How to Troubleshoot an M3U Playlist

1. Channels won't load

• Confirm your internet connection is stable.
• Test a channel URL directly in VLC ("Open Network Stream").
• If the URL times out, the stream may be offline or the source restricted.

2. Buffering

• Use a wired Ethernet connection on TV boxes.
• Lower the stream quality if your connection is the bottleneck.
• Try a different player or an external player.

3. Missing EPG

• Check that the EPG URL is valid in playlist settings.
• Ensure channel IDs in the playlist match the EPG IDs (remap if needed).

4. Malformed playlist

Run your file through the M3U validator to spot duplicates, missing metadata, and malformed lines. Common fixes:

• The file must start with #EXTM3U.
• Each channel needs an #EXTINF line followed by a URL line.
• Remove duplicate channel names.