What Is an EPG in IPTV? How to Load the TV Guide and Fix Wrong Times
An EPG is the TV guide in your IPTV app. Learn how EPG links work, how to add one, and how to fix missing guides, wrong times and mismatched channels.
You open your IPTV app, the channels play fine, but the TV guide is empty or shows the wrong programmes. The guide is called the EPG, and it is loaded separately from the channels. Once you know how it works, most problems take a minute to fix.
What EPG means
EPG stands for electronic programme guide. It is the grid that shows what is on now and next on each channel. In IPTV, the guide data usually comes as a file in a format called XMLTV, which lists channels and programme times.
Your player app combines two things:
- Your channel list (from an M3U link or an Xtream Codes login)
- The guide data (from an EPG link, or automatically from the Xtream login)
Where the EPG comes from
- Xtream Codes logins usually include the guide automatically. If you log in this way, the EPG should appear after the app finishes loading.
- M3U playlists often need a separate EPG link, typically ending in
.xmlor.xml.gz. Your provider sends this with your login details or shows it in your account area.
How to add an EPG link
The menu names vary between apps, but the steps are similar:
- Open the player app's Settings.
- Look for EPG, TV guide or XMLTV source.
- Choose Add EPG source and paste the link from your provider.
- Select Update EPG or Refresh and wait. Large guides can take a few minutes.
- Return to the TV guide view.
Fixing common EPG problems
The guide is empty
- Refresh the EPG manually in settings.
- Check that the EPG link was typed or pasted completely.
- If you use an M3U playlist, confirm that you added the EPG link at all; it does not always load by itself.
Programme times are a few hours off
The guide data is usually in one time zone, and your app needs to know how to convert it. Look for EPG time offset or time shift and adjust it by the number of hours the guide is wrong. Also check that your device's own time zone is set correctly.
Some channels show no guide, others do
Each channel in your playlist has an ID that must match an ID in the guide file. When a provider renames a channel, the IDs can stop matching. Refresh both the playlist and the EPG. If a channel is still blank, tell your provider which one; they can correct the ID.
The guide is out of date
Set the app to update the EPG automatically every day, or refresh it manually once a day. Guide files usually contain only a few days of programmes.
The app becomes slow after loading the EPG
Very large guides use a lot of memory, especially on older streaming sticks. If your app allows it, hide categories you do not watch, or ask your provider whether a smaller, regional EPG is available.
Why the EPG matters more than it seems
A working guide lets you see what is on without flicking through channels, set reminders, and use catch-up features where your plan includes them. It is also a good sign of a well-run service: providers that maintain accurate guides tend to look after the rest of their service too.
Need help?
Our IPTV plans include an EPG. If yours is not loading, start a chat from the button at the bottom of the page with the name of your player app, and we will walk you through it. New to IPTV? Start with our Fire TV setup guide.