Do I need an EPG URL with an Xtream Codes login?

Usually not. Most apps load the TV guide automatically from the same server when you log in with Xtream Codes. You only need to add an EPG URL if the guide stays empty after a manual update.

What’s the difference between .xml and .xml.gz?

They’re the same guide data; .gz is compressed, so it downloads faster. Most IPTV apps accept both. If yours doesn’t, ask for the uncompressed .xml address.

Can I use any EPG URL I find online?

Only if its channel IDs match the channels in your list, and its source permits your use. A guide built for another provider’s list often shows nothing, because the IDs don’t match.

EPG URL for IPTV: What It Is and Where to Find It

What an EPG URL is and where to find yours

An EPG URL is the web address of your TV guide data. Your app downloads the file at that address and matches its listings to your channels. With some logins the app finds it automatically; with others you have to enter it yourself. Here’s where it comes from and how to check it works.

Updated 27 September 2026 · 2 min read

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Where your EPG URL comes from

Your login type	Where the guide address is
Xtream Codes (server, username, password)	Usually fetched automatically. If you need it written out, it’s normally the server followed by `/xmltv.php?username=…&password=…`
M3U playlist	Often in the playlist’s first line, as `x-tvg-url="…"` or `url-tvg="…"`, or in the welcome message from your provider
MAC portal	Delivered by the portal; nothing to enter
Your own streams or a media server	You choose a guide source; see EPG sources

For Xtream Codes logins, Xtream Codes to M3U shows the guide address alongside the playlist address.

Test the address before you add it

Open the EPG URL in a web browser on a computer:

The file downloads, or text starting with <?xml and <tv appears. The address works; any problem is in the app or the channel matching.
An error page, a login page or nothing appears. The address is wrong, the account can’t access it, or the server is down.
The download takes minutes. Large guides covering many channels and many days can be big. Some Smart TV apps give up on very large files; a compressed .gz version or a guide covering fewer days helps.

Adding it to your app

The setting is usually called EPG URL, XMLTV URL, EPG source or TV guide source, and it sits in the playlist settings or a dedicated guide section. After adding it, run a manual guide update and give it a minute. Our step-by-step guide to adding an EPG to any IPTV app covers the popular players.

Why a correct EPG URL can still show nothing

The file loading is only half of it. Each channel in the guide file has an ID, and your playlist gives each channel a tvg-id. When they don’t match, the channel shows “no information” even though the guide downloaded perfectly. That’s covered in “EPG not available” for some channels. If the whole guide is empty, go to TV guide not loading.