You open your IPTV app, the channel loads — but instead of a picture, you get a blank black screen with sound (or sometimes nothing at all).

This usually means there’s a decoder issue, a corrupted stream cache, or your device buffer isn’t handling the source format correctly.

Here’s how to fix it in less than five minutes.

1. Change the Decoder Mode

The decoder controls how your app processes the video stream.
If the format isn’t supported by your device’s hardware, you’ll see a black screen instead of a picture.

TiviMate:

1. Go to Settings → Playback → Decoder

2. Change from HW+ → HW → SW (test each one)

3. Restart playback

Smarters:

1. Go to Settings → Player Settings → Decoder

2. Try Hardware, then Software, then Auto

3. Relaunch the app

✅ Tip: If you hear sound but see no video, switch to SW.

2. Restart App and Clear Cache

Corrupted temporary files can stop the video renderer from initializing.

Fix:

1. Exit the app completely (remove from recent apps)

2. Go to Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Storage

3. Tap Clear Cache (don’t clear data)

4. Restart app and test

If that doesn’t work, do a full device restart afterward.

3. Test a Different Channel or Playlist

Sometimes it’s not the app — it’s the stream itself.
Test another channel from the same playlist, then from a different one.

If one channel works and another doesn’t, the issue is source-side.
If all fail, it’s likely a decoder or connection issue.

4. Check Your Internet & DNS

Weak or inconsistent connections can cause streams to load audio without video.

Check your connection:

• Use Analiti or Speedtest.net on your device

• You need at least 20 Mbps for stable HD IPTV

If your speeds are fine but the issue persists, switch to Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8) for faster stream routing.

5. Reinstall the App

If the problem started after an update or settings change, reinstalling resets the video renderer and decoder libraries.

Steps:

1. Uninstall the app completely

2. Reboot your device

3. Reinstall the latest stable version (not beta)

4. Re-add your playlist or portal URL

This clears out any damaged codec or playback configuration files.

6. Disable External Player (If Using One)

If you’ve linked MX Player, VLC, or another external player, disable it temporarily.
Some external players have codec conflicts with IPTV streams.

Fix:

• Go to Settings → Player Selection → Use Built-in Player → ON

Test again — if video returns, the problem was the external player.

7. Adjust Stream Format (Advanced)

Some providers offer multiple stream types (M3U8, MPEG-TS, or RTMP).
If your app or device doesn’t support one, you’ll see a black screen.

Ask your provider if they have a different stream type or an Xtream Codes login option instead of M3U.

Quick Recap

Final Tip

The “black screen” issue is one of the most common IPTV playback errors — but it’s rarely serious.
Once you’ve found the right decoder and cleared your cache, your streams will display normally again.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep both HW+ and SW modes tested after updates — app codecs change frequently, and your best option can shift over time.