The Real Reason TiviMate Breaks After an Update

These are the three things that cause 90% of update-related problems:

1. TiviMate clears or rebuilds cache during updates

This can temporarily break:

• • channel lists

  • group sorting

  • EPG mapping

It often looks like “missing channels” or “no categories.”

2. Your device’s permissions or storage reset after update

Common on:

• • Firestick

  • Chromecast

  • Android 12/13/14 boxes

This causes:

• • playlist not loading

  • EPG missing

  • crashes on startup

3. The app now uses a new decoding or player module

This affects:

• • freezing

  • stuttering

  • black screen on channel load

  • audio/video desync

Updates often change decoder behavior.

Quick Fixes (Do These First — They Solve Most Issues)

These are the simplest fixes and solve the majority of update problems.

1. Fully Restart TiviMate (Not Just Minimize It)

After an update, the app must reload everything clean.

Steps:

1. 1. Go to Firestick/Android settings

   2. Apps → TiviMate

   3. Force Stop

   4. Reopen TiviMate

This alone restores channels for many users.

2. Re-add Your Playlist (But Don’t Delete the Old One Yet)

If channels are missing, only the playlist index is broken.

Steps:

• • Go to TiviMate → Settings → Playlists

  • Add Playlist → enter URL / Xtream

  • Let it load

  • Check if all categories appear

If the new one works, delete the old one.

3. Change the Decoder (Fixes Freezing & Crashing)

This is the most reliable fix if channels open but freeze.

Steps:
Playback → Decoder
Try:

• • Hardware

  • Software

  • Hardware+

  • Auto

Software is often the most stable after updates.

If You Use Firestick, Do These Fixes Next

Firesticks are the #1 device affected by TiviMate updates.

4. Re-enable File Permissions (Android 12+)

Firesticks sometimes revoke permissions after updates.

Steps:
Settings → Applications → TiviMate → Permissions
Enable everything.

If screenshots or backups stopped working — this is why.

5. Clear App Cache (NOT Data)

Cache often breaks after updates.

Steps:
Settings → Applications → Manage Installed Applications → TiviMate → Clear Cache

Do NOT press Clear Data unless absolutely necessary — you’ll lose everything.

6. Switch to 5GHz Wi-Fi

Updates often retrigger adaptive bitrate changes, making 2.4GHz unusable.

5GHz stabilises loading and EPG sync.

If You Use Android TV/Boxes, Check These

Android 13/14 updates cause unique issues.

7. Enable “Allow All Files Access”

Android hides this permission under a different menu.

Steps:
Settings → Apps → TiviMate → Special Access → All Files Access → Allow

Without this, TiviMate may freeze or refuse to load playlists.

8. Remove Old or Corrupted EPG Sources

After updates, EPG XML files can fail silently.

Steps:
Settings → EPG → Sources
Disable any unused EPG feeds.
Refresh EPG.

Advanced Fixes (Only If Nothing Above Worked)

These are deeper resets but keep your settings.

9. Clear TiviMate’s Player Cache

Settings → Playback → Clear Cache

Fixes:

• • black screen

  • freeze on channel load

  • audio/video delay

10. Rebuild Database Files

Equivalent to refreshing TiviMate’s internal structure.

Steps:
Settings → General → Backup → Create Backup

Then:
Settings → General → Restore Backup

This rebuilds playlists, EPG links, and groups without losing settings.

11. Update TiviMate Manually (APK Method)

Sometimes the Amazon Play Store version is outdated or partially broken.

Download latest APK from trusted source (e.g., official dev forum) and install over current version.

This often fixes version mismatch issues.

Still Broken? Here’s How to Know If It’s Your Provider

If none of the fixes worked, the update exposed an issue with your IPTV provider, such as:

• outdated M3U structure

• broken Xtream API

• unassigned EPG

• expired links

• Geo-locked CDN routing

• server changes not reflected in your old playlist

Simple test:

Try adding a second playlist (free test playlist).

If it loads instantly → your main provider is the problem.

If it also loads slowly → your device is the problem.

Summary

• TiviMate updates often break playlists, cache, and permissions

• Freezing usually means decoder changes

• Missing channels = playlist or EPG index reset

• Firesticks often need cache cleared + permissions re-enabled

• Android 12/13 devices require “All Files Access”

• If nothing works, the provider’s API is the issue

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