How do I use the TiVo App for my iPhone?
Now you can do just about everything you can do with your TiVo® remote control — find and explore shows, schedule recordings, control live TV and recorded shows, and more — from your iPhone! And, when you add the new TiVo Stream to your home network, you can also you can watch recorded shows or in-progress recordings on your iPhone or transfer shows from your TiVo Premiere DVR to your iPhone to take them with you! Just download the TiVo App to your iPhone, and you're ready to get started.
Before You Begin
Before you can use the TiVo App, you'll need to do the following:
Step 1: Make sure you have iOS 5.1 on your iPhone.
Step 2: Download the TiVo App from the iTunes App Store. It's free! Note: The TiVo App will not run on jailbroken iOS devices.
Step 3: If you have a compatible TiVo DVR, make sure it's connected to your home network. Note: To use the TiVo Stream (required for streaming and downloading shows), you must have a TiVo Premiere series DVR that connects to your home network using either a wired Ethernet or MoCA connection. See tivo.com/stream to learn more about networking options.
Step 4: Make sure your iPhone has Wi-Fi turned on, and that it is connected to the same network as your TiVo DVR. (On your iPhone, tap Settings, then Wi-Fi. Turn "Wi-Fi" to "On" to join a network.)
Step 5: On your TiVo DVR, allow the iPhone to access your TiVo DVR by turning on the "Network Remote Control" setting. From TiVo Central, select Messages & Settings > Settings > Remote, CableCARD, & Devices > Network Remote Control.
Setting up Your TiVo App
The first time you launch your TiVo App, you'll go through a one-time set-up process. Don't worry, it only takes a minute.
Note: Please complete these steps before you install your TiVo Stream.
There are three ways to active your TiVo app:
Option 1: When you're at home and using a TiVo Premiere series DVR, you'll sign in using a special number that identifies your TiVo DVR, called a Media Access Key (MAK).When you sign in with your MAK, you'll be able to use all the features of the TiVo App: you can stream live TV or recordings to your iPhone (TiVo Stream required), control live TV, transfer shows to your iPhone to take with you (TiVo Stream required), schedule recordings on your DVR, get details about the shows currently airing on live TV, manage your To Do List and OnePass (or Season Pass) requests, and more. You'll only need to enter your MAK once, and then the TiVo App will remember it whenever you launch the app.
Option 2: If you're away from home but want remote access to your TiVo DVR, you'll sign in with your tivo.com username and password. In ''Away'' mode, you can view your My Shows list, manage your OnePass (or Season Pass) requests, search for shows by title or actor/director name, browse the guide or browse by category, and set up recordings.
Option 3: If you don't have a compatible TiVo DVR, you can take take the TiVo App for a test drive anyway! Just sign in as a "Guest." In "Guest" mode, you can search for shows by title or actor/director name, browse the guide, or browse by category.
Signing in With Your Media Access Key (MAK)
When you first launch the TiVo app, the app will search your network for compatible TiVo DVRs. Once it finds your TiVo DVR, sign in as follows:
Step 1: If you have more than one TiVo DVR on your network, select the TiVo DVR DVR you want to connect to from the list.
Step 2: On your TiVo DVR, find your MAK: go to Messages & Settings > Account & System Information > Media Access Key.
Step 3: On your iPhone, tap the Media Access Key window to bring up the keyboard, and enter your MAK. Then tap "OK."
Note: If you would like to log in without your MAK, see Signing in with your user name and password. To log in as a guest (See Below).
Signing in With Your User Name and Password
You can sign in with your tivo.com user name and password when you're away from home, or if you are unable to sign in with your MAK. Here's how:
Step 1: Tap "Away access."
Step 2: Tap the "Email" window to bring up the keyboard, and enter your tivo.com user name. Then, tap the "Password" window and to enter your password. Then tap "Sign in."
Signing in as a Guest
You can use the TiVo app even if you don't own a compatible TiVo DVR. To sign in as a guest:
Step 1: Tap "Guest access."
Step 2: On the "Guest Experience" screen, read more about Guest Mode. Then tap "Continue."
Step 3: Tap the Zip Code window to bring up the keyboard, and enter your zip code. Then tap ''Next'' on the keyboard.
Step 4: Tap on the name of your cable provider.
Step 5: Tap the "Email" window to enter your email address. Choose whether or not receive TiVo news and offers, then tap "Continue."
Adding a TiVo Stream
While using the TiVo App alone is a great way to enhance your TiVo experience, installing the TiVo Stream makes the experience even better! The TiVo Stream works seamlessly with your TiVo App to bring you a world of cool features that you don't get with the App alone. For example:
Stream recordings to up to 4 devices simultaneously anywhere around your home (including premium content such as HBO, Showtime etc).
