What You’ll Learn
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:
- open Live TV on the TV app
- understand favorite playlists and channel lists
- start playback in preview or fullscreen
- use remote keys for navigation and channel changes
- open the favorites EPG from Live TV
- use Live TV history
- switch alternative streams when available
- understand the most common Live TV messages
Before You Start
Live TV on the TV app depends on synced favorites. Create or manage favorites in the IPTV Buddy mobile app or in the Web Editor at https://editor.iptvbuddy.app.
If Live TV is empty after pairing, check the active profile, resync the profile, and confirm that the provider credentials or M3U list still work on the phone.
Tutorial Steps
1. Open the Live TV Category
Select Live TV in the main TV navigation.
If favorites are available, the middle list shows favorite groups or playlists. When you select a group, the right list shows the available channels for that group.
If no Live TV entries exist, IPTV Buddy shows that favorites should be managed in the mobile app or Web Editor.
2. Understand the TV Layout
The Live TV layout uses three areas:
- left: main navigation
- middle: favorite groups or playlists
- right: channels inside the selected group
When a channel is highlighted, the app can show preview playback or program information, depending on the Live TV preview setting and the available stream/EPG data.
3. Move With the Remote
Use the remote directional buttons to move between columns and entries.
General behavior:
- Up and Down move through the current list.
- Left and Right move between navigation, playlist, and channel areas when available.
- OK / Enter selects the focused item.
- Back leaves the current detail, overlay, or playback state.
During fullscreen Live TV, Channel Up and Channel Down can move to neighboring channels. The exact hardware key names depend on the remote.
4. Start a Live TV Channel
Select a channel from the right list and press OK.
The result depends on Settings > Features > Live TV preview:
- Start live TV in preview: selecting a channel starts preview playback first.
- Start live TV in fullscreen: selecting a channel starts fullscreen playback.
- Disable live TV preview: preview is disabled; Live TV playback opens directly instead of using the preview area.
If the selected stream has no valid stream address, IPTV Buddy shows that the stream cannot be started right now because no valid stream address is available.
5. Go From Preview to Fullscreen
When Live TV starts in preview, press OK on the active preview/channel to open fullscreen playback.
Fullscreen playback gives access to the playback overlay, EPG action, stream switching, audio tracks, subtitles, Timeshift controls, and channel zapping.
6. Open the Favorites EPG
Open Live TV, select a favorite group, and choose SHOW EPG at the top of the channel list.
SHOW EPG opens the timeline for the selected favorites. Use it to browse current and upcoming programs, open program details, start live playback, or create recordings for programs that have not ended.
If the selected favorites have no EPG data for the time window, the app can show No EPG data is currently available for these favorites in the selected time window.
7. Use Live TV History
If the TV has recently watched channels, Live TV can show History.
Open History to see recently watched channels. The first item can be Clear history. Select it to remove the Live TV history from the synced TV/account state.
History is useful when users often switch between the same channels but do not want to browse through favorite groups each time.
8. Switch Alternative Streams
Some channels have more than one stream source. In fullscreen playback, open the overlay and choose Change stream.
Use this when:
- one stream is buffering
- one stream has the wrong language
- one stream is offline
- a channel has several provider source variants
If no alternatives exist, the app shows No alternative streams available. If the selected alternative has no usable URL, the app shows that the source cannot be started right now because no valid stream address is available.
The selected stream source can be synced, so the TV can remember source choices across the account state when sync is available.
9. Show Current Program in the Channel List
Open Settings > Appearance > Show EPG overview.
When enabled, the channel list can show current EPG information next to channels. This helps users identify what is currently running before opening fullscreen playback.
If a channel has no matching EPG data, the app can show a short No EPG state or no program information for that channel.
10. Show or Hide Channel Logos
Open Settings > Appearance > Show channel logos.
When enabled, Live TV lists can show channel logos if they are available in the synced profile data. If logos are missing from the provider or playlist data, the setting cannot create them automatically.
11. Understand Common Live TV Messages
Important messages to explain:
- No live TV entries yet: favorites are missing for this profile.
- Stream available only with an active VPN connection: TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled and the TV has no active VPN.
- VPN disconnected - preview stopped: VPN was lost while preview playback was running.
- Could not start preview: preview playback failed.
- No alternative streams available: the channel has no other source to switch to.
- No valid stream address: the selected source has no playable URL right now.
Troubleshooting
Live TV Is Empty
Create favorites in the mobile app or Web Editor, verify the active TV profile, and run Settings > Profile > Resync current profile.
A Channel Opens Fullscreen Instead of Preview
Check Settings > Features > Live TV preview. Start live TV in fullscreen and Disable live TV preview both avoid the preview-first behavior.
Preview Stops When VPN Disconnects
TV VPN Kill Switch blocks playback without VPN when enabled. Reconnect the VPN on the TV or disable TV VPN Kill Switch for that TV device.
Change Stream Shows No Alternatives
The selected channel has only one known stream source. Manage provider/favorite data on the phone or in the Web Editor if another source should be available.
FAQ
Why Do I Not See All Provider Channels on TV?
The TV app is designed around organized favorites. Add channels to favorites in the mobile app or Web Editor, then resync the profile on TV.
What Is SHOW EPG?
SHOW EPG opens the program timeline for the selected Live TV favorites. From there users can open program details, start playback, or schedule recordings.
Can I Use Channel Up and Channel Down?
Yes, during fullscreen Live TV the app supports channel navigation for neighboring channels when the remote sends channel key events.
What Does Live TV Preview Change?
Live TV preview controls whether a selected channel starts in the preview area first, opens fullscreen immediately, or avoids preview mode.
Why Is My Stream Blocked by VPN?
TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled. The TV must have an active VPN connection before IPTV Buddy starts playback or preview.
Next tutorial Use the EPG and TV Guide on Your TV