Do I lose my favorites and channel setup when I switch IPTV providers?

You can lose them if you don't prepare. Most IPTV apps like TiviMate allow you to export a full backup of your settings, favorites, and group configurations. If you export before switching, you can import that backup into your new provider's setup and only need to update the playlist credentials.

Can I run two IPTV providers at the same time?

Yes. Most IPTV apps support multiple playlists simultaneously. You can add your new provider alongside your existing one, compare quality and channel coverage, and then remove the old one when you're satisfied. TiviMate Premium, IPTV Smarters Pro, and GSE Smart IPTV all support multiple playlist profiles.

How long does it take to switch IPTV providers?

The actual technical switch — removing old credentials and entering new ones — takes under 5 minutes. EPG data typically loads within a few minutes afterward. Full setup restoration from a backup takes about 10 minutes. The longest part is choosing and testing the new provider before committing.

Will my channel numbers stay the same when I switch providers?

Almost certainly not. Channel numbers and the order of channels in the playlist are provider-specific. Your favorites, however, will be preserved if you export and import an app backup. The channel names might also differ slightly between providers for the same network.

What if my new provider uses a different format — M3U instead of Xtream Codes?

The IPTV app handles both formats. If you were using Xtream Codes with your old provider and your new one uses M3U (or vice versa), simply choose the appropriate input method when adding the new playlist in your IPTV app. The viewing experience is identical regardless of which format is used.

How to Switch IPTV Providers Without Losing Your Setup

Key Takeaways

Backup first: Export your TiviMate or app backup before making any changes — this saves hours of reconfiguration
Run providers in parallel: Add your new provider without removing the old one first, so you can compare and test
Credentials change, favorites don't: Only the M3U URL or Xtream Codes login changes; your favorites restore from backup
Test during peak hours: Verify the new provider holds up during busy periods (weekend evenings, sports events) before canceling the old one
Overlap your subscriptions: Keep both active for a few days to ensure a smooth transition

Switching IPTV providers sounds more complicated than it is — but only if you don't prepare properly. The typical fear is losing months' worth of carefully organized channel favorites, EPG configurations, and custom group setups. That's a legitimate concern, and it's exactly why most people stick with a mediocre provider far longer than they should.

The good news: how to migrate from one IPTV provider to another is actually a well-defined process that, done right, takes about 20–30 minutes and preserves virtually everything you've built. This guide walks through every step, from pre-migration backup to post-migration cleanup.

Step 1: Decide It's Time to Switch (And Why That Timing Matters)

Before anything else, make sure you're switching at the right time. Don't rush this if you're in the middle of a big sports season or a show you're following closely — you want to complete the migration during a low-stakes window.

Good times to switch IPTV providers:

After the NFL playoffs or major sports season ends
During a week with no major live events you care about
When your current subscription is about to expire naturally (don't pay for another month if you're leaving)

Common reasons to switch:

Increasing buffering and reliability issues that support hasn't resolved
Provider raising prices without improving service
Poor channel coverage for specific sports or international content
Better deals available elsewhere
Provider showing warning signs of instability (see our red flags guide)

Once you've decided to switch, don't just cancel and scramble. Follow the steps below.

Step 2: Research and Sign Up for a Trial on the New Provider

Before you touch your existing setup, identify and test your replacement provider. This is the most important step — don't commit to a full migration until you've validated the new service.

What to evaluate during the trial:

Test the new provider's free trial during the same conditions you normally watch. That means:

Peak hours (weekend evenings, Sunday afternoons)
During a live sports event if possible
On your actual device, your actual internet connection, your actual location

Check specifically:

Channel coverage: Does it carry all the channels you rely on? Make a list of your must-haves and verify each one.
EPG accuracy: Is the program guide populated and accurate?
VOD library: If VOD matters to you, browse the library quality.
Stream quality: HD channels should load quickly and play without artifacts. 4K channels should hold quality without dropping to SD under normal conditions.
Buffer performance: Watch a channel continuously for 20–30 minutes. Occasional brief interruptions are common; constant buffering is not acceptable.

Our guide to testing IPTV service quality gives you a structured approach to trial evaluation.

Pro Tip: Test at least two different providers on trial before committing to one. This gives you a direct comparison and prevents you from switching from a mediocre provider to one that's equally mediocre.

Step 3: Export Your Current App Configuration

This is the step most people skip — and then regret. Before you change anything in your current setup, create a full backup.

TiviMate (Android / Fire TV)

TiviMate has a robust backup system:

Open TiviMate and go to Settings (hamburger menu → Settings)
Navigate to Backups
Tap Create Backup
Choose where to save the backup — local storage, USB drive, or cloud (Dropbox/Google Drive if configured)
Name the backup with a date so you can find it easily

The TiviMate backup includes: playlist configurations, channel favorites, group organization, EPG settings, player preferences, and catch-up settings. It does NOT include your login credentials themselves (for security reasons), but it does include everything else.

IPTV Smarters Pro (Android / iOS / Fire TV)

IPTV Smarters Pro's backup options are more limited, but you can:

Screenshot your current playlist settings (server URL, username, password) so you have them recorded
Screenshot or note your favorite channels — Smarters Pro doesn't have a native export for favorites
Note your EPG URL if you've customized it

GSE Smart IPTV (iOS / macOS)

In the app, go to Remote Playlists and tap the share icon to export your playlist list
Note your EPG URL from the settings
Your favorites are stored in iCloud if you have iCloud backup enabled

Kodi

Navigate to System → Backup (requires the Backup add-on)
Alternatively, manually backup the Kodi userdata folder, which contains all add-on data and favorites

Perfect Player

Perfect Player allows you to export your playlist and EPG settings from the Settings menu. Do this, and also note your custom channel categories if you've organized them.

