Introduction
If you are using TiviMate as your primary IPTV player on Firestick, Android TV, or NVIDIA Shield, you already know it is one of the most polished IPTV applications available. However, even the best IPTV player becomes frustrating when your channel list has no program information. Without a properly configured Electronic Program Guide (EPG), you are essentially channel-surfing blind — clicking through channels hoping to find something worth watching.
An accurate EPG transforms your IPTV experience. It shows you what is currently playing, what is coming up next, and lets you browse scheduled programming just like a traditional cable or satellite TV guide. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up, configuring, and troubleshooting the EPG in TiviMate on Firestick and Android TV devices in 2026.
Whether you are a new TiviMate user or have been using it for years but struggled with missing or inaccurate TV listings, this guide has you covered. We will also touch on how services like WinOTT provide reliable IPTV streams that work seamlessly with TiviMate’s EPG features.
What Is an EPG and Why Is It Essential for IPTV?
EPG stands for Electronic Program Guide. It is essentially the digital equivalent of a printed TV schedule. When properly configured, the EPG displays the name, description, start time, and duration of each program airing on your IPTV channels. Without it, you see only the channel name and perhaps a generic “Now Playing” label.
The Benefits of a Working EPG
- See what is playing before you tune in — Browse programs by category, genre, or time slot without switching channels.
- Discover new content — The EPG highlights upcoming movies, sports events, and shows you might otherwise miss.
- Plan your viewing schedule — Look ahead at the next few hours or even days to plan what to watch.
- Record shows — TiviMate’s recording (PVR) features require a working EPG to schedule timed recordings.
- Parental control — With proper program metadata, you can identify and block mature content more effectively.
In short, an EPG is not a luxury — it is a necessity for anyone serious about IPTV. Many users give up on IPTV because they find the lack of program information frustrating. The good news is that setting up the EPG in TiviMate is straightforward once you know where to look.
How to Set Up EPG in TiviMate on Firestick and Android TV
Setting up the EPG in TiviMate depends on how you load your channels. TiviMate supports two primary methods for importing channel lists: Xtream Codes API and M3U URL. Each method handles EPG data differently. Below we cover both approaches step by step.
Method 1: EPG Setup via Xtream Codes API (Recommended)
The Xtream Codes API method is the easiest and most reliable way to get a complete EPG in TiviMate. Most premium IPTV providers, including WinOTT, support Xtream Codes. When you use this method, the EPG data is automatically pulled alongside your channel list.
- Open TiviMate on your Firestick or Android TV device.
- Vai a Impostazioni (gear icon) and select Playlists.
- Tap Add Playlist and choose Codici Xtream.
- Entra nel Server URL, Nome utente, E Password provided by your IPTV service. You can find these details in your WinOTT account dashboard or from any Xtream-compatible provider.
- TiviMate will automatically fetch your channel list and EPG data. This process typically takes 10–30 seconds depending on your playlist size.
- Once complete, go back to the main screen and press the Up button on your remote to open the EPG view. You should now see program listings for all your channels.
Method 2: EPG Setup via M3U URL
If your IPTV provider supplies an M3U URL instead of Xtream Codes credentials, you can still get EPG data — but you will need to configure it separately in most cases.
- In TiviMate, go to Settings → Playlists → Add Playlist → M3U Playlist.
- Enter your URL M3U and give the playlist a name.
- After the playlist loads, go to Settings → EPG.
- Tap Add EPG Source and enter the EPG URL provided by your IPTV service. This is usually an XMLTV or JSON file link. Many providers include this in their M3U header comments — look for lines starting with
#EXTM3U url-tvg="https://...". - Once added, go back to the EPG settings and select Assign EPG. Choose the EPG source you just added and map it to your playlist.
- TiviMate will now download and display the program guide data. Press Up on your remote to see the EPG view.
If you are new to IPTV and need help getting started, check out our complete IPTV installation guide for step-by-step instructions covering Firestick, Smart TV, Android, and iOS devices.
Configuring EPG Display Settings in TiviMate
Once the EPG data is loaded, you can customize how it looks and behaves. TiviMate offers several display options that make the program guide more readable and enjoyable to use.
EPG Style Options
- Classic Style — A traditional grid layout showing channels vertically and time horizontally. Best for seeing a broad overview of what is airing.
- Modern Style — A cleaner, more visual layout with larger program cards. Great for touchscreen remotes and larger TV screens.
- Compact Style — Shows more channels per screen by reducing the amount of information displayed. Useful for large channel lists.
Customizing EPG Appearance
Navigate to Settings → Appearance → EPG to access customization options:
- Number of hours to show — Choose between 2, 3, 4, or 6 hours of program data visible at once.
- Show channel numbers — Toggle whether channel numbers appear next to channel names.
- Show program descriptions — Display program synopsis text in the EPG grid.
- Progress bar — Shows how much of a program has elapsed, making it easy to see what is worth tuning into.
- Category colors — Assign color tags to channel groups (e.g., Sports in blue, Movies in red, News in green) for quicker navigation.
For Firestick users, we also recommend checking out our Firestick IPTV tutorials collection for additional tips on optimizing your streaming experience.
Troubleshooting Common EPG Issues in TiviMate
Even after following the setup steps above, you may encounter some issues. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.
