How to use Pandora® Internet Radio on TiVo

Pandora is a free service that lets you create custom Internet radio stations personalized just for you, playing only the music you love! Just tell Pandora one of your favorite songs, artists, or composers, and it will create a radio station that explores that kind of music. You can even create stations based on genre (rock, pop, dance, show tunes, classical). Pandora plays all your current and old favorites and introduces you to new songs you’ll love.

This feature is available on:

  • Series3
  • TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL
  • All TiVo Premiere boxes
  • TiVo Mini

Creating your Pandora account

If you already have a Pandora account, you can skip this section.

If you've never used Pandora, write down your unique Pandora activation code, which is located in the Pandora feature on your TiVo box. On your Mac or PC's web browser, enter this activation code on pandora.com/tivo and follow the on-screen directions to create a new account.

Setting up Pandora on your TiVo® box

The first time you use Pandora on your TiVo box, you will need to go through a one-time setup process:

Hide the steps
  1. From TiVo Central®, do one of the following:
    • On TiVo with HD menus: Select 'Music & Photos' > 'Pandora'. See it
    • On TiVo with SD menus: Select 'Music, Photos, & Showcases' > 'Pandora.' See it
  2. Select "Get Started."
  3. Write down the activation code that is displayed on the next screen.
  4. On your PC or Mac, go to www.pandora.com/tivo and enter the code.
  5. Congratulations! You're ready to use Pandora on TiVo!

Creating stations

To listen to music on Pandora, you'll need to create personalized "stations." You may have already created stations on Pandora.com, and if so, these stations will automatically appear on Pandora on TiVo. You can also create stations right on your TiVo box, and they will also appear on other devices you use to access Pandora. Here's how:

Show the steps
  1. From TiVo Central®, do one of the following:
    • On TiVo with HD menus: Select 'Music & Photos' > 'Pandora.' See it
    • On TiVo with SD menus: Select 'Music, Photos, & Showcases' > 'Pandora.' See it
  2. Select "New station."
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Select "Create my own station." Then enter the name of a favorite artist, song, or composer, and Pandora will create a radio station featuring that music and more like it.
    • Select "Pick from genre station." This option allows you to create a station by choosing a category and subcategory of music. For example, you might choose the category "Pop" and the subcategory "British Invasion" or the category "Jazz" with the subcategory "Western Swing."
  4. A station will be created and added to your Pandora station list. See it

Listening to music

Once you've created stations, you're a remote click away from personalized radio.

Show the steps
  1. When you enter Pandora on your TiVo box or add a station, the first custom station in your station list will begin playing automatically. Information about the song that is currently playing is displayed at the top right of the screen. See it
  2. To play music on a different station, highlight the station you want to hear and press PLAY Play button on your TiVo remote.
  3. To hear a mix of music from all stations, select "Quick Mix" at the top of your station list.

Accessing more options

You can get details about a song that’s playing or explore other options by highlighting the station in the station list and pressing the SELECT button Select button on your TiVo remote.

Show the steps

From the detail screen, you can:

  • Learn why a song was selected. Press the INFO button Info button on your TiVo remote.
  • Bookmark the song or artist that's playing.
  • Create a new station based on the song or artist that's playing.
  • Take the song out of rotation by selecting "I’m tired of this song."
  • Add variety to your station by entering the name of another artist song or composition. Pandora will add music with similar qualities to this station.
  • Delete the station.

Help topics: