Best IPTV Smarters Pro settings for UK viewers
The default IPTV Smarters Pro settings work for most people, but a handful of changes fix the problems our support team hears about most: channels that stutter, a TV guide that is an hour out and lists that never seem to update. Here is what each setting does and how to set it for watching in the UK.
Where to find the IPTV Smarters Pro settings
Settings belong to the app, not to your IPTV subscription, so you need to be logged in to a user first. From the home screen (the one with Live TV, Movies, Series and Catch-up tiles), select the gear icon. On a Firestick or Android TV it sits along the top of the dashboard; on phones and tablets it is on the same home screen. Menu names can vary a little between versions and devices, but the options below are present in current releases.
Here is a quick summary before we go through each one:
| Setting | Recommended for UK viewers | Change it when… |
|---|---|---|
| Stream format | Default first, then try the other option | Channels freeze, stutter or will not start |
| Player selection | Built-in player | One channel or film refuses to play |
| EPG time-shift | Whatever makes the guide match the clock | Programmes start an hour early or late |
| Time format | 24-hour (or 12-hour to match your devices) | Personal preference |
| Automation | Auto-refresh channels, VOD and EPG | New channels or films do not appear |
| Parental control | PIN on adult and unsuitable categories | Children use the TV |
Stream format: MPEGTS or HLS
Under Stream Format you choose how the app requests live channels: MPEGTS (.ts), a continuous transport stream, or HLS (.m3u8), which delivers the stream as a series of short segments. Some versions also show a Default option that uses whatever the server suggests.
There is no universal winner. MPEGTS tends to start quickly and is the usual default. HLS can cope better with an unsteady connection on some devices because each small segment is fetched separately. The practical rule is simple: if a channel freezes, skips or shows a black screen while others play, switch the format, go back to the channel and test it for a few minutes. If the problem moves with the format, keep the one that works on your device.
Films and series usually play in their own file format, so this setting mainly affects live TV.
Player selection and external players
Player Selection decides which video player opens each type of content: live TV, films, series and catch-up. The built-in player is the best starting point because it supports the app’s own controls, such as the channel list overlay and the TV guide while watching.
If one particular film or channel will not play, try switching that content type to the native player or to an external player such as VLC or MX Player (where your device supports them). An external player must be installed first, then added in the External Players section of the settings before it appears as an option. Once the stubborn title plays, decide whether to keep the change: external players can be sturdier with unusual video files, but you lose some of the in-app controls.
If playback still fails in every player, the setting is not the cause. Work through our IPTV Smarters Pro troubleshooting fixes instead.
EPG time-shift and time format
The EPG (electronic programme guide) arrives with times attached, and the app adjusts them to your device’s clock. When the two disagree, every programme looks an hour early or late. The EPG Time Shift setting corrects this by moving the guide forward or back in steps of an hour.
To set it correctly for the UK:
- Check the device clock first. Make sure your TV, Firestick or phone is set to the UK time zone and updates automatically.
- Compare the guide with a known programme. Open a channel in the TV guide and see whether the current programme matches what is on screen.
- Adjust the time-shift. If the guide is an hour behind, shift it by +1; an hour ahead, shift it by -1.
- Refresh the EPG. Reload the guide from the home screen so the change applies to every channel.
This tends to need attention twice a year, when the clocks go forward in late March and back in late October. While you are there, set Time Format to 24-hour or 12-hour so the guide matches the rest of your devices. If the guide is empty rather than wrong, refreshing it usually helps; our notes on the EPG explain where the data comes from.
Automation: keep lists up to date
In the Automation section you can let IPTV Smarters Pro refresh channels, films and series and the EPG automatically, either when the app starts or after a set number of days. Turning this on means new additions to your IPTV service appear without you having to log out and back in.
On a fast device, refreshing at start-up is fine. On an older Smart TV or a first-generation streaming stick, refreshing a large library every time can make the app slow to open; once a day, or every couple of days, is a better balance. If you ever need an instant update, use the refresh option on the home screen instead of waiting for the schedule.
Parental control
Parental Control asks you to create a PIN, then lets you lock individual categories in Live TV, Movies and Series. Locked categories need the PIN before they open. Set it up before handing the remote to children, choose a PIN that is not your bank card number, and remember that the lock is per app: if you install IPTV Smarters Pro on a second device, set parental control there too.
What settings cannot fix: speed and quality
No setting in the app can make a stream sharper than it is sent. Picture quality depends on the stream your IPTV service provides and on your connection. As a guide, each screen needs about 10 Mbps for HD, 20 Mbps for Full HD and 30 Mbps for 4K. Two people watching 4K at the same time need roughly double that, on top of everything else using the broadband.
- Use an Ethernet cable, or 5 GHz Wi-Fi, for the TV or streaming stick if you can.
- Restart the router and the device if buffering starts suddenly after working well.
- If a 4K channel buffers at busy times, try the Full HD version of the same channel.
For a full walk-through of the app itself, from download to login, see the IPTV Smarters Pro UK guide, and if you are still choosing between the two login types, read Xtream Codes vs M3U playlist. Set-up on a stick is covered in the Firestick installation guide.
Quick checklist
- Open Settings. Log in to your user and select the gear icon on the IPTV Smarters Pro home screen.
- Set the stream format. Leave the default, or switch between MPEGTS and HLS if live channels stutter or will not start.
- Choose the player. Keep the built-in player unless a channel fails, then try the native or an external player.
- Fix the EPG time. Adjust EPG time-shift until the guide matches UK time, and set 12-hour or 24-hour time format.
- Turn on automation. Enable automatic refresh of channels, films, series and the EPG.
- Set parental control. Create a PIN and lock any categories you do not want children to see.
IPTV Smarters Pro settings FAQ
Should I use MPEGTS or HLS in IPTV Smarters Pro?
Start with the default. If live channels stutter, freeze or will not start, switch the stream format to the other option and test the same channel again. Neither is better in every case; it depends on your device and the stream.
Why is my IPTV Smarters Pro TV guide an hour out?
The EPG time-shift does not match UK time, which often happens around the clocks changing in late March and late October. Open Settings, go to EPG time-shift and adjust it by one hour, then refresh the guide.
Where are the settings in IPTV Smarters Pro?
Log in to your user, then open Settings from the home screen. On TVs and Firesticks it is the gear icon at the top of the dashboard; on phones and tablets it is the same icon on the home screen.
Do the settings change picture quality?
Not directly. Picture quality comes from your IPTV service and your internet connection. Settings such as stream format and player selection fix playback problems, but they cannot turn an HD stream into 4K.
How do I stop the app reloading everything each time?
Look in the Automation settings. You can choose whether channels, films, series and the EPG refresh automatically. Refreshing once a day is plenty for most people and keeps start-up quicker on slow devices.
Can I lock adult or unsuitable categories?
Yes. Parental control lets you set a PIN and choose which categories need it. Locked categories stay hidden or protected until the PIN is entered.