TiviMate catch up lets you play programs that already aired, straight from the TV guide, but only on channels where your IPTV provider keeps an archive. TiviMate does not store anything itself for catch-up: it asks the provider’s server for the past program. Timeshift (pausing and rewinding live TV) and recording (DVR) are related but work differently, and each has its own requirements. This guide explains all four, how to use them, and what to check when catch-up does not appear.
Menu names vary a little between versions. If a label below differs from your screen, look for the nearest match in Settings.
Catch-up, timeshift, pause and DVR at a glance
| Feature | What it does | Where the video comes from | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catch-up | Play past programs from the guide | Provider’s server archive | Provider support per channel |
| Timeshift / pause | Pause or rewind what you are watching now | Provider archive or a short local buffer, depending on version | Usually catch-up on that channel |
| Recording (DVR) | Save a program to watch later | Your device or USB storage | Premium, storage, spare connection |
| Restart | Start a show in progress from the beginning | Provider archive | Catch-up on that channel |
The key point: catch-up, restart and most rewinding depend on your provider, while recording depends on your device and Premium. If you want the general background on how IPTV archives work across all apps, our IPTV catch-up TV explainer covers it.
What your provider must support
Catch-up is switched on or off by the provider, channel by channel, and the number of days kept is set by them too. TiviMate only reads that information.
- Xtream Codes logins carry catch-up flags with each channel (in the provider’s data these are called tv_archive and tv_archive_duration). TiviMate picks them up automatically, which is why Xtream Codes is the easiest route.
- M3U playlists need catch-up attributes in the playlist itself, such as catchup, catchup-days and sometimes catchup-source. If the provider’s M3U leaves them out, catch-up will not appear even if the server has an archive.
- Archive length varies. Some channels keep a day, others a week or more, and many keep nothing.
Ask your provider which channels have catch-up and for how many days before you troubleshoot the app.
How to use catch-up on TiviMate
Channels with an archive show a small catch-up marker (often a clock or rewind icon) in the channel list or guide.
- Open the TV guide.
- Highlight a channel that shows the catch-up marker.
- Press Left in the guide grid to move back in time into earlier programs.
- Select a past program and choose to play it. Playback starts from the beginning of that program.
- Use the playback controls to pause, skip forward or back within the archived show.
To restart something you joined late, select the current program on a catch-up channel and look for the play from start option. It plays from the archive, so you can then pause or skip as with any catch-up program.
Timeshift and pausing live TV in TiviMate
Pausing live TV in an IPTV app is harder than on a cable box, because the stream lives on a server. TiviMate handles it in two ways, depending on the channel and app version:
- Using the provider’s archive. On catch-up channels, pausing or rewinding live TV effectively switches you to the archived stream, and you can then jump back to live. This is the most reliable form of timeshift.
- A short local buffer. Some versions offer a timeshift option in the playback settings that holds a short window of the live stream so you can pause briefly. Users report this window is short, so treat it as a pause for a quick break rather than a full rewind.
If pausing does nothing on a channel, it usually means the channel has no archive and your version is not buffering locally. Check whether the channel has the catch-up marker first.
Recording and DVR in TiviMate
Recording saves the stream to storage you control, so it works on any channel, archive or not. It is a Premium feature, bought through the official TiviMate Companion app; see our TiviMate free vs Premium breakdown for what else Premium adds.
- Set the recording location in TiviMate’s recording settings. On a box or stick with a USB port, an external drive is the better choice; internal storage on streaming sticks fills quickly.
- To record now, open the playback options while watching and choose record.
- To schedule, select a future program in the guide and choose record. Recurring or series recordings are offered on Premium where supported.
- Find finished recordings in the Recordings section of the main menu.
Each recording uses its own connection to the provider while it runs. If your plan allows one connection, you cannot watch one channel and record another at the same time. Our IPTV recording and DVR guide explains storage, connections and the legal points around recording.
Why TiviMate catch-up does not show
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No catch-up icons anywhere | Provider has no archive, or M3U lacks catch-up attributes | Ask the provider; switch to Xtream Codes if offered |
| Icons show but past programs will not play | Archive window passed, or wrong catch-up type | Pick a more recent program; ask the provider which catch-up format to set |
| Catch-up plays the wrong show | EPG time offset | Fix the EPG time shift so guide times match the stream |
| Catch-up stopped after a playlist change | Playlist re-added as M3U without attributes | Re-add the playlist using Xtream Codes |
| Catch-up channels empty in guide | Guide data missing for those channels | Update the EPG or map the channel to the right guide entry |
Two settings matter most. In the playlist settings, some versions let you choose the catch-up type (for example a default, append, shift or Flussonic format). Leave it on the default or automatic option unless your provider tells you otherwise. And if the guide is off by an hour, catch-up will be off by an hour too, so fix the EPG offset first. Our TiviMate tips and tricks show where those guide options live.
Which should you rely on?
Use catch-up for anything the provider archives; it costs no storage on your device. Use recording for channels without an archive or for programs you want to keep beyond the archive window. Use pause for short breaks. If catch-up matters to you, choose a service that offers it on the channels you watch most. Our plan, IPTV Journal, is a single 12-month option for $89 with an Xtream Codes login for TiviMate; see the plan details here and ask our support which channels carry an archive. IPTV technology is legal, but only use services that hold the rights to their channels, and record for personal use only.
FAQ
Does TiviMate catch up need Premium?
Catch-up depends mainly on your provider. Whether it is available in the free version has varied between app versions, so check your copy. Recording is a Premium feature in any case.
How do I use catch up on TiviMate?
Open the guide, pick a channel with the catch-up marker, press Left to move back in time and select a past program to play it from the start. Only channels your provider archives will work.
Can I pause live TV in TiviMate?
Yes on many channels. On catch-up channels, pausing uses the provider’s archive. Some versions also offer a short local timeshift buffer in the playback settings, which is fine for a quick break.
How far back can TiviMate catch up go?
As far as your provider keeps each channel’s archive. That can be anything from a day to a week or more, and differs between channels.
Why does TiviMate catch-up show on some channels only?
Providers enable catch-up channel by channel. Channels without an archive have no marker and cannot be replayed, though you can still record them with Premium.
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