Windows guide
Add your IPTV source and check the programme guide on Windows
An IPTV playlist and its programme guide are separate data. Follow these steps to connect your own source, check playback and work out why EPG information may be missing.
1. Prepare your source details
Install Playova from Microsoft Store. Playova is a player: it supplies no channels, content or IPTV subscriptions. Have your own M3U playlist URL or Xtream Codes server address, username and password ready. Keep links containing credentials private.
The 14-day trial starts when you add your first source. Playback after the trial requires paid Basic or Plus; a Playova licence does not renew your provider subscription.
2. Choose the matching input
During setup, choose Provider account for Xtream Codes and enter Server address, Username and Password exactly as supplied. If your provider supplied a full account link, you can paste it in the server field and check the detected account details before proceeding.
For an M3U URL, choose Channel list and paste it into List address. Select Add the source and wait for the library to be gathered. Select Done when the import has finished to open your library. To add a source later, open Settings, then Sources, and choose Add a new source.
3. Check the catalogue and playback separately
Once the import finishes, open Live TV and try a channel. A populated list does not guarantee the provider stream is currently available. If details are refused, check the address and credentials; if a stream is refused, check your provider subscription and connection allowance.
If channels or categories have changed at the provider, open Sources and select Update the library on that source. Let the update finish before checking again. Updating the library refreshes catalogue information; it does not repair an expired provider account.
4. Download and inspect the programme guide
Open Settings, then Programme guide. Check the last download status and select Download now. Keep the guide up to date controls automatic updates. You can also open a channel’s Programme guide and select Refresh when its information is missing.
Guide availability depends on the source. Ask your provider whether its Xtream account includes programme data. Playova can also try to find the provider’s XMLTV guide from an M3U URL containing username and password parameters; a plain M3U link may have no discoverable guide. A channel list alone does not guarantee EPG. The Programme guide settings screen does not offer a field for a separate XMLTV URL.
5. If EPG is still missing
If no guide address is available, ask your provider whether it offers XMLTV or an Xtream account with guide data. If download fails, check the connection and try again later. An incomplete or oversized download keeps the previous guide. If only some channels lack programmes, ask your provider to check its guide coverage and channel identifiers.
Do not delete a working source just to troubleshoot an empty guide. Test another channel and compare the provider’s schedule if times seem wrong. You can still play available channels without EPG, and the separate recording guide explains scheduling by time when programme data is absent.