Live TV can work perfectly while the electronic programme guide (EPG) stays empty. That usually means streams arrived but schedule data did not — a different problem with different fixes. Work through the list below before assuming the provider is down.
1 — Wait for the first EPG import
On a new install TiviGlass fetches the guide after channels import. Large Stalker portals and full XMLTV files can take ten to thirty minutes on a modest box. Check Settings → EPG for progress. If live channels already play, press Skip for now — start watching during setup; the job continues in the background.
2 — Confirm your provider actually supplies EPG
Some M3U links are channels-only. Ask your provider for an XMLTV URL (also called EPG URL or
xmltv.php on Xtream panels) and paste it into the playlist's optional EPG field, then refresh the
guide from Settings. Without a URL, TiviGlass has nothing to download.
3 — Match channel IDs
EPG rows link to channels by ID. If the XMLTV file uses different IDs than the playlist, the grid shows gaps. TiviGlass tries direct ID match, then display name, then fuzzy name match. When two channels share a name, it refuses to guess — open the channel menu and choose Set EPG channel to pick the correct listing manually.
4 — Fix time offsets
Programmes that appear an hour early or late are often a time-zone issue, not missing data. Adjust Settings → EPG → Time offset for the whole playlist, or per-channel under channel options. Xtream short EPG and XMLTV files may need different offsets; fix the playlist first, then fine-tune individual channels.
5 — Import scope and hidden groups
If you excluded sports or regional groups during setup, those channels never imported — and their EPG will not appear either. Re-enable a group under Settings → TV sources → your playlist → Content and run update. Similarly, a channel hidden by parental controls or category filters will not show in the guide even if EPG exists.
6 — Force a guide refresh
Open Settings → EPG → Update guide now. If the refresh fails, read the error line: authentication failures need new credentials; HTTP errors may mean the EPG host is blocked on your network. TiviGlass keeps the last good guide until a successful replace, so a failed refresh does not wipe what you already had.
When to contact support
If channels play, credentials test green, an XMLTV URL is set, and the guide still never populates after two manual refreshes, capture Settings → Diagnostics → Self diagnostics and ask in Discord support. Include your provider type (Xtream, Stalker or M3U) but never post passwords in public channels.
Partial guide — only some channels show programmes
Mixed grids usually mean ID matching succeeded for some channels and not others. Sort the problem channels into a group, open one, and set EPG manually. Channels that share a provider ID but different regional feeds may need separate overrides — TiviGlass will not merge two line-ups onto one ID automatically because that would hide legitimate duplicates.
After a large catalogue import, give the matcher a minute to finish alias work in the background. Zap away and back once if a row you just fixed still looks empty; the grid caches the visible window and refreshes when the channel row changes.
If your provider publishes both short EPG and full XMLTV, prefer the XMLTV URL when offered — it is usually more complete for channels that share names across regions.
Stalker users should confirm the bulk EPG job finished under Settings → EPG before assuming the source has no data — the percentage line is the authoritative signal.