By My IPTV Sub Support Team (Setup & streaming technicians). Published .
The EPG is the part of IPTV that makes it feel like real TV. Instead of scrolling through channel names, you see what's on now, what's on next, and what's coming up later tonight. This guide explains what the EPG is, how to load it in the most popular apps, how to use catch-up, and how to fix the usual problems: wrong times, missing listings and an empty guide.
What is the EPG?
EPG stands for Electronic Program Guide. It's the TV listing: a grid with channels down one side and time across the top, showing the name, time and often a short description of every program. On cable it's the guide button on your remote. In IPTV, the guide comes from your provider and is displayed by your player app.
With an Xtream Codes login, most apps download the EPG automatically. With an M3U playlist, some apps need a separate guide link. If you're not sure which you have, read M3U vs Xtream Codes explained.
What you can do with the EPG
- See what's on now and next for each channel.
- Browse the evening's listings and plan what to watch.
- Search for a program by name in many apps.
- Set reminders so the app alerts you when a show starts.
- Use catch-up on supported channels to watch programs that already aired.
- Record programs in apps that support it, such as TiviMate Premium.
Loading the EPG in popular apps
TiviMate (Firestick, Android TV)
TiviMate loads the guide automatically when you add an Xtream Codes playlist. To refresh it, open Settings → EPG → Update EPG. You can choose how many days to keep and how often it updates. The main TV Guide view shows the full grid; long-press a program for options like reminders and catch-up.
IPTV Smarters Pro (Firestick, Android, phones)
After signing in with Xtream Codes, open Live TV, then the TV Guide or EPG icon. If the guide is empty, go to Settings → Refresh EPG or sign out and back in, which reloads everything.
IBO Player and other Smart TV apps
The guide usually loads with your playlist. Look for Settings → EPG or Update EPG and select it. On Samsung and LG TVs, restarting the app after the first load often helps.
Apple TV apps (IPTVX, iPlayTV)
Both load the guide from an Xtream Codes login automatically. In IPTVX open the Guide tab; in iPlayTV the guide appears when you browse live channels. Pull to refresh or use the refresh option in settings.
MAG boxes
MAG boxes show the guide through the portal. Press the EPG or Guide button on the MAG remote while watching a channel. Our MAG box setup guide covers the portal settings.
Using catch-up
Catch-up lets you rewatch programs that aired in the last few days on supported channels. In the guide, look for a small clock or rewind icon next to the channel name. Scroll back in time to a past program and select it to play from the beginning.
Not every channel offers catch-up, and how many days are available varies by channel. If you rely on it for a particular channel, ask support.
Fixing common EPG problems
The guide is completely empty
- Refresh or update the EPG in the app settings.
- Wait two or three minutes; large guides take time.
- Restart the app, or the device.
- If you use an M3U playlist, check that you added the guide link (sometimes called the XMLTV link). Support can send it.
Times are wrong by a few hours
This is almost always a time-zone setting. Check that your device's time zone is correct (for example Eastern, Central, Mountain or Pacific). Many apps also have an EPG time offset setting; adjust it by the number of hours the guide is off.
Remember that many US channels have both East and West feeds, which air the same program three hours apart. Make sure you're looking at the right feed.
Some channels say "No information"
Not every channel carries guide data. Most US channels do; some international or event channels don't. If a major channel is missing its guide, let support know the channel name.
The guide shows yesterday's listings
The guide hasn't updated. Update it manually in settings, and set automatic updates to daily if the app offers it.
The guide is slow
Large guides use memory. Reduce the number of days kept in settings (two or three is plenty), clear the app cache, and hide categories you never watch.
Reminders and recordings
Many apps let you set a reminder on a future program. In TiviMate, long-press the program in the guide and choose Remind; in IPTV Smarters, open the program details. When the show starts, a notice appears on screen and you can switch with one click. It's an easy way to never miss the start of a game.
Recording is available in some apps, most notably TiviMate Premium on Firestick and Android TV. You pick a program in the guide, choose Record, and the app saves it to the device's storage or a USB drive. Recording uses one connection while it runs, just like watching, so keep that in mind on plans with one connection.
Using the guide on phones and tablets
On a phone, the full grid can feel cramped. Most mobile apps offer a list view that shows now and next for each channel, which is quicker to scroll. Turn your phone sideways for the grid, or use the search function to find a program by name. On tablets, the full grid works well and is a comfortable way to plan the evening.
How often the guide updates
Guide data is refreshed every day, and most apps download the new data once or twice a day. If you change the settings to update every few hours, the guide stays fresher but uses a little more data and memory. For most people, a daily update is the right balance.
Tips for a better guide
- Hide categories you don't watch so the guide only shows channels you care about.
- Create a favorites group and open the guide from there.
- Choose a compact layout on smaller TVs to see more channels at once.
- Keep your device's clock accurate by leaving automatic date and time switched on.
Choosing an app for the best guide
If the TV guide matters a lot to you, the app makes a big difference. TiviMate on Firestick or Android TV has the most cable-like grid, and IPTVX is excellent on Apple devices. See our full list of the best IPTV player apps.
Summary
The EPG turns a list of channels into a real TV experience. With an Xtream Codes login it usually loads automatically; refresh it in settings if it doesn't, check your time zone if times are off, and use catch-up on supported channels to never miss a show.
Every My IPTV Sub plan includes the EPG for most live channels, plus catch-up on supported channels. View our IPTV USA plans, or browse the channel categories to see what's included.