IPTV Questions Using IPTV day to day
How do I update my IPTV channel list and TV guide?
Why does an IPTV channel list need updating?
Your app keeps a saved copy of the channel list and a few days of TV guide data, so it needs a fresh copy when channels are added, renamed or moved, and before the guide runs out.
How you signed in matters. An Xtream Codes login pulls the channels, the guide, movies and series from the same server, and most apps refresh it on their own. An M3U link is a snapshot of the list, and the guide comes from a separate EPG link, so both need refreshing more often. Our answer on how the IPTV TV guide works explains the EPG.
How do you refresh the list and guide in each app?
You refresh from the app's settings, and each app can also do it for you on a schedule.
| App or device | Update the channels | Update the TV guide | Make it automatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiviMate | Settings, Playlists, your playlist, Update playlist. | Settings, EPG, Update EPG. | Turn on updates on app start in the playlist settings, and pick an update interval under Settings, EPG. |
| Smarters Pro and Smarters Player Lite | Use the refresh or reload option on the home screen or in Live TV. | Use the Update EPG or Refresh EPG option. | On versions that have it: Settings (gear icon), Automation, then the auto-update options. |
| MAG box | Press SET, open System settings and choose Restart portal. | The guide reloads with the portal. | Built in: the portal sends the current list each time it loads. |
Menu names shift between versions. A large list and guide take a few minutes to download, so let the update finish.
What if the TV guide is still empty or wrong after an update?
A guide that stays empty or shows the wrong times after a refresh usually has one of four causes.
- It is still loading. Wait a few minutes, then open the guide again.
- The time zone is wrong. If every show is off by the same number of hours, fix the date, time and time zone of the device. On a MAG box, it is in System settings, Advanced settings.
- The EPG link is missing. With an M3U link, the guide needs its own EPG link. IPTV Nord customers can ask for it in Live Chat.
- The channel sends no listings. Some channels have no guide data at all, and no update changes that.
Still wrong? Clear the app cache (not the data, which erases your login) and update again. The TiviMate and Smarters guides have more fixes.
Related questions people ask
How often should the IPTV guide update?
Once or twice a day is enough for most homes, because guide data covers several days ahead. Very frequent updates on a large list can slow down an older streaming stick. Turn on updates on app start, then refresh by hand only when a channel shows the wrong listings.
Why did a channel disappear from my list?
It was most likely renamed or moved to another group. Update the playlist, then use the app's search to find it by name, and check that its group is not hidden. A renamed channel can also drop out of your favourites, so add it back as a favourite. If it is still missing, ask your provider.
Is updating the playlist the same as updating the app?
No. Updating the playlist refreshes your channels and guide, while updating the app installs a new version of the player. Apps from Google Play usually update themselves. TiviMate installed on a Fire TV from its official website checks for new versions on its own and offers the new file.
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