How to Use an EPG TV Guide Like a Pro
If you grew up with cable, you know the familiar grid of channels and time slots. IPTV has the same thing, called the EPG, or electronic program guide. Learning to use it well turns a long list of channels into something you can navigate in seconds.
This guide covers how the EPG works, how to read it, how to organize your channels, how to use catch-up TV and how to fix the most common guide problems.
What is an EPG?
An EPG is a schedule that shows what's playing on each channel right now and what's coming up next. It's downloaded by your player app from your provider and updated regularly, usually every day.
A typical EPG shows:
- The channel name and number
- The program title and start/end time
- A short description
- Sometimes the genre, rating or episode number
Every one of our plans includes a full EPG. You can see what's included on the features page.
How to read the guide
Most player apps show the EPG as a grid:
- Channels run down the left side.
- Time runs across the top, usually in 30-minute blocks.
- Each box is a program. Wider boxes are longer shows.
- A vertical line or highlight marks the current time.
Use your remote's arrow keys to move between channels and time slots. Pressing OK or Select on a program usually opens its description, and pressing it on something airing now switches to that channel.
List view vs. grid view
Some apps also offer a list view that shows one channel's schedule for the whole day. It's handy for checking when a particular show starts. Switch between views from the app's menu or settings.
Organize channels with favorites
Large channel lists are easier to browse when you only see what you actually watch.
- Highlight a channel in the list or guide.
- Press and hold OK (or use the menu button) and choose Add to favorites.
- Open the Favorites group from the category list.
Many apps let you create several favorites lists, for example one for news, one for movies and one for kids. Some also let you reorder channels so your top picks appear first.
Use categories
Channels are usually grouped by category, such as news, entertainment, documentaries, movies and kids. Jumping to a category is much faster than scrolling through the full list.
Search instead of scrolling
Most player apps include a search option, usually a magnifying-glass icon at the top of the channel list or guide. Type part of a channel name or program title to jump straight to it. On TVs, typing with the remote can be slow, so try the voice search button if your remote has one; many streaming sticks and Smart TVs pass voice input to the app's search box. Search is also the quickest way to check whether a specific program is airing later this week.
Hide what you don't watch
If your app supports it, hide categories you never use. This makes the guide load faster and keeps the list tidy.
Catch-up TV: watch what you missed
Some channels support catch-up, which means you can play programs that already aired, typically from the past few days. In the guide, these channels are often marked with a clock or rewind icon.
To use catch-up:
- Open the guide and move left, into the past.
- Select a program that has already aired.
- Choose Play or Watch from start.
Availability varies by channel, so not every channel has catch-up.
Reminders and recordings
Many player apps let you set a reminder on an upcoming program so you get a notification when it starts. Some apps on Android devices also support recording to local storage. Check your app's menu for these options.
Fixing common EPG problems
The guide is empty
- Give it a few minutes after first sign-in; the guide downloads separately from the channel list.
- Look for Refresh EPG or Update guide in the app settings.
- Restart the app and the device.
The times are wrong
The guide may be using the wrong time zone. In the app settings, look for an EPG time offset or time zone option and adjust it to your local time. US viewers on the East Coast typically use UTC−5 (UTC−4 during daylight saving time), and the West Coast UTC−8 (UTC−7 during daylight saving time).
Some channels have no guide information
A few channels may not have schedule data. This is normal and doesn't affect playback.
The guide is slow
Large guides take memory. Clear the app's cache, hide unused categories and restart the device. Our Fire TV Stick setup guide explains how to clear the cache on Fire TV.
Make the guide even faster
- Use a wired or 5 GHz connection. Guide data and channel switching both benefit from a strong connection. See our guide to internet speed for 4K.
- Keep the app updated for performance improvements.
- Restart your device weekly to free up memory.
Frequently asked questions
Does every plan include the TV guide?
Yes. All plans include the full EPG at no extra cost. Compare plans on our pricing page.
Can I use the guide on my phone too?
Yes. Most player apps on Android, iPhone and iPad include the same guide. See our device setup guides.
How far ahead does the guide show programs?
Usually several days, depending on the channel.
Why does the guide show a different show than what's playing?
This is almost always a time zone setting. Adjust the EPG time offset in the app settings, then refresh the guide.
New to IPTV? Read What Is IPTV? for a complete overview.
