5
Set your time zone
In the system settings, set the time zone to your city (Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Halifax and so on). This is what makes the guide show the right times.
- 6
Save and reboot
Save, then restart the box. It loads the portal and shows your channels, the guide and the video library.
Need to send your MAC or get the portal URL? Live support handles it in a few minutes.
Fixing common MAG box errors
| Message or symptom | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck on "Loading portal" | A typo in the portal URL, or no internet | Re-check the URL character by character and test the connection in the network settings |
| "STB blocked" | MAC not activated, subscription expired, or the MAC is in use elsewhere | Confirm the MAC with support and check your expiry date |
| Portal loads but no channels | Account not yet linked to a package | Ask support to confirm the MAC is attached to your plan |
| Guide times are wrong | The box's time zone isn't set | Set the time zone to your city in the system settings and reboot |
| Freezing on some channels | Wi-Fi, or outdated firmware | Use Ethernet and update the software from the settings menu |
For problems that aren't specific to MAG boxes, such as buffering at busy times, see the IPTV troubleshooting guide, and for guide issues the IPTV EPG guide.
No MAG box? Use STB Emulator or Smart STB
You don't need MAG hardware to use a portal subscription. Two apps imitate a MAG box:
- STB Emulator (Android phones, Android TV and Google TV, and Fire TV by sideloading): open Settings › Profiles, create a profile, enter the portal URL under Portal settings, then check the MAC address under STB configuration. Give that MAC to your provider, or enter the one they assign, and restart the app. A paid Pro version removes the ads.
- Smart STB (Samsung and LG smart TVs): a paid app with a trial period that works the same way, with the portal URL entered in its settings and a MAC your provider activates.
Prefer a regular app? Most providers, IPTV PROS included, also offer an Xtream Codes login that works in IPTV Smarters Pro and TiviMate; see M3U vs Xtream Codes for the difference.
MAG box vs Fire TV Stick vs Formuler
| MAG box | Fire TV Stick | Formuler box | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it logs in | Portal URL + MAC | Xtream Codes or M3U in an app | Portal, Xtream Codes or M3U (MyTVOnline) |
| Interface | Simple, cable-style menu | Apps you choose | IPTV-focused Android |
| Other apps | Very limited | Full Amazon Appstore | Full Android apps |
| Ethernet | Built in | Needs an adapter | Built in |
| Best for | A plain, TV-like experience | Most people, at the lowest cost | Enthusiasts who want everything in one box |
For more on choosing hardware, see the best IPTV box in Canada. If you go with a Fire TV Stick, clearing its cache every few weeks keeps it fast.
Try it on your own TV first
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FAQ
What is a MAG box?+
A MAG box is an IPTV set-top box made by Infomir. It connects to a provider's portal and plays live TV, the guide and on-demand video through a simple, cable-style menu.
Where do I find my MAG box MAC address?+
On the sticker under the box, and in the box's device or system information screen. MAG MAC addresses start with 00:1A:79.
What is a portal URL?+
It is the web address of your provider's IPTV server that MAG boxes and STB emulators connect to. Enter it exactly as provided, including http:// and any ending such as /c/.
Why does my MAG box say STB blocked?+
The provider's server doesn't recognize your MAC: it hasn't been activated, the subscription has expired, or the same MAC is in use somewhere else. Support can check which it is.
Can I use STB Emulator on a Firestick?+
Yes, by sideloading it with the Downloader app, then entering the portal URL and a MAC address your provider activates. An app with an Xtream Codes login, such as IPTV Smarters Pro, is usually simpler on Fire TV.
Can I move my subscription to a new MAG box?+
Yes. Send support the new box's MAC address; they update your account and the new box logs in with the same portal URL.