Transfer content to up to 4 devices (or to one device super fast!) to take your shows anywhere.Stream shows while they are being recorded. It's just like watching live TV!
Control playback of streaming or downloaded shows: pause, 30-second skip, 8-second instant replay, or jump to any point in a show with the touch of a button. Or, you can just swipe: swipe right for 30-second skip or left for 8 second instant replay while watching a show. You can even touch the screen for info or a tap a button to start watching a show on your TV instead.
Learn more at tivo.com/stream, or go to the tivo.com/store to purchase your Stream now.
Install your TiVo Stream after you complete the activation process above. For TiVo Stream installation instructions, see the Installation & Setup document that came with your Stream, or go to tivo.com/stream.
Once you've installed your device, re-launch the TiVo App. The App will automatically display on-screen instructions that will lead you through the setup process.
If the on-screen instructions do not appear automatically, tap the ''More'' button at the bottom of the screen, then ''Settings,'' and then ''TiVo Stream Setup.''
Viewing the Info Screen
If you are signed in with your MAK, the Info screen is the first screen you'll see when you enter the app. This screen displays information about the show that's currently airing on your TiVo DVR. As you change channels, the Info screen will update to reflect the show you're watching.
You can do lots of things from this screen, including:
Tap ''Watch on iPhone'' to watch the show on your iPhone from any room in your house. The show will begin recording on your DVR and then beginning streaming to your iPhone! (TiVo Stream required).
Tap "Record" to set up a single recording or a OnePass (or Season Pass) recording on your DVR.
Tap "Upcoming" to view a list of upcoming episodes.
Tap ''Get From'' to watch the show instantly on your TV if it's available from other sources (like Hulu Plus or Netflix)
Tap "Explore" the show to learn more about its cast and crew, or to see a list of shows you might also like.
Tap "More" to share your comments about the show with friends on Facebook or Twitter.
You can reach the Info screen at any time by pressing the Info button.
Note: The Info button is not available in "Away" or "Guest" modes.
Finding and Exploring Shows
You can find and explore shows with a few taps of the screen. Give it a try:
Step 1: Tap the Search icon at the top of the scree, and enter the title of the show or name of the actor you're interested in.
If the show is currently airing on live TV, tap ''Watch Now.''
If you have a TiVo Stream, you'll have the option to watch the show on your iPhone or your TV. If you choose ''On iPhone,'' the show will begin recording on your TiVo Premiere series DVR and then beginning streaming to your iPhone simultaneously.
If you don't have a TiVo Stream, tap ''Watch Now'' to watch the show on your TV.
Tap ''Record'' to set up a single recording or OnePass (or Season Pass) recording on your DVR.
To see which episodes are coming up, tap ''Upcoming.''
If a show is available on Netflix or HuluPlus, you can choose to watch it immediately on your TV screen. Just tap ''Get From'' and select either Netflix or HuluPlus.
Tap ''More'' to share your comments about the show with friends on Facebook or Twitter.
If a show is not currently available to record, you'll have the option to tap "WishList" to set up a TiVo WishList® search. The WishList search will automatically record the show the next time it appears on TV.
Step 2: To browse the program guide, tap the Guide button at the bottom of the screen. Scroll the guide up or down to view more listings. (You can also use the numbers on the right side of the screen to skip quickly to a range of channels.)
When you find a show you like, tap it to display information about it in the top half of the screen. From there, you can choose to watch it on your TV or iPhone (if it's currently airing; TiVo Stream required to watch on your iPhone), record it on your DVR (if it's airing now or at a later date), explore it further, view upcoming episodes, or share your comments on Facebook or Twitter.
To jump to a particular time, tap the date to bring up the date selector.
Tap "Chan" to find a particular channel (you can search by channel name or number).
Step 3: Tap the Browse button at the bottom of the screen to browse collections of related content (like award winners), or to browse by category (like comedy or action).
Using the My Shows List
There are two tabs on the My Shows screen: the "On DVR" tab and the "On iPhone" tab.
The ''On DVR'' tab lets you see your TiVo DVR's My Shows list.
Step 1: Tap "On DVR."
Step 2: Tap a show to view information about it. From there, you can:
Watch the show. If you have a TiVo Stream, you'll have the option to watch the show on your iPhone or your TV. If you don't have a TiVo Stream, you can only watch the show on your TV.
Get or modify a OnePass (or Season Pass) recording
Delete the show from the My Shows list
Download the show to your iPhone (TiVo Stream required).
View upcoming episodes
Explore the show
Choose more options, including setting a show to ''Keep Until I Delete,'' or sharingg your comments about the show on Facebook or Twitter.
