EPG stands for Electronic Program Guide. It is the TV guide inside your IPTV app: the grid or list that shows what is on each channel now, what is on next, and what is coming up later tonight. When it works, IPTV feels just like cable. When it shows “No information”, finding a game or a show gets much harder. This guide explains what EPG on IPTV is and how to fix it when it stops working. For more background, see electronic program guides on Wikipedia.
This guide explains how the EPG works, why it sometimes goes blank or shows the wrong times, and how to fix it on every popular app.
How the EPG works
Your channels and your TV guide are two separate things:
- The channels are video streams.
- The guide is a data file (usually in a format called XMLTV) listing programs, start times, end times and descriptions for each channel.
Your app downloads the guide file, then matches each program listing to the right channel using an ID. When the IDs match, you see the programs. When the guide has not downloaded, or a channel’s ID does not match, you see “No information” for that channel.
With an Xtream Codes login, the guide link comes with your login automatically. With an M3U link, some apps need you to add the guide link separately. See what M3U is for the difference.
What the EPG lets you do
- See what is on now and next on every channel.
- Browse the schedule for the coming days to plan your viewing.
- Read program descriptions, episode titles and start times.
- Use catch-up on supported channels: go back in the guide and play a program that already aired.
- Set reminders and recordings in apps that support them, such as TiviMate. See recording live TV.
Why the EPG is empty, and how to fix it
1. The guide has not been downloaded yet
After a first login, many apps need you to load the guide once.
- IPTV Smarters: on the dashboard, select Install EPG or the refresh icon. Wait up to a minute.
- TiviMate: go to Settings > EPG and select Update EPG.
- Smart TV apps: look for Refresh, Update EPG or Reload in the settings.
2. The guide link is missing (M3U logins)
If you logged in with an M3U link, add the EPG link we sent you. In TiviMate: Settings > EPG > Add EPG source. In IPTV Smarters with an M3U playlist, add it in the playlist settings. Or simply switch to the Xtream Codes login, which includes the guide automatically. See the IPTV Smarters login guide.
3. The cache is full or corrupted
Old guide data can block new data from loading. Clear the app’s cache (not its data), reopen the app and update the EPG again. Steps for each device are in how to clear the IPTV cache.
4. Some channels simply have no guide
A few channels, such as event channels, backup feeds or small international channels, may not have guide data at all. If most channels show programs and only a few do not, that is normal.
5. Your device’s date and time are wrong
If the device clock is off, the app thinks it is a different day and shows nothing, or the wrong programs. On Firestick, Android TV and phones, set the date and time to automatic in the system settings, and check the time zone.
6. Storage is full
A full guide file for thousands of channels can be large. On devices with little free space, like older Firesticks, the download may fail. Uninstall apps you do not use and try again.
Guide times are wrong? Fix the time shift
Canada spans six time zones, so an EPG built for Eastern Time can be off by a few hours in Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver or St. John’s. If every program is shifted by the same amount:
- Check that your device’s time zone is correct.
- TiviMate: Settings > EPG > EPG time shift, then set the difference in hours.
- IPTV Smarters: check Settings > EPG Timeline or Time Shift, depending on your app version.
Twice a year, at the switch to and from daylight saving time, a guide can be off by one hour for a day. Updating the EPG usually corrects it.
Keep the guide up to date automatically
- TiviMate: in Settings > EPG, set Update interval to 12 or 24 hours.
- IPTV Smarters: in Settings > Automation, turn on automatic EPG updates when the app starts.
With this set once, you should rarely need to update by hand.
How to read the guide
- The bar or line across the grid marks the current time. Programs to the left have aired; programs to the right are coming up.
- A clock or rewind icon on a channel means catch-up is available: you can play programs that already aired.
- A red dot in apps like TiviMate means a recording is scheduled.
- Program details: select a program to read its description, episode title and exact times.
- Jump by day: most apps have a date selector or let you press left and right to move through the schedule quickly.
EPG on IPTV: frequently asked questions
Is EPG included with my subscription?
Yes. The TV guide comes with your login for the channels that have guide data. You do not need to buy it separately.
Why does the guide only show a few hours ahead?
Guide data covers a set number of days, and some apps only display part of it to save memory. Scroll further in the guide or increase the number of days in the EPG settings if your app allows it.
Can I use a different guide source?
Advanced apps like TiviMate let you add extra EPG sources. For most people, the guide included with the Xtream Codes login is the simplest and most accurate.
Need help?
If your guide is still empty after these steps, send us your app name and device, and a photo of the screen. We will fix it with you, usually in a few minutes. New here? Start a free trial, or set up your device first with our Firestick guide.