What You’ll Learn
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:
- understand what EPG does in IPTV Buddy
- open EPG from Live TV or Favorites
- understand why Favorites make EPG easier to use
- select or change an EPG channel
- read programme details
- search for programmes
- create Search Jobs
- set reminders for upcoming programmes
- manually update EPG from Settings
Before You Start
EPG works best after you have:
- connected Xtream Codes credentials or added an M3U list
- selected Live TV categories
- added important streams to Favorites
- allowed notification permission if you want reminders
Some IPTV channels may not have matching guide data. If the guide is missing or wrong, you can try selecting an EPG channel manually.
You may also see this feature called IPTV EPG, XMLTV EPG, TV guide, channel mapping, or program guide. In IPTV Buddy, you mainly work with channels, programme details, and reminders.
Tutorial Steps
1. Understand What EPG Means
EPG means electronic program guide.
In IPTV Buddy, EPG shows what is currently live and what is coming next on a live TV channel.
EPG can appear in:
- Live TV stream rows
- favorite lists
- the EPG timeline
- programme detail screens
- search results
- reminders
- Search Jobs
EPG availability depends on the guide data that can be matched to the channel. Not every IPTV channel has usable guide data.
2. Open EPG from Live TV
Open Live TV.
Choose a single category.
When EPG is available for that context, the toolbar shows EPG.
Tap EPG to open the guide view.
Do not use All Live TV Streams for EPG. IPTV Buddy shows that EPG is not available in All Live TV Streams and suggests using Favorites or a single category instead.
3. Open EPG from Favorites
Open Favorites.
Choose a favorite list.
Tap EPG in the toolbar.
The Favorites EPG view shows the timeline for the streams in that list.
From this view, you can:
- jump to Now
- hide or show channels without EPG
- rotate the timeline
- open programme details
Favorites are often the best place for EPG because the list contains only the channels you actually watch.
4. Understand No EPG Available
If a channel has no guide data, IPTV Buddy can show No EPG available.
This can happen when:
- the IPTV provider does not supply guide data for that channel
- the channel name does not match the guide channel automatically
- the selected source is different from the guide entry
- EPG has not been updated yet
- the channel is in All Live TV Streams, where EPG is not available
If the channel is important, try selecting an EPG channel manually.
5. Select or Change an EPG Channel
Open the EPG view for the stream.
If no channel is selected, use Select EPG channel.
If the wrong channel is selected, use Change EPG channel.
Search for the correct channel ID. Type at least two characters so IPTV Buddy can show matching results.
Choose the best match from the result list.
After selecting a channel, reopen the programme view and check whether the guide now matches the stream.
If no match exists, the provider may not have usable EPG data for that channel.
6. Read Programme Details
Tap a programme to open its detail screen.
The detail screen shows what the programme is about and when it airs. It can include the channel, time, title, subtitle, tags, and description when your EPG data provides them.
If the programme is currently live and the stream can be played on the phone, the detail screen can also show Play now.
If the description is long, the app can show Show more.
7. Set a Reminder
Open an upcoming programme.
Tap Set reminder.
If the reminder is active, the button changes to Reminder on.
Depending on the programme start time, the app can offer reminder timing options such as minutes or hours before the programme starts.
Reminder notifications require notification permission. If reminders do not appear, check notification permission from the app setup or your phone settings.
8. Search for Programmes
Open the main EPG page.
Use the search bar to search for a programme title or keyword.
The results list can show upcoming programmes and, when available, a Past programmes section.
Tap a result to open the programme detail screen.
Search is useful when you know a show name but do not know which channel airs it.
9. Create a Search Job
Search Jobs are saved programme searches.
On the EPG page, tap Search Job.
Enter Title / Keywords. The app requires at least two characters.
Optionally enter Channel (optional). If you type a channel name, select one of the channel suggestions when the app requires a match. Otherwise, leave the channel field empty to search across channels.
Tap Save.
IPTV Buddy checks new EPG imports against saved Search Jobs automatically.
Use Search Jobs for recurring interests such as a team name, a show title, a movie title, or a keyword.
10. View Reminders and Search Jobs
When you open the EPG page without a search term, it can show:
- Reminders
- saved Search Jobs
Reminders shows all bookmarked programmes.
A Search Job shows matching programmes for the saved search.
If you no longer need a Search Job, remove it from its action menu.
11. Update EPG Manually
Open Settings.
In the Services section, find EPG.
The app shows Last updated and the current update state.
Tap Update to refresh EPG data.
If the update fails, try again later and check whether your internet connection, account, and provider setup are working.
Manual update helps when guide data looks old, missing, or incomplete after a provider change.
Troubleshooting
A Channel Shows No EPG Available
Try Change EPG channel or Select EPG channel. If no matching result exists, the provider may not supply guide data for that channel.
The Guide Shows the Wrong Programme
The stream may be matched to the wrong EPG channel. Use Change EPG channel and select a better match.
EPG Is Not Available in All Live TV Streams
This is expected. Use Favorites or a single Live TV category.
Reminders Do Not Notify Me
Check notification permission. Programme reminders need notifications to be allowed on the phone.
Search Job Does Not Find Anything
Check the spelling of Title / Keywords. If you entered a Channel, make sure the channel was selected from the suggestions.
FAQ
What does EPG mean?
EPG means electronic program guide. It is the TV guide for live channels.
Why does a channel show No EPG available?
The provider may not supply guide data, or IPTV Buddy may not have a matching guide channel for that stream yet.
How do I fix the wrong guide for a channel?
Open the channel’s EPG view and use Change EPG channel. Search for the correct channel ID and select the best match.
Why is EPG not available in All Live TV Streams?
The app does not provide EPG in All Live TV Streams. Use Favorites or a single category instead.
Do reminders need notification permission?
Yes. Without notification permission, reminders cannot notify you reliably.
What is a Search Job?
A Search Job is a saved EPG search. IPTV Buddy checks new EPG imports against it automatically.
Next tutorial Watch IPTV and Offline Content on Your Phone with IPTV Buddy