IPTV catch up, how it works: catch-up is how you watch a programme that has already been shown, timeshift lets you pause or rewind a live channel, and recording saves a programme to watch later. They sound alike and work differently, and an IPTV plan may support some, all or none of them. This article explains each, where it runs and why the record button is often greyed out.
In short
- Catch-up: replays programmes already shown, from an archive kept by the provider, for a limited window on supported channels.
- Timeshift: pauses or rewinds the live channel you are watching, within a buffer.
- Recording: saves a programme, usually in the app or on your device.
- Each depends on the channel, the app and the plan.
The three, side by side
| Catch-up | Timeshift | Recording | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Plays a programme that has aired | Pauses or rewinds live TV | Saves a programme for later |
| Where it runs | The provider's server archive | A buffer, on the server or device | Your device or storage |
| Time window | A limited number of days, per channel | Minutes to hours, depending on the app | Until you delete it |
| Needs | The channel to keep an archive | App support and sometimes storage | App support and free storage |
| Common limit | Not every channel has it | Limited buffer size | Storage space and app features |
How catch-up works
The provider keeps a recording of certain channels for a set number of days. In the programme guide, an item that has already aired shows a catch-up marker, and selecting it plays the archived copy. Because it depends on the provider keeping an archive, it applies only to channels that have one, and the window differs from one channel to another. It is not the same as the catch-up apps run by broadcasters, which are separate services. For British IPTV, check the plan page and ask support before you buy whether catch-up applies to your plan and for how many days.
How timeshift works
When you pause a live channel, the app or the server holds the picture while it keeps receiving. When you resume, you are watching a little behind live. Rewinding goes back as far as the buffer allows. A larger buffer needs more memory or storage, so it works better on a box than a basic stick.
How recording works
Recording usually saves the stream to storage on your device or an attached drive, and the app has to support it. Some apps record only in a paid tier; see Smarters or TiviMate for how two popular apps differ. A recording takes space, so a small stick fills up quickly.
When you would use each one
Use catch-up when you missed a programme and it has not been long. Use timeshift when you are watching live and the phone rings. Use recording when you want a programme kept, or when you know you will be out at broadcast time. Many people only ever use the first two. If you do rely on recording, test it on a short programme before you depend on it for something important, and check how much space an hour takes on your device.
Why the record button is greyed out
Several causes recur.
- The app does not support recording, or supports it only in a paid version.
- No storage is set. The app needs a folder or a drive, and has not been given one.
- The channel does not allow it. Some streams cannot be recorded.
- The device is full. Delete something and try again.
- A permission is missing. The app may need access to storage.
Why catch-up is missing on some channels
The provider keeps an archive only for some channels, so a channel with no archive shows no catch-up marker. If catch-up appears on a channel but will not play, check the guide's time zone first, because a wrong offset points at the wrong archive slot; see IPTV EPG not working.
A short example
Say you are out until 9 pm and a programme airs at 8. With catch-up, you open the guide at 9.15, move back to the 8 pm slot, see the catch-up marker and press play. With timeshift, you would have needed to be watching the channel at 8 pm and pressed pause. With recording, you would have set it up before 8 pm. Three tools, three moments: after, during and before. Knowing which one a channel supports saves you from pressing record on something that can only be caught up.
How the guide shows each one
In many apps, a small icon beside a programme shows that catch-up exists, a clock or red dot shows a scheduled recording, and a rewind control appears during live playback when timeshift is available. Icons vary between apps, so open the app's help or hover over one to learn what it means. If an icon never appears, that feature is probably not supported for that channel.
What to ask a seller
- Which channels have catch-up, and for how many days?
- Is timeshift possible, and in which apps?
- Is recording possible, and where is it stored?
- Are any of these limited to a plan?
Where British IPTV fits
Whether a plan includes a programme guide or catch-up is something to check on the plan page; ask support before you buy if you need either. For more questions see the FAQ, and the Standard or Premium page for how the plans differ.