Last updated: November 10, 2026. Disclosure: Mayolia and eKoPlayer have the same owner. We recommend it where it fits and say where other options are better.
IPTV catch-up doesn’t work for one of four reasons: your provider hasn’t enabled archive (also called timeshift or TV archive) on that channel, your guide data doesn’t match the channel, the time zone or guide offset is off, or your app doesn’t support catch-up for your login type. A player can only replay what the provider’s server has stored, so most fixes start with the provider, not the app.
Below is how to tell which of the four you have, and what to change.
What is IPTV catch-up and how does it work?
Catch-up lets you replay a programme that already aired, usually for a few days. The player sends a request to the provider’s server asking for “this channel, this start time”. If the server kept a recording of that channel, it answers with the video. If not, you get an error, a black screen or nothing at all.
Two things have to line up. The server must store the channel (the provider’s archive), and your app must know exactly when each programme started (the guide). Our what is IPTV guide explains the basics if you’re new.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No catch-up icon on any channel | Your login type or app doesn’t support it, or the provider offers none | Check the plan with the provider; try Xtream Codes login |
| Icon on some channels, not others | Archive is only enabled per channel | Ask the provider which channels have archive |
| Replay starts the wrong programme | EPG time offset or time zone mismatch | Adjust guide time shift |
| Replay works for a day, not for a week | Archive window is short | Ask how many days are stored |
| Guide is empty so catch-up is greyed out | EPG not loading or not matched | Fix the guide first |
| Starts, then errors or buffers | Server load or stream issue | Try later; test another app |
Why is catch-up not working on some channels?
Archive is a server-side setting, switched on channel by channel. Providers often store only a selection of channels, and many store none. Your app can show a catch-up icon or a “play from the beginning” option on every channel in a guide, yet the server only answers for the ones with archive on.
Ask your provider three things, using these exact words: which channels have archive enabled, how many days are stored, and whether catch-up works with the login type you use (Xtream Codes or M3U). Some providers support it through Xtream Codes only, because an Xtream login hands the app the channel ID and archive details automatically. A plain M3U playlist needs the right catch-up tags in it, and many don’t have them. Our Xtream Codes vs M3U guide covers the difference.
How does the EPG affect catch-up?
The programme guide tells your app when each show began and ended. If the guide is missing, matched to the wrong channel or shifted by an hour, catch-up asks the server for the wrong time slot. You get a different programme, or nothing.
- Open the guide for the channel. Does it show correct programme names for the current time?
- If the guide is empty or shows the wrong shows, fix that first. Our IPTV EPG not working guide walks through it.
- If the names are right but the times are an hour or more off, adjust the time shift (next section).
A guide URL (XMLTV) is often provided by the provider. If you added a third-party guide on top, channel IDs may not line up with the provider’s archive, and catch-up will fail even though the guide looks fine.
How do I fix a time zone or guide offset problem?
Symptoms: you pick a 7 PM show and the replay starts at 6 PM or 8 PM. That’s a time zone or offset error, usually between the guide, the provider’s server (often set to another country’s time) and your device.
- Check your device’s date, time and time zone are set to automatic.
- In your player, find the guide or EPG time shift (it may be called “EPG offset”, “time shift” or “timezone”). Set it by whole hours until the programme in the guide matches the real start.
- If the live guide is right but replay is off, ask the provider what time zone their archive uses. Some servers record in their own local time.
- Test with a programme that began a few hours ago, which is easier to judge than one from three days back.
eKoPlayer, for example, lets you shift the XMLTV guide by whole hours for guides that run early or late. Other players have an equivalent in their EPG settings.
Which IPTV apps support catch-up?
Support differs by app and by how you log in. Based on each app’s official listing:
| App | Catch-up | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TiviMate | Its Google Play listing names catch-up | Android TV and Fire TV; depends on provider |
| eKoPlayer | Yes, where the provider supports it | No recording; one licence per device |
| Kodi with PVR IPTV Simple Client | Needs correct playlist catch-up tags | More setup; see Kodi guide |
| VLC | No guide grid, so no practical catch-up | Plays a channel URL only |
For other apps, check the developer’s own page before assuming support. We haven’t verified the catch-up feature for every player on the market, so we don’t list them here.
Also note that catch-up is different from recording. Catch-up replays what the provider stored. Recording saves a show to your device. eKoPlayer has no recording or DVR. TiviMate’s Google Play listing names recording.
Is it the app or the provider?
Test the same channel in a second player using the same login. Pick a programme from a few hours ago.
- Works in the second player: the first app has a guide offset or login-type issue.
- Fails in both with an error or black screen: the provider isn’t storing that channel, or the archive window has passed.
- Works on one channel, not another, in every app: archive is per-channel; ask the provider.
eKoPlayer’s 7-day free trial starts by itself and needs no account or email, so you can run the test without buying anything. It ships empty; add your own M3U, M3U8 or Xtream Codes details. It runs on Android phones and tablets, Android TV and Google TV, Fire OS devices (sideload with Downloader, code 2976056), iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Samsung smart TVs from 2021 on. It’s not on Roku, Windows or Mac, no LG app yet, and it can’t be installed on Amazon Vega OS devices. After the trial: $5 for one year or $10 once, per device.
If catch-up fails in every player, you need the provider to enable archive. No app change will create it.
What if I want to rewatch shows from a licensed service?
Licensed live-TV services such as Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Philo have their own apps with their own replay and DVR features. Use those apps for that. Content you stream through an IPTV player must come from sources you’re authorised to use; see is IPTV legal.
Frequently asked questions
Why does catch-up show the wrong programme?
The guide time and the server time don’t match. Change the EPG time shift in your player by whole hours until the programme times are correct.
How many days of catch-up should I expect?
It depends entirely on the provider. Some store a day or two, others a week or more, and many none. Ask them.
Does catch-up work with M3U playlists?
Sometimes. A plain M3U needs catch-up tags in its entries; an Xtream Codes login usually gives the app what it needs automatically.
Can I record shows with IPTV apps?
Some apps can. eKoPlayer cannot. Check each app’s listing.