EPG Not Loading — Fix Empty or Wrong TV Guide (2026)
IPTV EPG not loading, wrong programmes, missing channels in the guide, or times off by hours? Fix TiviMate/Smarters guide sync, XMLTV, and timezone offset.
An EPG (electronic programme guide) shows what is on now and next. If live TV plays but the guide is empty, wrong, or shifted by hours, stay on this page. If channels never load at all, use IPTV login errors — Xtream & M3U first. If video freezes, use the IPTV buffering fix.
| Symptom | Jump to |
|---|---|
| Guide empty / “EPG not loading” | EPG not loading |
| Wrong show names vs the live channel | Wrong EPG |
| Some channels missing from the guide | Missing channels |
| Programmes appear hours early or late | Time offset |
EPG not loading (empty guide)
- Confirm the playlist itself has channels — open a live stream first
- In TiviMate: Settings → EPG → update / force refresh, then wait several minutes on first sync
- Confirm your subscription includes guide data for your package (ask support if unsure)
- If you added a custom XMLTV URL, re-paste it carefully — a broken URL blanks the guide
- Clear the player cache and reopen (same idea as in the Fire Stick buffering cache step)
Wrong EPG (mismatched programmes)
Wrong EPG usually means the guide source does not match the channel IDs in your playlist. Do not keep stacking extra XMLTV URLs. Remove custom EPG sources, refresh once with the provider default, and compare one news channel’s “now” title to a known schedule. If only a few channels are wrong, report those channel names to support — global “wrong EPG” after a custom URL almost always means the XMLTV file is for a different lineup.
Missing channels in the EPG
Channels can play while the guide skips them. In TiviMate, check that the channel group is visible (not hidden) and that EPG is enabled for that playlist. Missing entire categories after a login often means the playlist did not fully sync — revisit TiviMate Xtream Codes not working if groups are empty. Prefer a player with strong guide support — see best IPTV players for Android TV.
EPG time offset (wrong timezone)
- Set the Fire Stick / Android TV / phone timezone to your real local zone (not a random travel zone)
- In TiviMate EPG settings, adjust time-shift / offset in 1-hour steps until “now” matches wall-clock time
- Avoid stacking VPN exit countries that disagree with your device timezone while debugging
- After changing offset, force an EPG update once
Still stuck?
Return to the IPTV troubleshooting hub to branch into buffering or login, or message support with: player name, device, whether live TV plays, and a screenshot of the empty/wrong guide (hide credentials).
Channels missing entirely (not just the guide)? Fix login first, then return here for EPG sync.
IPTV login errors checklist