What You’ll Learn
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:
- enable or disable Timeshift
- pause and resume Live TV when Timeshift is available
- rewind and fast-forward within the available Timeshift buffer
- open the fullscreen playback overlay
- switch stream sources when alternatives exist
- select audio tracks and subtitles
- understand how VOD, series, and recording playback differ from Live TV
- understand common playback messages
Before You Start
Timeshift depends on Live TV playback and local buffering on the TV device. It is not the same as recording and it does not create a permanent saved program.
Playback can also be affected by provider credentials, provider connection limits, stream availability, TV VPN Kill Switch, and whether the selected stream exposes audio/subtitle tracks.
Tutorial Steps
1. Enable Timeshift
Open Settings > Features > Enable timeshift.
When enabled, the TV app can create a temporary local Live TV buffer during fullscreen Live TV playback. This makes pause and rewind possible when the stream and device support it.
When disabled, Live TV behaves closer to normal live playback. Users can still watch channels, but Timeshift-specific pause and rewind behavior is not available.
2. Start Live TV Playback
Open Live TV, select a favorite group, choose a channel, and start fullscreen playback.
Timeshift is a fullscreen Live TV feature. It is not part of the Live TV preview area, VOD playback, or series playback.
If Live TV preview is enabled, first open the channel in preview and then enter fullscreen playback.
3. Open the Fullscreen Overlay
During fullscreen playback, press OK / Enter to show the playback overlay when it is hidden.
The overlay can contain actions such as:
- EPG, when EPG is available for the current program
- Change stream, when the playback context supports source switching
- Audio track, when audio tracks are available
- Subtitles, when subtitle tracks are available
- playback and Timeshift controls
Back closes the overlay or leaves the current playback state, depending on what is currently focused.
4. Pause and Resume Live TV
When Timeshift is enabled and supported for the current Live TV stream:
- press OK / Enter to show the overlay
- use the pause/play action, or press the remote Play/Pause media key
- resume playback with Play/Pause or the overlay action
The pause position exists only inside the temporary Timeshift buffer. If the buffer is lost, the app may return to the live edge.
5. Rewind and Fast-Forward
Timeshift supports movement inside the available Live TV buffer.
Remote behavior:
- Left, Rewind, Previous, or L1 moves farther behind live.
- Right, Fast Forward, Next, or R1 moves back toward the live edge.
Users cannot seek before the buffered window starts and cannot seek beyond the live edge. If the app is already at the live edge, fast-forward has no visible effect.
6. Understand Timeshift vs. Recording
Timeshift:
- is temporary
- is used while watching Live TV
- helps pause, rewind, and resume live playback
- depends on the active playback session and local buffer
Recording:
- creates a saved local recording entry
- can be scheduled from EPG
- can be played later if a recording file or playable runtime is available
- has its own storage, status, and repair flows
Treat Timeshift as a temporary playback buffer, not as permanent storage or a replacement for scheduled recordings.
7. Change Stream Source
In fullscreen Live TV, open the overlay and choose Change stream.
Change stream is useful when a channel has alternative sources and one of them is slow, offline, or in the wrong variant.
If the channel has no alternatives, the app shows No alternative streams available. If the chosen source has no playable URL, IPTV Buddy shows that the selected source cannot be started right now because no valid stream address is available.
8. Change Audio Track
Open the playback overlay and choose Audio track.
If more than one audio track is available, IPTV Buddy shows Select audio track. Track labels can come from the stream. If a label is unknown, the app can show Default or a numbered track such as Track 1.
If no audio track can be selected, the app shows No audio track available.
9. Turn Subtitles On or Off
Open the playback overlay and choose Subtitles.
If subtitle tracks are available, IPTV Buddy shows Select subtitles. Users can choose a subtitle track or No subtitles to turn subtitles off.
If no subtitle track is available, the app shows No subtitles available. Subtitle availability depends entirely on the stream.
10. Playback for VOD and Series
VOD and series playback are not Timeshift playback.
For movies and episodes, the player uses normal on-demand controls and can store Continue Watching progress. Series playback can also expose episode controls and auto-next behavior depending on the current episode and available data.
Audio tracks and subtitles can still be available for VOD and series if the stream exposes them.
11. Playback for Running Recordings
A running recording can be playable only when IPTV Buddy has a playable recording runtime or enough recorded data available.
Seeking is limited to available recorded data. While a running recording is being played, channel zapping and source switching are disabled so the active recording session is not disturbed.
12. Understand Common Playback Messages
Important messages to explain:
- No alternative streams available: there is no source to switch to.
- No valid stream address: the selected source currently has no playable URL.
- No audio track available: the stream exposes no selectable audio track.
- No subtitles available: the stream exposes no selectable subtitle track.
- EPG only with VPN: TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled and VPN is missing.
- Stream available only with an active VPN connection: playback is blocked by TV VPN Kill Switch.
- The stream cannot be started because there is no valid IPTV Buddy subscription for this TV device: the account/subscription state must be checked on the phone.
Troubleshooting
Live TV Does Not Pause
Check Settings > Features > Enable timeshift. Timeshift must be enabled, the stream must be in fullscreen Live TV playback, and the app needs enough buffer to pause or rewind.
Rewind Does Not Go Further Back
The Timeshift buffer starts only after the current session has buffered enough data. Users cannot rewind before the available buffer window.
Fast-Forward Does Nothing
If playback is already at the live edge, fast-forward cannot move further ahead.
Audio or Subtitle Buttons Are Missing
The selected stream may not expose selectable audio or subtitle tracks. This depends on provider/stream metadata, not on a setting inside IPTV Buddy.
Playback Is Blocked by VPN
TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled and the TV has no active VPN connection. Connect VPN or change the TV VPN Kill Switch setting for this TV device.
FAQ
Is Timeshift the Same as Recording?
No. Timeshift is temporary buffering during Live TV playback. Recording creates a local recording entry that can be watched later when a recording file is available.
Can I Pause Every IPTV Channel?
Only when Timeshift is enabled and the current Live TV stream/session supports it. Some streams or device states may not provide a usable buffer.
Can I Rewind to the Beginning of a Program?
Only if that part of the program is inside the current Timeshift buffer. Timeshift does not automatically provide earlier program history.
Why Are Subtitles Missing?
Subtitles are available only when the stream exposes subtitle tracks. If IPTV Buddy shows No subtitles available, the selected stream has no selectable subtitles.
Does Timeshift Work for VOD and Series?
No. VOD and series use normal on-demand playback and Continue Watching progress, not Live TV Timeshift.
Next tutorial Record TV Programs and Manage Recordings