Check whether the channel is missing from playback or only the grid
Start with a known playable M3U item and inspect it in the ordinary list. If it opens there but is absent from the multi-channel Guide, retain that distinction. The problem is narrower than a lost playlist or inaccessible source.
Note the current group and whether the guide was opened from favorites. A small collection and a complete source can legitimately show different sets of items. Record the intended item and selected scope before changing filters or reimporting data.
Inspect the documented row controls
IPTVnator’s desktop Guide documentation says its rows come from the playlist, with group and favorites views. Only with EPG hides channels without matched schedule coverage; turning it off can reveal a playable channel with no guide data. This is a view filter rather than channel deletion.
Switch the filter deliberately and compare the same item. If its row returns without programmes, the next question is guide coverage or matching. If it remains absent, inspect the selected group and source. Do not upload another copy of the whole playlist simply to test a hidden-row hypothesis.
Keep guide browsing and channel changes separate
The developer distinguishes clicking a channel to switch while keeping Guide open from double-clicking to switch and close it. Inspect the chosen action when a guide view seems to disappear. Closing the view is different from losing its imported data.
For an original navigation check, select a known row once, confirm the player identity, then close Guide through its control. Reopen it in the same scope and inspect the chosen row. This makes the behavior understandable without relying on accidental double-click timing.
Investigate schedule coverage after the view is understood
If the item is visible but has no programme data, compare the same channel in the ordinary player view. Verify the intended XMLTV import and channel identity rather than treating a future schedule card as a playable archive. A grid is a schedule representation, not proof of recorded content.
The useful outcome is a known channel scope with an understood visibility filter. If a schedule remains wrong, retain the source, channel identity and selected date for the mapping or timing task. No real guide or source was imported for this article.
Questions answered
Does Only with EPG remove channels from the playlist?
No. The documented filter hides rows without matched programme coverage. Inspect the ordinary list and turn it off when looking for such an item.
Why does double-clicking a channel close Guide?
The developer documents double-click as switch-and-close, while a single click can switch and keep the grid open.
Does a past programme card guarantee catch-up?
No. Schedule presence is separate from whether the source supplies an authorized archive.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.