User Guide

Step-by-step instructions for every feature in Adagio Stream.

Contents

Getting Started

The first time you open Adagio Stream, the app is empty — you bring your own streams. Here's the quick path from a fresh install to your first channel playing.

  1. Install Adagio Stream from the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Open the app. You'll land on an empty channel list with a prompt to add an account.
  3. Tap Add Account (or open Settings › Accounts › Add Account).
  4. Choose M3U Playlist or Xtream Codes and enter your credentials (see Adding a Streaming Provider below).
  5. Wait for the initial channel load to finish. You'll see your channel list populate.
  6. Tap any channel to start playback. The Now Playing screen will open with controls and metadata.

Tip: If you have multiple providers, add them all up front. The app merges channels across accounts into one unified list.

Adding a Streaming Provider

Adagio Stream supports two account types. You can add as many of each as you like.

M3U Playlist

  1. Open Settings › Accounts.
  2. Tap Add Account and choose M3U Playlist.
  3. Enter a Display Name for the account (any label that helps you identify it).
  4. Paste the full M3U URL from your provider. The URL typically ends in .m3u or .m3u8.
  5. (Optional) Paste an EPG URL if your provider supplies a separate XMLTV guide.
  6. Tap Save. The app validates the URL and downloads the playlist.

Xtream Codes

  1. Open Settings › Accounts.
  2. Tap Add Account and choose Xtream Codes.
  3. Enter a Display Name.
  4. Enter the Server URL (e.g. http://example.com:8080), Username, and Password from your provider.
  5. Tap Save. The app authenticates and loads your channel list. EPG data is pulled automatically when available.

Note: Credentials are encrypted on your device — iOS Keychain on Apple devices, Android Keystore (AES-256-GCM) on Android. They are never sent to us. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Managing Multiple Accounts

Adagio Stream is designed for users with more than one provider. All accounts stay active at once and their channels appear in one unified browse view.

  1. Open Settings › Accounts to see every account you've added.
  2. Tap an account to edit its name, URL, or credentials.
  3. Use the toggle next to an account to enable or disable it without deleting. Disabled accounts hide their channels from browsing.
  4. Swipe an account left (iOS) or tap the menu icon (Android) and choose Delete to remove it permanently.
  5. Tap Refresh on an account to manually re-fetch its channel list and EPG.

Browsing & Searching Channels

Your channel list is the main screen of the app. Tap any channel to play it.

Search

  1. Pull down on the channel list (or tap the magnifying-glass icon) to reveal the search bar.
  2. Type any part of a channel name, group, or call sign. Results filter in real time.
  3. Tap the X in the search bar or clear the text to return to the full list.

Sorting

  1. Open the Sort menu (sort icon at the top of the channel list).
  2. Choose a sort mode: Provider Order (the order your provider sent), Alphabetical, Group, or Favorites First.
  3. Your selection is remembered between sessions.

Grouping

  1. Open the View menu and toggle Group By on.
  2. Choose to group by Provider Group (the categories your M3U or Xtream provider supplies) or Account.
  3. Tap a group header to collapse or expand it.

Favorites

Favoriting a channel pins it for quick access and unlocks features like grouped favorites and CarPlay browsing.

Favorite a channel

  1. From the channel list, swipe a channel left (iOS) or long-press it (Android) and tap the star icon. Alternatively, tap the star on the Now Playing screen.
  2. Favorited channels show a star badge in the list.

Reorder favorites

  1. Open Favorites from the bottom tab bar (or the side menu).
  2. Tap Edit in the upper right.
  3. Drag the handle next to a channel to reorder. Drop it in the position you want.
  4. Tap Done to save the new order.

Favorite groups

Group favorites for fast navigation — useful for separating music, news, and sports.

  1. In the Favorites view, tap + New Group.
  2. Name the group (e.g. "Jazz", "Sports", "Morning Drive").
  3. In Edit mode, drag channels into the group or use the move action.
  4. Group headers can be collapsed; drag groups themselves to reorder them.

Groups & Hiding Content

Most providers ship hundreds of channels you'll never use. Hide groups to declutter your browse view.

  1. Open Settings › Groups (or tap a group header and choose Manage Group).
  2. You'll see every group from every active account.
  3. Toggle a group off to hide all of its channels from browsing, search, and the Now Playing "next channel" controls.
  4. Toggle it back on at any time — nothing is deleted, just hidden.

Tip: Hidden groups still appear in the EPG and can still be added to custom playlists if you know the channel name.

Now Playing & Mini Player

Tapping a channel opens the full Now Playing screen. Tap the channel art at the bottom of any other screen to bring it back up.

