How to Fix EPG Not Working in TiviMate (2026 Guide)

Key Takeaways

• Fix EPG TiviMate issues by verifying the EPG URL, forcing a manual refresh, and clearing the app cache
• Most EPG problems are caused by wrong URLs, outdated data, or cache corruption — all fixable in under 15 minutes
• Setting the correct refresh interval and timezone are critical for EPG accuracy
• TiviMate Premium provides more reliable EPG handling than the free version
• The EPG settings table in this guide covers every relevant TiviMate EPG configuration option

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The Electronic Program Guide (EPG) in TiviMate is one of its most valued features — it transforms a raw channel list into a full TV guide with show schedules, descriptions, and easy browsing. When the EPG stops working, TiviMate feels like a much lesser product. This guide shows you exactly how to fix EPG TiviMate issues step by step.

Quick Fixes (Try First)

1. Force a manual EPG refresh: Settings > EPG > tap the refresh icon or "Refresh Now."
2. Verify your EPG URL is correct: Settings > EPG > check the URL for typos.
3. Clear TiviMate's cache: Device Settings > Apps > TiviMate > Storage > Clear Cache.
4. Restart TiviMate: Close the app completely and reopen.
5. Check your internet connection: EPG data downloads from the internet; ensure you're connected.

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Diagnostic Table: TiviMate EPG Issues

| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix | |---|---|---| | No EPG data on any channel | Wrong EPG URL or EPG never loaded | Verify and re-enter EPG URL, force refresh | | EPG shows old/outdated data | Refresh interval too long or refresh failed | Reduce refresh interval, force manual refresh | | EPG works on some channels only | Partial channel ID mapping | Check XMLTV IDs, re-map channels | | EPG shows wrong times | Incorrect timezone setting | Fix timezone in EPG settings | | EPG loaded yesterday, gone today | Cache cleared or EPG server down | Re-add EPG source, wait for server | | EPG URL accepted but no data loads | URL format wrong, provider issue | Try XMLTV format URL, contact provider | | TiviMate crashes when loading EPG | Large EPG file causing memory issue | Use a more lightweight EPG source | | EPG works in app but doesn't update | Auto-refresh disabled | Enable auto-refresh, set interval |

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Understanding TiviMate EPG: How It Works

Before troubleshooting, it helps to understand how TiviMate handles EPG data. TiviMate downloads Electronic Program Guide data from an external URL — typically in XMLTV format (an XML file containing channel IDs and schedule data). This URL can be provided by your IPTV provider as part of your subscription, or it can be a third-party EPG source.

TiviMate stores this EPG data locally and matches it to channels in your playlist using channel IDs. The quality of your EPG experience depends on:

1. The accuracy and freshness of the EPG URL's data
2. Whether the channel IDs in your EPG file match the channel IDs in your M3U playlist
3. Your refresh interval settings
4. Your timezone configuration

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Step 1: Verify Your EPG URL

The most common cause of missing EPG is a wrong, expired, or malformed URL. Your EPG URL should come from your IPTV provider — check your customer portal for the current EPG/XMLTV URL.

How to check in TiviMate:

1. Open TiviMate and tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines).
2. Go to Settings.
3. Tap Playlists.
4. Select your playlist.
5. Scroll down to see the EPG Source / XMLTV URL field.
6. Compare this URL to the one shown in your provider's customer portal.

Common URL issues:

• Extra spaces at the beginning or end of the URL (can happen when copy-pasting).
• HTTP vs HTTPS mismatch.
• URL that has changed because the provider updated servers.
• Username/password in the URL that has changed after renewal.

How to update the EPG URL:

1. Delete the current URL in the XMLTV field.
2. Copy the fresh URL from your provider's portal.
3. Paste it into TiviMate's XMLTV field.
4. Save and force a refresh.

Pro Tip: Many IPTV providers include the EPG URL on the same page as your M3U URL. When you refresh your M3U URL, always check whether the EPG URL has also changed.

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Step 2: Force a Manual EPG Refresh

Even with the correct URL, TiviMate might be showing stale data if the scheduled auto-refresh hasn't run yet or failed silently.

How to force refresh:

1. Open TiviMate > Settings > EPG (or Playlist Settings > EPG).
2. Look for a "Refresh" or "Update Now" button.
3. Tap it and wait for the refresh to complete. Depending on your EPG file size, this can take 30 seconds to several minutes.
4. A progress indicator should appear. Wait until it says "Done" or disappears.
5. Navigate to any channel and check if EPG data now appears.

If the refresh fails or completes but data still isn't showing, proceed to the next steps.

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Step 3: Check and Fix Timezone Settings

EPG data contains timestamps for when programs air. If TiviMate's timezone setting doesn't match your actual timezone, all EPG times will be offset — shows will appear to air at the wrong time, or in extreme cases, EPG data from the "wrong day" might display.

How to check timezone in TiviMate:

1. Settings > EPG > Timezone (or Time Offset).
2. Ensure your timezone matches your physical location. For US users:
   • Eastern: UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT during daylight saving)
   • Central: UTC-6 / UTC-5 (CDT)
   • Mountain: UTC-7 / UTC-6 (MDT)
   • Pacific: UTC-8 / UTC-7 (PDT)
3. Adjust the timezone offset if incorrect.
4. Force a manual EPG refresh after changing timezone settings.

