What Xteve does and why you'd run it on Synology

Xteve is software that creates a fake TV guide and channel list for streaming apps. It sits between your streaming sources (like M3U playlists or IPTV feeds) and apps like Plex or Emby, making those sources look like a real cable TV lineup. Running it on a Synology NAS means the software runs 24/7 on hardware you already have, without tying up your computer.

Synology makes this possible through Docker, a containerization system that lets you run applications in isolated environments. Xteve runs inside a Docker container on your NAS, which means you don't have to install it directly into Synology's operating system — it stays separate and clean.

The installation process takes about 30 minutes if you follow the steps in order. You'll need Docker installed on your Synology (most models support it), a text editor, and access to your NAS through SSH or the web interface.

Key Takeaways

  • Xteve runs on Synology through Docker, which you must install first from the Package Center if it is not already there.
  • You create a Docker container using either the web interface or a command-line compose file, depending on your comfort level.
  • Xteve needs a folder on your NAS to store its configuration files, which you must create and give the right permissions before starting the container.
  • After the container starts, you access Xteve through your browser at the IP address of your NAS plus port 6100.
  • The first time you open Xteve, you add your M3U playlists or IPTV sources and map channels to create your guide.

Install Docker on your Synology first

Docker is the foundation that Xteve runs on. Open the Package Center on your Synology NAS (the icon looks like a shopping bag), search for "Docker", and click Install. The download takes a few minutes depending on your internet speed. Once it finishes, Docker appears in your main menu.

If you cannot find Docker in Package Center, your Synology model may not support it. Check the official Synology compatibility list for your specific model number — you can find this in Control Panel under System Information. If Docker is not supported, you cannot run Xteve this way.

After Docker installs, open it and wait for the status to show "Running" in the Package Center. Do not move forward until Docker is fully started.

Create a folder for Xteve's configuration files

Xteve stores its settings, channel guide, and playlist information in a folder on your NAS. Open File Station (the folder icon in your main menu) and navigate to the volume where you want to store Xteve — usually "volume1" if you only have one drive.

Create a new folder called "xteve" by right-clicking in the empty space and selecting "Create" > "Folder". Once the folder exists, right-click it, select "Properties", and go to the "Permissions" tab. Set the permissions so that the "system" user has full read and write access. This step is critical — without the right permissions, Xteve cannot save its configuration.

Note the full path to this folder. It will look something like "/volume1/xteve". You will need this path when you create the Docker container.

Create the Xteve Docker container through the web interface

Open Docker from your Synology menu and click the "Registry" tab on the left. Search for "xteve" and you should see the official Xteve image. Click it and select "Download". The download takes a few minutes.

Once the download finishes, go to the "Image" tab, find the Xteve image in the list, click it, and select "Launch". A dialog box opens where you set up the container. Name it something simple like "xteve".

Click "Advanced Settings" and go to the "Volume" tab. Click "Add Folder" and select the "xteve" folder you created earlier. In the "Mount path" field, type "/home/xteve/conf". This tells the container where to find its configuration folder inside the container.

Go to the "Port Settings" tab. Set the container port to "6100" and the local port to "6100" as well. This is the port you will use to access Xteve in your browser. Click "Apply" and then "Next" to finish creating the container.

Start the container and access Xteve for the first time

After you create the container, it should start automatically. Go to the "Container" tab in Docker and look for your "xteve" container in the list. If it shows a green play icon, it is running. If it shows a red square, click it and select "Start".

Open a web browser on any computer on your network and type the IP address of your Synology followed by ":6100" — for example, "192.168.1.100:6100". The Xteve web interface should load. If it does not appear after 30 seconds, wait another minute and refresh the page. The container sometimes takes time to fully start on first launch.

If you do not know your Synology's IP address, open the Synology web interface (usually at "192.168.1.100" or similar), go to Control Panel, and look under Network. The IP address is listed there.

Add your playlists and configure channels

When Xteve opens for the first time, you see a setup screen. Click "Settings" in the top menu and go to the "IPTV" section. Here you add your M3U playlist URL or IPTV source. Paste the URL into the "Playlist URL" field and click "Save".

Xteve downloads the playlist and shows you all available channels. Go to the "Channels" tab to map these channels to a guide. This step tells Xteve which channel number and guide data to use for each stream. The process varies depending on your source, but Xteve usually auto-detects channel numbers from your playlist.

Once your channels are mapped, go to "Tuner" and set up how many simultaneous streams you want to allow. For most home setups, 2 to 4 is reasonable. Save your settings and Xteve is ready to use.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the Xteve web interface does not load, first check that the Docker container is running. Go back to Docker, click the "Container" tab, and look for your xteve container. If it shows a red square, click it and select "Start". Wait 60 seconds and try the browser again.

If the container keeps stopping, the permissions on your xteve folder may be wrong. Go back to File Station, right-click the xteve folder, select "Properties", and make sure the "system" user has read and write permissions. Then stop the container, fix the permissions, and start it again.

If Xteve loads but your playlists do not appear, check that you pasted the correct URL in the IPTV settings. Some playlist URLs expire or require authentication. Verify the URL works by pasting it into a text editor and checking that it contains channel information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Xteve on older Synology models?

Only if your model supports Docker. Check the official Synology Docker compatibility list for your specific model number. If Docker is not listed as supported, you cannot run Xteve this way. Some very old models do not support Docker at all.

What if I want to use a Docker Compose file instead of the web interface?

Open SSH on your Synology (Control Panel > Terminal & SNMP > Enable SSH), connect with an SSH client, and create a docker-compose.yml file with the Xteve image and volume settings. Run "docker-compose up -d" to start the container. This method is faster if you are comfortable with the command line.

How do I update Xteve to a newer version?

Go to Docker, click the "Image" tab, find the Xteve image, right-click it, and select "Download" to pull the latest version. Then stop your current container, delete it, and create a new one using the updated image. Your configuration folder will be preserved because it is stored separately.

Can I access Xteve from outside my home network?

Yes, but you need to set up port forwarding on your router and use a dynamic DNS service if your internet IP address changes. Forward port 6100 on your router to your Synology's IP address and port 6100. Use your dynamic DNS address or public IP to access Xteve remotely. This is less secure than local access, so consider using a VPN instead.

Why is my playlist not updating automatically?

Xteve checks for playlist updates at intervals you set in the IPTV settings. Go to Settings > IPTV and look for the "Update interval" option. Set it to how often you want Xteve to refresh the playlist — usually every 12 or 24 hours is enough. If your playlist source is down, Xteve will not update until it comes back online.