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.
When an IPTV EPG is not working, the channels usually play fine but the guide is empty, stuck, or shows the wrong times. The cause is nearly always the guide file itself: a missing or wrong XMLTV address, channels that do not match the guide’s channel IDs, a guide that has not refreshed, or a time offset. Check the guide address first, then force a manual update.
The electronic program guide (EPG) is a separate download from your channel list. Most players read it in the XMLTV format, and the address is often supplied by your provider next to the playlist link.
Why is my IPTV EPG not loading or showing “no information”?
| What you see | Usual cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| Guide completely empty | No guide address, or the address is dead | Open the guide URL in a browser |
| Some channels have guide data, others “no information” | Channel IDs in the playlist do not match the guide | Re-match channels or ask the provider for the right guide |
| Guide stopped updating days ago | Refresh failed or the source stopped publishing | Update manually, then check the guide URL |
| Times are off by one or more hours | Time zone offset between guide and device | Use the app’s time-shift setting |
| Guide loads very slowly | Huge guide file or a slow device | Wait, then try a smaller regional guide |
How do you fix an IPTV EPG that is not loading?
- Find the guide URL. Your provider usually lists an XMLTV or EPG link. With Xtream Codes logins, many apps build it automatically; with an M3U playlist you often have to paste it yourself. See Xtream Codes vs M3U.
- Open the guide URL in a browser on a computer. It should download an XML or compressed XML file. An error page or an empty file means the source is the problem, not your player.
- Run a manual guide update in the app and wait a few minutes. Large guides take time on a Fire TV Stick.
- Check storage and the device clock. A nearly full device and a wrong date both stop the guide from saving.
- Remove the guide source and add it again. Stale cached data is a common reason for a stuck guide.
- Ask your provider which guide source matches your channel list. A guide from a different source will not match the channel IDs, however well it downloads.
Why is my IPTV EPG not updating?
Most players refresh the guide on a schedule, usually when the app opens or at set intervals. If the refresh fails silently, the grid just keeps showing yesterday’s data. Force an update, then watch for an error message. Guides can also stop updating when the provider changes its guide address, and your old saved link goes dead without warning. An address that worked last month and fails now is a strong hint.
Why are the EPG times wrong?
If the programmes are all shifted by the same number of hours, you have a time zone offset. The guide is published in one zone and your device shows another. Programmes that are off by random amounts are a different problem: mismatched data.
The fix for a constant offset is a time-shift setting. eKoPlayer’s XMLTV guide support includes a time-shift in whole hours for guides that run early or late, so a guide that is 3 hours early can be shifted back 3 hours. It only does whole hours, so a guide that is off by 30 minutes needs fixing at the source. Other players have their own offset options; look in the guide or playlist settings.
App notes: TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, XCIPTV and Kodi
TiviMate (Android TV and Fire TV) keeps the guide as a separate source from the playlist. A “tivimate epg no information” result usually means no guide source is set, or the channels have not matched. Update the playlist and the guide separately. More in TiviMate not working.
IPTV Smarters typically loads the guide with the Xtream login. If channels play and the guide is empty, the provider may not publish a guide for that login, or the build you have is a clone that handles it differently. See IPTV Smarters not working.
XCIPTV can load a guide through the Xtream login or a separate XMLTV link. If the guide is blank, add the link in the guide section and refresh. See XCIPTV not working.
Kodi uses the official “PVR IPTV Simple Client” add-on. The M3U playlist and the XMLTV guide are two separate fields in the add-on settings, so a missing guide often means the second field is empty. Kodi may need a restart after you change them. See the Kodi IPTV page for how it compares with other players.
Is it the app or the provider?
Load the same playlist and guide link into a second player. If the guide shows up there, your first app has a setting or cache problem. If the guide is empty in both, the guide source is at fault, and the provider needs to send a working link.
eKoPlayer is a quick way to run that test: its 7-day free trial starts by itself and needs no account or email. It ships empty, so you add your own M3U, M3U8 or Xtream Codes details and your XMLTV link. It runs on Android, Android TV, Google TV, Fire OS Fire TV devices, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Samsung TVs from 2021. It does not run on LG yet, on Amazon Vega OS devices, Roku, Windows or Mac. It has catch-up where your provider supports it, but no recording. Read the eKoPlayer review for the details.
When should you switch players for the guide?
If the guide is fine in a second player and fails in yours, and you have fixed the cache and sources, a switch is reasonable. If it fails everywhere, switching will not help and you should talk to your provider. For catch-up that depends on guide data, see IPTV catch-up not working.
Frequently asked questions
What is an XMLTV EPG?
It is the guide file format most IPTV players read. The XML file lists channels and programmes with start and stop times.
Why do some channels show “no information”?
Their IDs in the playlist usually do not match anything in the guide. Ask your provider for a guide that matches the list.
How often should the guide update?
It depends on the app and on how often the source publishes. A manual update tells you quickly whether the source works.
Can I use a free guide from the internet?
You can, but channel IDs rarely match. Stick with the guide link your provider supplies.
My EPG is correct but an hour off. What now?
That is a whole-hour offset. Use your player’s time-shift option. eKoPlayer’s setting shifts in whole hours.