A guide to connecting to the internet on my device

To get the Freeview mobile app you need an Android phone or tablet running Android OS 4.4 KitKat and above, or an iPhone or iPad running iOS 11 and above.

What else do I need?

You'll also need a minimum internet connection of 2Mbps and all the associated channel apps – which are BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5 and UKTV Play – to enjoy the app.

Don't forget that you'll also need a TV licence. Once you've paid it, though, with Freeview you don't need to pay anything else on top. For more information visit tvlicensing.co.uk.

Connecting your device to the internet

Instructions for connecting your phone or tablet to the internet vary from device to device, but we've put together some basic instructions below which may be of some help to you:

iOS devices

  1. Make sure your router is online and within range.
  2. Tap Settings, then Wi-Fi.
  3. Choose the name of the wi-fi network you want to use and tap it (a blue tick should appear beside the network name to show it's been selected).
  4. If prompted for a password, enter the correct wi-fi password.
  5. If you want your device to automatically connect to the network when in range, just turn on the Auto-Join option.

Android devices

  1. Make sure your router is online and within range.
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Tap Connections or Network & Internet, then tap Wi-Fi.
  4. Choose the network you want to connect to.
  5. If prompted for a password, enter the correct password.

If the above instructions don't work for your device, try contacting its manufacturer or visiting its help pages online for more detailed instructions.

Setting up the Freeview mobile app

When you first download the Freeview mobile app, you'll be taken through a quick set-up so we can make sure you get the most accurate programme information, depending on where you live.

The app will also detect which on-demand players you need to install on your device – including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My 5 and UKTV Play – so you can link to catch-up content quickly and easily.

How to download each player

You can download the players from the App Store or Google Play Store on your device. Just search for the player and select the app for download. Make sure you're signed into them so you can link to the content directly through the Freeview mobile app.

You can also find the list of all the players in the My Freeview area of the app at any time.

How to update them

The best way to do this is to allow automatic updates on your mobile device. That way, if there's been an update to any of the apps (including the Freeview mobile app), you should get a pop-up message when you log in, and all you need to do is follow the instructions to download.

How to allow automatic updates varies according to device. For more help with this, check your device's user manual or look up the instructions on the manufacturer's website.

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