Now Playing controls

  1. Play / Pause — large center button.
  2. Previous / Next channel — arrow buttons. Skips through your current view (favorites, group, or full list).
  3. Volume — slider, or use your device's hardware buttons.
  4. Bitrate indicator — live audio bitrate is shown beneath the channel name. A low or fluctuating value usually indicates a network issue or a degraded source.
  5. Star — favorite or unfavorite the current channel.
  6. Cast / AirPlay — route audio to an external device (see Casting & AirPlay).
  7. Share — share the current channel via the system share sheet.

Mini player

  1. While a channel is playing, swipe down or tap the chevron at the top of the Now Playing screen to minimize.
  2. The mini player docks at the bottom of every screen and stays visible while you browse.
  3. Tap it to expand back to Now Playing, or tap Play/Pause directly on the mini player.
  4. Swipe the mini player away (or tap the X) to stop playback entirely.

Background playback

Audio continues when you lock the screen or switch apps. Lock-screen controls (and Control Center / Android quick controls) show the current channel, artwork, and play/pause/skip controls.

Listening time

Open Settings › Statistics to see total listening time and per-channel breakdowns. All of this is stored locally and never transmitted.

Live Sports Scores

When the app detects a sports channel, it surfaces live scores for the game on that channel without leaving Now Playing.

  1. Start playback on a recognized sports channel. The Now Playing screen will show a Score panel beneath the channel info.
  2. The panel updates automatically while the game is in progress.
  3. Tap the panel to expand for box-score details (period, clock, individual team stats where available).

Configure score updates

  1. Open Settings › Sports Scores.
  2. Toggle Live Scores on or off.
  3. Adjust the Update Interval (e.g. every 30 seconds, every minute) to balance freshness against battery and data use.
  4. Optionally restrict score lookups to specific leagues you follow.

Note: Sports scores are fetched from a public sports data API. Only public game/scoreboard endpoints are queried — no user data is sent.

Track Info & Saved Songs

For supported audio channels (most major music streams), Adagio Stream enriches Now Playing with the current track title, artist, and album artwork.

View track info

  1. Play a supported music channel. The Now Playing screen shows the current track in place of (or above) the channel name.
  2. Album artwork replaces the default channel art when available.
  3. Track info refreshes automatically as the stream advances.

Save a song

  1. While a track is playing, tap the heart icon on the Now Playing screen.
  2. The track is added to your Saved Songs library with title, artist, artwork, and the timestamp it was saved.
  3. Open Library › Saved Songs to browse, search, or delete saved tracks.

Open in another service

  1. Tap a saved song (or the current track on Now Playing).
  2. Choose Open in Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music to search that service for the track.
  3. The corresponding app (or web link) opens with a pre-filled search.

Time-Shift Buffering

Adagio Stream continuously captures a short rolling buffer of the current stream. If a phone call or other interruption pauses playback, the app picks up where you left off when you return — nothing is lost.

  1. Buffering is on by default. No setup needed.
  2. When playback is interrupted, the app pauses and holds the buffer.
  3. Tap Play to resume from the point you left off.
  4. To jump back to live, tap the Live button on the Now Playing screen (visible whenever you're behind real time).

Configure buffer duration

  1. Open Settings › Playback.
  2. Adjust Buffer Duration. Longer buffers tolerate longer interruptions but use more memory.

Custom Playlists

Build your own playlists from any combination of channels across all your accounts. Playlists are local, can be grouped, and can be exported as standard M3U files.

Create a playlist

  1. Open the Playlists tab.
  2. Tap + New Playlist.
  3. Give it a name and (optionally) a description.
  4. Tap Add Channels and select the channels you want from the unified channel browser.
  5. Tap Done.

Reorder or remove channels

  1. Open the playlist.
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Drag the handle next to a channel to reorder it.
  4. Tap the − icon (or swipe left on iOS) to remove a channel.
  5. Tap Done to save.

Group channels within a playlist

  1. In Edit mode, tap + New Group within the playlist.
  2. Name the group, then drag channels into it.
  3. Drag the group itself to reorder among other groups.

Export or share as M3U

  1. Open a playlist and tap the Share icon.
  2. Choose Export as M3U.
  3. The system share sheet opens. Save the file or send it to any app or contact.

CarPlay & Android Auto

Adagio Stream supports both car platforms with a dedicated, dashboard-friendly interface.

Apple CarPlay iOS

  1. Connect your iPhone to your car (cable or wireless, depending on your vehicle).
  2. Open CarPlay on your dashboard.
  3. Tap the Adagio Stream icon.
  4. Browse by Favorites, Favorite Groups, Playlists, or All Channels.
  5. Tap a channel to play; use the dashboard transport controls (or steering-wheel buttons) for play/pause and skip.
  6. Live sports scores appear on the Now Playing dashboard view when relevant.

Android Auto Android

  1. Connect your Android phone to your car via USB or wireless Android Auto.
  2. Open Android Auto and select Adagio Stream from the media apps.
  3. Use the same browse categories (Favorites, Favorite Groups, Playlists, All Channels).
  4. Tap a channel to start playback; use steering-wheel controls for play/pause and skip.