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Step 4: Clear TiviMate Cache and Data

Corrupted cache data can prevent EPG from loading or displaying correctly, even when all settings are correct.

Clearing cache (recommended first step):

1. Exit TiviMate completely.
2. On Fire Stick: Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > TiviMate > Clear Cache.
3. On Android: Settings > Apps > TiviMate > Storage > Clear Cache.
4. Reopen TiviMate and force an EPG refresh.

Clearing data (more drastic — resets all settings):

1. Same path as above but tap "Clear Data" instead of "Clear Cache."
2. Warning: This resets all TiviMate settings including your playlists. You will need to re-add your M3U URL and EPG URL.
3. After re-adding your playlist and EPG URL, force a manual refresh.

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Step 5: Set the Correct EPG Refresh Interval

If EPG works initially but goes stale or disappears after a day, your refresh interval setting might be the issue.

Recommended TiviMate EPG settings:

| Setting | Recommended Value | Notes | |---|---|---| | EPG Refresh Interval | 24 hours | Balance between freshness and server load | | Refresh Time | 3:00 AM - 6:00 AM | Refresh when not actively watching | | Days to Load | 7 days | Enough for a week of guide data | | EPG Load on Startup | Enabled | Ensures guide is fresh when you start | | Show Empty Channels | Disabled | Hides channels with no EPG data | | Time Offset | Match your timezone | Critical for correct schedule times |

Setting refresh interval:

1. TiviMate > Settings > EPG > Refresh Interval.
2. Choose 24 hours for standard use, or 12 hours if your provider updates EPG data frequently.
3. Set the refresh time to overnight so it doesn't interrupt viewing.

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Step 6: Fix EPG Channel Mapping

If EPG works for some channels but not others, the issue is likely XMLTV ID matching. TiviMate matches EPG data to channels by comparing channel IDs in your M3U playlist with channel IDs in your EPG file. If these IDs don't match for certain channels, those channels will show no EPG data.

How to manually map channels:

1. In TiviMate, navigate to the channel with missing EPG.
2. Long-press the channel to access channel settings.
3. Look for "EPG Source" or "XMLTV ID" option.
4. Manually search for the correct channel name in the XMLTV database and assign it.
5. This may need to be done for each channel with missing EPG.

Note: If dozens of channels are unmapped, this is a systematic issue with your provider's XMLTV IDs not matching their M3U IDs. Contact your provider and ask them for an EPG URL that matches their playlist.

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Step 7: Try an Alternative EPG Source

If your provider's EPG URL is consistently problematic, third-party EPG sources can be a reliable alternative.

Popular EPG sources:

• EPG Share — Large XMLTV database covering many providers
• i.mjh.nz — Well-maintained XMLTV data
• EPGX — Community-maintained EPG data

To use an alternative EPG source, you'll need to find the XMLTV IDs used by that source and ensure they match your channel list. This is an advanced step — easier options like contacting your provider or reinstalling TiviMate should be tried first.

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Step 8: Reinstall TiviMate

If all else fails, a clean reinstallation often resolves EPG issues that don't respond to other fixes.

Steps:

1. Note down your M3U URL, EPG URL, and any custom settings.
2. Uninstall TiviMate from your device.
3. Restart the device.
4. Reinstall TiviMate from your app store (Amazon App Store for Fire Stick, Google Play for Android).
5. Re-enter your M3U URL and EPG URL.
6. Force an EPG refresh.
7. Wait 2-3 minutes for all EPG data to load.

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Complete TiviMate EPG Settings Reference

| Setting | Location | Purpose | Recommended Value | |---|---|---|---| | XMLTV URL | Settings > Playlists > [Playlist] > EPG Source | Source of EPG data | Your provider's EPG URL | | Refresh Interval | Settings > EPG | How often EPG refreshes | 24 hours | | Refresh Time | Settings > EPG | When auto-refresh runs | 3:00-6:00 AM | | Timezone / Time Offset | Settings > EPG | Correct time display | Your local timezone | | Days to Load | Settings > EPG | How many days of guide | 7 days | | Load on App Start | Settings > EPG | Refresh when opening app | Enabled | | Show Without EPG | Settings > Channels | Show channels with no guide | Your preference | | XMLTV Channel ID | Long-press channel > settings | Manual channel-EPG mapping | Match to EPG source |

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Conclusion

Fixing EPG in TiviMate is a step-by-step process that starts with the most common causes and works toward more complex solutions. In the vast majority of cases, verifying your EPG URL and forcing a manual refresh solves the problem in under five minutes. For persistent issues, the diagnostic table at the top of this article helps you pinpoint the exact cause.

For help with a different IPTV app, see our companion guide on fixing EPG in IPTV Smarters Pro, which covers the Smarters-specific EPG configuration process. If your IPTV has broader issues beyond EPG, our comprehensive guide to IPTV not working causes and solutions covers the full range of possible problems.