Step 4: Add the New Provider Alongside Your Existing One

Here's the key insight that makes migration much easier: you don't have to remove your old provider to add the new one. Most IPTV apps support multiple playlists running simultaneously.

Adding a Second Playlist in TiviMate

Go to Settings → Playlists → Add Playlist
Choose your input method — M3U URL or Xtream Codes
Enter the new provider's credentials
TiviMate will load the new playlist alongside your existing one
Channels from both providers appear in your combined channel list

You can now compare channels from both providers side by side. If the same channel appears in both playlists, you can configure TiviMate to prefer one provider's version over the other.

Adding a Second Playlist in IPTV Smarters Pro

From the main screen, tap Add User
Enter the new provider's credentials as a separate account
Switch between accounts from the app's profile screen

Adding a Second Playlist in GSE Smart IPTV

Go to Remote Playlists → +
Enter the new M3U URL
GSE will aggregate channels from all active playlists

Running both providers simultaneously lets you do a live comparison without any disruption to your current viewing experience.

Step 5: Reconfigure Favorites and EPG with the New Provider

Once your new provider's playlist is loaded, you'll need to rebuild or map your favorites to the new provider's channel versions.

Favorites Migration

If you're using TiviMate and restored from a backup:

Go to your favorites list — your previously saved channels will appear
Some channels will now show as "inactive" or "not found" because they came from your old provider's playlist
For each inactive favorite, search for the equivalent channel in your new provider's list and add it to favorites

This process is more manual than fully automated, but a backup dramatically reduces the work. Instead of remembering 50 channels, you just need to match and update them.

Pro Tip: When you set up your new provider, spend 15 minutes organizing channels into custom groups that mirror your old setup. Label them the same way. This makes the transition feel seamless for everyone in your household who shares the TV.

EPG Configuration

Your new provider will have its own EPG URL. Find it in your provider's welcome email or customer portal.

In TiviMate:

Go to Settings → Playlists → [Your New Playlist] → EPG
Enter or confirm the new EPG URL
Tap Update EPG

If the new provider's EPG doesn't cover all channels well, you can supplement it with a third-party EPG source like EPGSHARE or a regional XMLTV source that covers your most-watched channels.

Step 6: Test the New Provider Under Real Conditions

With the new provider set up alongside the old one, this is your chance to do a proper side-by-side test.

Testing checklist:

| Test | What to Check | |---|---| | Live sports event | No buffering, no freeze, HD quality maintained throughout | | Multiple simultaneous streams | Test all connections your plan allows | | Late night stability | Low-traffic hours shouldn't buffer; confirms server quality | | Peak weekend evening | The real stress test — Friday/Saturday night prime time | | Channel switching speed | Should load new channels in under 3 seconds | | EPG accuracy | Program titles and times should be correct for your timezone | | VOD loading | VOD content should start within a few seconds |

Give the new provider at least 5–7 days of regular use across different viewing conditions before making a final decision.

Step 7: Cancel the Old Provider and Clean Up

Once you're confident the new provider meets your standards, it's time to complete the migration.

Cancel your old subscription:

Contact support for the old provider (if it's still active) and request cancellation
If you're on a month-to-month plan, simply don't renew
If you prepaid for a longer period and want a partial refund, contact support — some providers will prorate; others won't

Remove the old playlist from your app:

In TiviMate: Settings → Playlists → [Old Playlist] → Delete
In IPTV Smarters Pro: Long-press the old profile → Delete Account
In GSE Smart IPTV: Remote Playlists → swipe left on old playlist → Delete

Update any device-specific settings: If you run IPTV on multiple devices — a Fire Stick in the bedroom, a tablet, a phone — repeat the migration on each device. The backup from TiviMate is device-transferable; copy it to each device and import.

Common Migration Mistakes to Avoid

Canceling before testing: Never cancel your old provider until you've thoroughly tested the new one. Overlap periods matter.

Not backing up first: If your TiviMate crashes during migration without a backup, you're rebuilding everything from memory.

Choosing based on price alone: The cheapest replacement might be worse than what you had. Factor in reliability and channel coverage, not just monthly cost.

Ignoring connection limits: If you've been using a 5-connection plan and switch to a 1-connection plan to save money, you'll hit problems immediately in a multi-device household.

Moving during a major event: Doing a full migration the night before the Super Bowl is a bad idea. Give yourself a boring week for the transition.

Conclusion

Switching IPTV providers is one of those tasks that feels daunting but is genuinely simple when you follow the right sequence. Back up your app settings first, run the new provider in parallel before removing the old one, give yourself a proper testing window, and you'll complete the migration with minimal disruption.

For help choosing your next provider, our comparison of the best IPTV services for the USA gives you a curated list to start from. And if you're dealing with an involuntary switch because your old provider has gone offline, check our guide on what to do when your IPTV provider shuts down for a more urgent action plan.

The right provider makes IPTV genuinely excellent — and getting there is easier than most people assume.