Which of the two problems do you have?
- The channel list is empty or won’t download. The app can’t get your list from the server: a login, playlist or server problem.
- The list is there, but channels won’t start. The login works, but the streams don’t reach you: a network, blocking or server-side stream problem.
When the channel list won’t load
1. Check the login details
Re-open the login or playlist settings and compare every character with what your provider sent. Watch for:
- a missing
http://or port number such as:8080in the server address, - a space at the start or end of the username or password,
- capital letters (usernames and passwords are case-sensitive).
Our Xtream Codes login guide shows which part goes where.
2. Check the account is active
An expired or suspended account often shows as an empty list rather than a clear message. If your app shows an expiry date in its account or user info screen, check it.
3. Refresh or re-add the playlist
Stored playlists go stale when a provider changes something. Use the app’s update or reload option, or remove the playlist and add it again.
4. Is the playlist too big for the device?
Smart TV apps and older sticks have limited memory. A playlist with many thousands of channels may fail to load at all. If your provider or playlist tool lets you choose channel groups, load only the ones you watch. The M3U guide explains how playlists are structured.
When the list loads but channels won’t start
1. Test on mobile data
Play a channel on a phone using mobile data with the same login. If it plays, the problem is on your home connection: the router, the Wi-Fi, or your broadband provider’s network. Carry on with steps 2 and 3. If it fails on mobile data too, the problem is the service. Go to server unavailable.
2. Restart the router and switch off any VPN
A router that has been running for weeks can hold stale connections. Restart it. If you use a VPN, switch it off and try again, because many servers refuse VPN connections.
3. Try different DNS settings
If channels fail only on your home broadband, your provider’s DNS may be failing to look up the stream server. Changing DNS is covered in our DNS guide.
When to contact your provider
Contact your provider if the list won’t load after you’ve re-entered the details carefully, or if channels fail on every device and on mobile data. Say which app you use, what the screen shows, and whether other logins or services work on the same connection.