The ''On iPhone'' tab shows you your list of shows that have been downloaded (or are in the process of downloading) to your iPhone (TiVo Stream required; see below).
Downloading shows to your iPhone (TiVo Stream required)
The first time you go to the ''On iPhone'' tab, it will most likely be empty. That's because you haven't downloaded any shows yet! Let's get going:
Step 1: Tap ''My Shows'' at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Tap the ''On DVR'' tab to view the DVR's My Shows list.
Step 3: Tap the title of the show you want to download, then tap ''Download'' at the top of the screen.
Step 4: Choose a download quality, then tap ''Download with these options.'' Note that ''Best'' quality downloads will take up more space on your iPhone than ''Standard'' quality downloads.
Step 5: Tap the ''On iPhone'' tab to see your show added to the download queue.
Step 6: If you have a more than one show waiting to download, you can rearrange the order in which they'll download or delete shows from the download queue. Just tap ''Edit'' on the ''On iPhone'' tab.
To rearrange the download order, drag and drop shows into the order in which you want to download them.
To delete a show, tap the empty circle next to each show you want to delete, then tap ''Delete.''
Watching downloaded shows (TiVo Stream required)
Watch downloaded shows (or to watch a show while it's downloading). Here's how:
Step 1: Tap ''My Shows'' at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Tap ''On iPhone.''
Step 3: Downloaded shows appear at the bottom of the download queue (if any shows are in the queue). Tap a show to view information about. From that screen, you can choose ''Watch now'' then ''Watch on iPhone'' watch the show on your iPhone, or you can delete it from your iPhone.
Using the Remote Control
Use the TiVo App's remote control to control live TV (either streaming to your iPhone (TiVo Stream required) or on your television) and recorded shows (either streaming to your iPhone (TiVo Stream required) or on your television), or to navigate around your TiVo DVR's menus. Here's how:
Step 1: Tap the remote control icon on the top right of the screen.
Step 2: Tap Tap the Gestures icon to show the gesture pad areas. In these areas, you can use touch-screen gestures, similar to the gestures used on other smartphones and mobile devices, to control your video. Tap the "i" to display the gestures
Step 3: Tap the remote control icon to show the remote control buttons for navigating around TiVo menus and controlling playback. You can fast-forward, rewind, pause, slow motion, advance, instant replay, record, or give Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down ratings. Just scroll to different parts of the remote on the screen. At any time, tap the keyboard icon at the top of the screen to bring up a keyboard.
Note: The remote control is not available in "Away" or "Guest" modes.
Managing Your Shows
Manage your TiVo DVR's To Do List and your OnePass (or Season Pass) requests with the TiVo App.
Step 1: Tap ''More'' at the bottom of the screen, then tap ''To Do List.'' Tap a show title to get information about it. From there, you can cancel the recording, get or modify a OnePass (or Season Pass) request, view upcoming episodes, explore the show, change recording options, and more.
Note: If you are using a Series3 DVR, you can view your To Do List, but you cannot make changes to it.
Step 2: Tap "More" to return to the menu, then tap "OnePass Manager." To change the priority of OnePass (or Season Pass) requests, tap "Edit," then drag and drop your shows into the order you'd like. To get more information about a show, tap its title.
Sharing on Facebook & Twitter
As you explore shows in the TiVo App, you can easily publish your comments about them on Facebook and Twitter.
Step 1: Choose a show from your My Shows list, the guide, or any browsing screen.
Step 2: At the bottom of the screen, tap "More," then tap either "Share on Facebook" or "Share on Twitter."
Step 3: If prompted, log in to your Facebook or Twitter account.
Step 4: Enter your post or tweet, and tap "Share."
Changing Your Selected DVR
To connect to a different compatible TiVo DVR in your network, tap the ''More'' button at the bottom of the screen, then tap ''Selected DVR.'' Use the scroll wheel to select another DVR.
Changing settings & signing out
To change settings or manage your Facebook or Twitter accounts, tap the "More" button at the bottom of the screen, then tap Settings. You'll see the following options:
TiVo account: Displays how you are signed in to the TiVo App. Tap "Sign Out" to sign out.
TiVo Stream Setup: Launches the setup process for the TiVo Stream. Tap this option if the installation instructions do not launch automatically when you first hook up your TiVo Stream.
TiVo Stream System Information: Displays the status, TiVo Service Number, and other information related to your TiVo Stream.
Facebook/Twitter: Tap "Login" to sign in.
Sound Effects: Turn TiVo App sound effects on or off.
Guide Channels: Choose which channels to display.
Version: Displays the TiVo App version number.
About this app: Displays TiVo app information.
Technical support: Links to tivo.com's support site.
Reset application: Removes all account information and settings. After resetting, you will need to sign in to the app again.