EPG Shows “No Information” for All Channels
This usually means the EPG source URL is incorrect or has not been properly assigned. Go to Settings → EPG and verify that your EPG source is listed and shows a recent “Last Update” timestamp. If it says “Never,” tap the source and select Update EPG. If the update fails, contact your IPTV provider to confirm the correct EPG URL.
EPG Data Is Wrong or Misaligned
Incorrect time offsets are the most common cause of misaligned EPG data. Go to Settings → EPG → Time Offset and adjust the offset in hours. If you are UTC+2, set it to +2. If your provider uses UTC for their EPG data, you may need to match your local timezone offset. Some providers also embed timezone information in the EPG file — in that case, leave the offset at 0.
EPG Loads Slowly or Not at All
Large EPG files (some providers have 50,000+ program entries) can slow down TiviMate. Solutions include:
- Ensure you are on a stable internet connection. We recommend using a premium IPTV service like WinOTT that provides optimized, lightweight EPG files.
- Clear the EPG cache: Settings → EPG → Clear EPG Cache and reload.
- Restart TiviMate and your device.
- If the issue persists, try using an external EPG proxy service that filters and optimizes the EPG data for TiviMate.
Some Channels Have EPG Data While Others Don’t
This typically happens when you are using an M3U playlist with a separate EPG source and not all channels are mapped correctly. Go to Settings → EPG → Assign EPG and check that your EPG source is assigned to the correct playlist. If using multiple EPG sources, ensure each one covers the right channel groups.
EPG Data Is Outdated
TiviMate updates EPG data automatically every few hours, but you can force an update at any time. Go to Settings → EPG → Update EPG Now. If you notice that some programs are missing or incorrect after updating, the issue is likely on your provider’s end. Contact their support team to report the problem.
Advanced Tips for the Best EPG Experience
Use Multiple EPG Sources
TiviMate supports loading EPG data from multiple sources simultaneously. This is useful if your provider’s EPG is incomplete for certain channels. You can add a secondary EPG source (such as an open EPG repository like EPGshare or XMLTV-France) and assign it to specific channel groups. TiviMate will merge the data, prioritizing the source you assign first.
Enable Auto-Update for EPG
In Settings → EPG → Auto Update, you can set TiviMate to refresh EPG data periodically. We recommend setting it to every 4–6 hours for the best balance between fresh data and performance. For Firestick devices with limited RAM, consider a 6-hour interval to avoid slowdowns.
Pair EPG with TiviMate Recording (PVR)
One of the most powerful features of TiviMate is its built-in PVR (Personal Video Recorder) functionality, which relies entirely on accurate EPG data to schedule recordings. Once your EPG is set up correctly, you can:
- Long-press the OK/Select button on any program in the EPG.
- Scegliere Record to schedule a one-time recording.
- Selezionare Record Series to record every episode of a show.
- Access your recordings from the main menu under Recordings.
Use a VPN for Better Performance
For the best IPTV experience overall, including faster EPG loading and reduced buffering, we recommend using a reliable VPN. Many ISPs throttle IPTV traffic, which can also affect EPG data retrieval. A good VPN encrypts your traffic and helps prevent throttling, ensuring your EPG data loads quickly and stays accurate.
Conclusione
Setting up the EPG in TiviMate is one of the most important steps in creating a polished, cable-like IPTV experience. With a properly configured Electronic Program Guide, you no longer have to guess what is playing on your channels. You can browse scheduled programming, discover new shows, plan recordings, and enjoy your IPTV subscription to the fullest.
Whether you use Xtream Codes or M3U URLs, TiviMate makes it straightforward to load and configure EPG data. If you run into issues, the troubleshooting steps above should resolve the vast majority of problems. Remember that the quality of your EPG depends heavily on your IPTV provider. Services like WinOTT prioritize EPG accuracy and provide well-maintained, up-to-date program data for their channel lineup.
Now that your EPG is configured, take a moment to explore TiviMate’s EPG view — you might be surprised at how much content you have been missing without a proper program guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TiviMate have a built-in EPG?
Yes, TiviMate has a built-in EPG system that can display program data from Xtream Codes API, M3U playlists with embedded EPG URLs, or standalone XMLTV/JSON EPG sources. The EPG data is downloaded directly from your IPTV provider’s servers and displayed in TiviMate’s intuitive program guide interface.
Why is my TiviMate EPG not showing any data?
The most common causes are: incorrect EPG URL, EPG source not assigned to your playlist, outdated EPG cache, or a temporary issue with your IPTV provider’s EPG server. Try updating the EPG manually via Settings → EPG → Update EPG Now. If that does not work, verify your EPG URL with your provider and ensure it is correctly entered.
Can I use a free EPG source with TiviMate?
Yes, there are several free EPG sources available online such as EPGshare, XMLTV-France, and IPTV-EPG repositories on GitHub. However, free EPG sources are often incomplete, outdated, or unreliable. For the best experience, we recommend using the EPG data provided by your IPTV subscription service, as it is tailored to your specific channel lineup.
How do I fix wrong program times in TiviMate EPG?
Wrong program times are usually a timezone offset issue. Go to Settings → EPG → Time Offset and adjust the offset in hours (+ or -) until the program times match your local time. If the problem persists, your IPTV provider may have incorrect time data in their EPG files — contact their support team for assistance.
Can I have multiple EPG sources in TiviMate?
Yes, TiviMate supports multiple EPG sources. You can add several EPG URLs and assign them to different playlists or channel groups. This is particularly useful if you want to supplement your provider’s EPG with additional data for specific channels or regions.
