Diagnostics
EPG / XMLTV URL Validator
Check if your XMLTV guide is healthy and up to date.
These tools work with any compliant IPTV subscription you already own. SMART 4K does not endorse, host, or distribute pirated streams.
How to use
- 1
Paste your EPG URL
Use the .xml or .xml.gz URL from your IPTV provider, or any public XMLTV source.
- 2
Click Validate
We fetch and parse the file, including transparent gunzip for .xml.gz files served without the gzip header.
- 3
Read the badge
Healthy means the guide covers the days ahead. Sparse means too few programmes per channel. Stale means the latest programme has already ended.
Frequently asked
Why does my EPG show as stale?
A stale guide means the most recent programme in your XMLTV file already ended. Either your provider stopped updating the file, or it is not refreshing on a schedule. Ask your provider, or switch to a community EPG source like iptv-org.
What is the difference between sparse and stale?
Stale means out-of-date (latest programme is in the past). Sparse means there are fewer than three programmes per channel on average - usually a sign that the file only contains "Now" and "Next" rather than a full week.
My EPG file is .xml.gz. Will it work?
Yes. We detect gzip from the file’s magic bytes and decompress automatically, even when the host forgets to set the Content-Encoding header.
How big can my EPG file be?
Up to 25 MB on the wire and 100 MB after decompression. Most national EPGs comfortably fit within those limits.
Why do I see "Upstream returned HTML"?
Some providers return a login page or a 404 page instead of the EPG when credentials are wrong or the URL is mistyped. Double-check the URL and credentials.
Is the EPG file stored?
No. We parse it, return the summary, and discard it. Your URL and the file contents are never logged.
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