Tip: Favorite groups are the most efficient way to browse in the car — large tap targets, no scrolling.

Casting & AirPlay

Stream audio to speakers, TVs, and other compatible devices on your network.

AirPlay iOS

  1. Start playback on any channel.
  2. Tap the AirPlay icon on the Now Playing screen (or use Control Center).
  3. Select your AirPlay-compatible speaker, Apple TV, or HomePod.
  4. Audio routes to the selected device. The mini player still controls playback.
  5. To return to the phone, tap AirPlay again and select iPhone (or iPad).

Chromecast Android

  1. Make sure your phone and Chromecast device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Start playback on any channel.
  3. Tap the Cast icon on the Now Playing screen.
  4. Pick your Chromecast or Google-Cast-compatible speaker from the list.
  5. Audio plays through the cast device. Use the in-app controls to adjust volume, pause, or change channels.
  6. Tap the Cast icon again and choose Stop Casting to return audio to the phone.

Electronic Program Guide (EPG)

If your provider supplies a guide (XMLTV for M3U accounts, or built-in for Xtream Codes), Adagio Stream shows what's on now and what's coming up.

  1. Tap a channel and choose Show Guide, or tap the EPG icon in the channel list.
  2. The current program is highlighted with progress through its time slot.
  3. Scroll forward to see upcoming programs.
  4. Tap a future program for full description (when supplied by the EPG source).

Refresh the guide

  1. Open Settings › Accounts, tap the account, and tap Refresh EPG.
  2. The app re-downloads the guide data immediately.

Settings & Customization

Adagio Stream is built to be personalized. The main settings live under Settings from the bottom tab bar (or side menu).

Appearance

  1. Open Settings › Appearance.
  2. Choose Light, Dark, or System theme.
  3. Adjust Text Size. The app respects the system accessibility text size by default; override it here if needed.
  4. Toggle Show Album Artwork for music channels (off falls back to the channel logo).

Playback

  1. Open Settings › Playback.
  2. Set Buffer Duration for time-shift behavior.
  3. Toggle Auto-Play on Launch and pick a Startup Channel to have the app begin playing the moment you open it.
  4. Choose whether playback resumes after an interruption or waits for you to tap Play.

Notifications & Lock Screen

  1. Open Settings › Now Playing (or your system Now Playing widget settings).
  2. Choose what shows on the lock screen: channel name, track title, or both.

Diagnostics

  1. Open Settings › Diagnostics.
  2. Toggle Debug Logging on if support has asked you to. Logs are written locally and never transmitted unless you choose to share them.
  3. Tap Share Logs to export the most recent log file via the system share sheet.
  4. Credentials are automatically redacted from logs.

Exporting & Wiping Your Data

Everything in Adagio Stream lives on your device. You can take it with you or erase it whenever you want.

Export everything

  1. Open Settings › Data.
  2. Tap Export All Data.
  3. The app generates a JSON file containing your accounts (with credentials redacted unless you opt in), favorites, playlists, saved songs, and preferences.
  4. Choose where to save or send the file via the system share sheet.

Export a playlist as M3U

See Custom Playlists › Export or share as M3U.

Delete all data

  1. Open Settings › Data.
  2. Tap Delete All Data.
  3. Confirm. Every account, favorite, playlist, saved song, and preference is erased. Encrypted credentials are removed from the system Keychain / Keystore.
  4. Alternatively, uninstall the app — that achieves the same result.

Troubleshooting

A channel won't play

  1. Check your internet connection.
  2. Try another channel from the same account. If everything is failing, the provider may be down or your credentials may have expired.
  3. Open Settings › Accounts, tap the account, and tap Refresh.
  4. If the channel list looks wrong (missing or duplicate channels), tap Refresh again or remove and re-add the account.

Bitrate is low or unstable

The bitrate indicator on Now Playing reflects the live stream from your provider. If it's lower than expected, it's almost always one of: weak Wi-Fi/cellular, congestion at your provider, or a low-bitrate source. Try switching networks to isolate.

EPG is empty or wrong

  1. For M3U accounts, double-check the EPG URL in Settings › Accounts.
  2. Tap Refresh EPG on the account.
  3. EPG data must come from your provider — Adagio Stream doesn't add or invent guide entries.

CarPlay / Android Auto doesn't show the app

  1. Make sure the app is up to date.
  2. On iOS, check Settings › General › CarPlay on your phone to confirm Adagio Stream is enabled for your vehicle.
  3. On Android, ensure Android Auto's developer settings allow third-party media apps if you're on a side-loaded build.
  4. Reconnect the phone (unplug/replug cable, or toggle Bluetooth for wireless).

Something else is wrong

Enable debug logging (Settings › Diagnostics › Debug Logging), reproduce the issue, then share the log with us via the Contact & Support page. Credentials are redacted automatically.