What is IPTV catch-up, and how do you use it?

Updated June 2026

The idea in one paragraph

Catch-up — your provider may call it TV archive, replay, or timeshift — means the provider records certain channels on its own servers for a rolling window (commonly 1–7 days). Instead of being limited to whatever is live right now, you can open a show that aired this morning, last night, or three days ago and play it from the start. The recording happens on the provider's side: your device doesn't need to be on, and nothing is stored locally.

Why some channels have it and others don't

Server-side recording costs storage, so providers archive only selected channels, for a limited number of days. That's why a good player shows you which channels have catch-up rather than pretending they all do. No app can add catch-up to a channel the provider doesn't record — if a player claims otherwise, it's marketing.

Catch-up vs pause vs DVR

• Pause live TV buffers on your device from the moment you press pause. It can't rewind to before you started watching.
• Catch-up plays from the provider's archive — it reaches back hours or days, even if your TV was off.
• DVR/recording saves a copy to your own storage. Rare in Apple TV IPTV apps; catch-up covers most of the same need without filling your device.

Using catch-up on Apple TV

In Velko, catch-up works straight from the TV guide:

• 1. Channels whose provider offers an archive show a small clock glyph in the guide.
• 2. Press and hold one of those channels to open its recent shows — the last 24 hours of programs.
• 3. Pick a show and it plays from the beginning. Press right at any time to jump back to live.

It requires an Xtream Codes provider whose service includes the archive (most that advertise "catch-up" or "EPG + replay" do) and Velko Pro — which has a 7-day free trial, so you can verify your provider's catch-up actually works before paying anything.

If catch-up isn't showing up

• No clock glyphs at all? Your provider's plan may not include the archive — ask them whether "catch-up"/"timeshift" is enabled on your account.
• Glyph but a show won't play? Individual programs occasionally fail on the provider's side (gaps in their recordings). Try another program or channel to confirm the feature works generally.
• M3U playlist users: catch-up generally requires the Xtream Codes API — a flat M3U link doesn't carry archive information. If your provider gives you both, sign in with Xtream. (See: setting up Xtream Codes on Apple TV.)

Try catch-up with Velko — free trial

Related: How to set up Xtream Codes on Apple TV · Velko vs UHF vs IPTVX · FAQ