Why TiviMate Playlists Load Slowly

Below are the most common causes based on user reports, provider behaviour, and TiviMate-specific performance factors.

1. Large Playlist File Size

Some playlists include:

• • 10,000+ channels

  • duplicate categories

  • multiple region lists

  • adult categories

  • unused groups

Large playlists dramatically slow down:

• • initial loading

  • EPG mapping

  • category generation

The bigger the playlist, the longer TiviMate takes.

2. Slow Server Response From Provider

If the provider’s server responds slowly, playlist loading will lag.

This is especially common during:

• • peak hours

  • sports events

  • maintenance windows

  • overloaded clusters

Even fast internet can’t fix slow server-side response times.

3. DNS Delays When Connecting to Playlist URL

If your ISP’s DNS is slow, playlist loading will stall at the “Checking URL” stage.

DNS delays create:

• • long initial loading

  • repeated retries

  • slow EPG linking

Google DNS or Cloudflare often load playlists faster.

4. Using M3U Instead of Xtream Codes API

M3U loads:

• • channel list

  • group structure

  • EPG links

…all in one large file.
Xtream API loads these separately, usually faster.

Large M3U files are commonly slow to load.

5. EPG File Is Too Large

EPG XML files can be huge — sometimes 20–50MB.

Large EPG files slow:

• • merging

  • parsing

  • assigning EPG data

  • refreshing

This makes playlist loading feel sluggish.

6. Multiple Redundant Playlists Added

If you have several playlists installed:

• • TiviMate merges everything

  • EPG assignment increases

  • background processes multiply

This adds unnecessary loading time.

7. Provider Using Redirect URLs

If the playlist URL redirects through:

• • CDN links

  • geo-balancers

  • tokenised URLs

  • temporary paths

…it adds additional loading steps.

How to Fix Slow Playlist Loading in TiviMate

1. Switch From M3U to Xtream Codes API

This is the fastest improvement for most users.

Xtream loads:

• • channel list

  • EPG

  • groups

…much faster than M3U.

Ask your provider for:

• • server URL

  • username

  • password

Then add it in TiviMate via Xtream Codes.

2. Remove Unused Categories Using Group Selection

Go to:

Playlist Settings → Groups → Disable unused categories

Disabling:

• • international groups

  • adult categories

  • duplicate regions

  • rarely watched channels

…reduces playlist size and speeds up loading.

3. Reduce EPG Load by Disabling Unused EPG Sources

Go to:

EPG → Sources → Disable unnecessary EPG files

This makes TiviMate process less XML data at startup.

4. Change DNS to Speed Up URL Resolution

Fast DNS providers:

• • 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)

  • 8.8.8.8 (Google)

  • 9.9.9.9 (Quad9)

Changing DNS reduces playlist URL lookup time.

5. Restart TiviMate to Clear Memory Cache

TiviMate keeps large playlist data cached in memory.

Restarting helps:

• • speed up loading

  • clear stale playlist entries

  • reset slow background processes

Simply force close the app and reopen it.

6. Remove Old or Duplicate Playlists

If you have:

• • expired playlists

  • duplicate entries

  • trial playlists

  • multiple region files

…each one slows down loading.

Remove them in:

Playlist Settings → Remove Playlist

7. Use a 5GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet Connection

Slow Wi-Fi increases playlist loading times.

Use:

• • 5GHz
    or

  • Ethernet (OTG adapter on Firestick)

8. Contact the Provider if Loading Is Slow at Peak Times

If playlist loading slows down only during:

• • evenings

  • weekends

  • live sports

…it is server-side congestion.

Your device is not the problem.

When Playlist Loading Cannot Be Improved

Some issues are on the provider’s end:

• overloaded servers

• slow CDN routes

• misconfigured M3U files

• poor EPG structure

Switching to Xtream, reducing categories, and using faster DNS are the best possible workarounds.

Conclusion

Slow TiviMate playlist loading is usually caused by large M3U files, slow server response, DNS resolution delays, redundant playlists, or oversized EPG data. Switching to Xtream Codes, reducing unused categories, improving Wi-Fi, and optimising DNS can significantly speed up loading times.