Program-guide setup

How to Add an EPG to IPTV

An electronic program guide adds schedule information to a compatible player. The guide may arrive with a credential login or through a separate private XMLTV source. It does not change what content an account is authorized to access.

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Identify the guide source

First load the playlist or account successfully. Check whether the player automatically received guide data. If not, ask the authorized provider whether a separate EPG/XMLTV URL is available and keep it private.

Add and refresh the EPG

Open the player's playlist or guide settings, attach the correct source, save, and start a manual refresh. Large guide files need time and storage; do not interrupt the first sync.

  • Correct source attached to the correct playlist
  • Automatic device time and correct time zone
  • Enough free storage for guide data
  • Refresh completed without an error

Map channels and correct time

A blank row can mean the playlist channel identifier does not match the guide. A schedule that is consistently early or late usually points to time zone or offset. Change only one mapping or offset setting at a time.

Fix a blank or stale guide

Refresh, clear only guide cache, reattach the source, and compare another trusted player. If the same items remain blank across devices, the provider's guide feed or channel mapping may be incomplete.

  • EPG troubleshooting — Diagnose source, refresh, mapping, time-zone, and provider-feed problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an IPTV EPG?

It is schedule data that a compatible player associates with playlist items, often through XMLTV data or a provider API.

Why is my EPG shifted by hours?

Check the device time zone and player EPG offset. A consistent shift is usually a clock or offset issue.

Can an EPG URL contain private information?

Yes. Treat provider-supplied guide URLs as private credentials and do not post them publicly.