IPTV EPG not working? How to fix the TV guide
A blank guide, “No information” on every channel or programmes an hour out are all fixable. Here is why it happens and the exact order to fix it in.
When the IPTV EPG is not working, the channels usually still play, but you lose the part that makes IPTV feel like normal TV: knowing what is on now and next, browsing the evening’s schedule and using catch-up. The good news is that a missing or wrong guide is almost always a settings or refresh issue rather than a fault with the stream itself, and most fixes take a few minutes.
What the EPG is and where it comes from
EPG stands for electronic programme guide. It is a separate data file, usually in a format called XMLTV, that lists programmes, start times and descriptions for each channel. Your app downloads that file and matches each entry to a channel in your list using a channel ID.
With an Xtream Codes API login, which is what we recommend for IPTV Smarters Pro, the guide address is built into the login, so the app fetches it automatically. With a plain M3U playlist, it depends on the app: some read the guide address from the playlist, others need it added by hand. You can read more about the guide and catch-up on the IPTV service page.
Key point: the channels and the guide are downloaded separately. That is why a channel can play perfectly while its guide is blank.
Common EPG symptoms and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Guide blank on every channel | Not downloaded yet, failed download or M3U without EPG | Refresh the EPG; check login type |
| Programmes exactly one hour out | Clock change or wrong time zone | Fix device time zone, then time-shift |
| Guide stops a day or two ahead | Guide not refreshed recently | Refresh the EPG manually |
| “No information” on a few channels | No guide data for those channels | Normal for some channels; report if it changed |
| Guide shows the wrong channel’s programmes | Channel ID mismatch | Refresh; contact support with the channel name |
| App freezes when opening the guide | Full cache or low memory on the device | Clear cache, close background apps |
How to fix an IPTV EPG that is not working
Follow these steps in order. Most people find the guide is back by step 3 or 4.
- Wait for the first download. After adding a new login, give the app a few minutes to download the guide before judging it, especially on older TVs.
- Refresh the EPG. In IPTV Smarters Pro, open Live TV or the home screen and choose the option to refresh or install the EPG. In other apps, look under Settings, EPG or TV guide for an update button.
- Check the device date, time and time zone. Set date and time to automatic and the time zone to London (GMT/BST) in the device’s system settings.
- Adjust the EPG time-shift. If programmes are consistently an hour out, change the EPG time-shift or time offset in the app by one hour in the right direction.
- Clear the app cache. On Firestick and Android, clear the app’s cache from the system settings, then open the app and let the guide download again.
- Confirm the login type. If you added an M3U link, check whether your app needs a separate EPG URL, or re-add the account with Xtream Codes API instead.
- Update or reinstall the app. Install any update. If the guide is still blank, remove the user from the app and add it again with the same details.
The menu names vary slightly between versions of IPTV Smarters Pro and between devices. The IPTV Smarters Pro settings guide shows where the main options sit. If the app shows an error such as “Authorisation failed” instead of an empty guide, it is a login problem; follow the Xtream and M3U troubleshooting guide first.
A note on slow connections
The guide file for a full channel list can be large. On a slow or unstable connection, or an older TV with little memory, the download can time out and leave the guide half-filled. If refreshing keeps failing, connect the device by Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi for the refresh. Our router and Wi-Fi settings guide explains how to strengthen the connection at the TV.
Wrong times and the GMT/BST clock change
If every programme is shifted by exactly one hour, the guide data is fine; it is being displayed in the wrong time zone. This often appears the week the clocks go forward in March or back in October. Fix it in this order:
- Device first. In the TV, Firestick or box settings, set date and time to automatic and the time zone to London. On a Fire TV Stick this is under Settings, Preferences, Time Zone.
- Then the app. Only if the device is correct and the guide is still out, change the EPG time-shift in the app by one hour.
- Remember to reverse it. If you used a manual time-shift, you may need to set it back at the next clock change.
Fixing the device time first matters, because a manual offset in the app on top of a wrong device clock tends to break again at the next change.
M3U playlists and separate EPG links
If you set up your account with an M3U link, the guide may need its own address. Some apps, including TiviMate and many Smart TV players, have a separate field for an EPG or XMLTV URL in their playlist settings. Others read it automatically from the first line of the playlist.
The simplest fix is usually to switch to Xtream Codes API if your app supports it, because the guide then comes with the login. If you need to stay on M3U, message support and we will send the EPG address that matches your IPTV subscription. Keep it private, as it contains your account details.
The EPG and catch-up
Catch-up relies on the guide to know when each programme started and finished. On channels that support it, you can replay programmes from up to the last 7 days, but only if the guide for those days is present and in the right time zone. If catch-up starts a programme an hour early or late, fix the time zone first; if the catch-up list is empty, refresh the guide and try again.
A slow guide that takes a long time to scroll is usually a device issue rather than a guide issue. Clearing the cache helps, and so do the device tips in our IPTV buffering guide.
EPG FAQ
Why is my IPTV EPG not working?
The most common reasons are a guide that has not been downloaded or refreshed yet, a login added as an M3U link without an EPG address, the wrong time zone or time-shift setting, or a full app cache. Refreshing the EPG and checking the time settings fixes most cases.
Why is my TV guide an hour out?
Usually because of the clocks changing between GMT and BST, or because the device’s time zone is wrong. Set the device to automatic date and time with the London time zone, then adjust the EPG time-shift in your app by plus or minus one hour if needed.
Why do some channels show “No information”?
Not every channel carries guide data, and some only show the current programme. If a channel has never had guide information, refreshing will not change it. If it had data before and lost it, refresh the EPG and clear the cache.
Do I need a separate EPG link?
Not with Xtream Codes API: the guide comes with the login. If you use an M3U playlist in an app that does not read the guide automatically, you may need to add an XMLTV EPG URL. Ask support and we will send the right link for your account.
How often does the EPG update?
Most apps refresh the guide automatically every day or when you open them after a while. You can force an update at any time from the app, which is useful after changing settings or when the guide looks out of date.
Does catch-up depend on the EPG?
Yes. Catch-up uses the guide to know where each programme starts and ends. If the EPG is missing or shifted, catch-up may play the wrong part of a programme. Fix the guide first, then try catch-up again on channels that support it, for up to the last 7 days.