This article is part of our guide M3U Playlists Explained: Format, Structure and How to Use Them.
Setting up IPTV favorites is the quickest way to stop scrolling through hundreds of entries to find the channel you want. Most players also include tools to hide, reorder and search your list — they are just easy to overlook. This guide covers the features that make the biggest difference; exact menu names depend on your player.
1. Create a favourites list
Favourites are the single most useful feature for everyday viewing.
- Highlight a channel in the list.
- Long-press OK/Select on the remote, or open the channel's options menu.
- Choose Add to favourites (sometimes a star or heart icon).
- Open the favourites category to see only the channels you picked.
Some players allow several favourites lists — for example one for news and one for sport — or let you reorder favourites.
2. Hide categories you never watch
Playlists are usually grouped into categories using the playlist's group-title information (see M3U playlists explained). Many players let you hide whole categories:
- Look for Manage categories, Hide groups or Edit playlist in the settings.
- Hidden categories stay in the playlist; they are simply not shown.
Hiding categories can also make large lists load and scroll faster on low-powered devices.
3. Reorder channels or categories
Some players let you move categories up or down or change the order of channels within a category. Put what you watch most at the top.
4. Use search
Instead of scrolling, use the player's search function. On TVs, voice search via the remote or typing with a phone remote app can be faster than the on-screen keyboard.
5. Use the programme guide
With an EPG added, you can browse by what is on rather than by channel name. Some players let you filter the guide by favourites. See how to add an EPG URL.
6. Set up profiles
If several people use the same device, profiles keep each person's favourites and history separate. This depends on the player; some TV platforms, such as Google TV, also offer device-level profiles (see Android TV vs. Google TV).
7. Turn on parental controls
If children use the device:
- Set a PIN in the player's parental control settings.
- Lock categories that are not suitable for children.
- Consider device-level controls too, such as kids' profiles or content restrictions.
Keep your organisation when things change
- Back up settings if your player offers an export or cloud backup.
- Note your favourites before reinstalling the player or resetting the device.
- If your provider updates the playlist, some players keep favourites while others reset them; check after an update.
Quick feature checklist
| Feature | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Favourites | Instant access to channels you watch most |
| Hidden categories | Shorter, faster lists |
| Reordering | Most-used content first |
| Search | Find a channel without scrolling |
| EPG filter | Browse by programme |
| Profiles | Separate lists per person |
| Parental PIN | Protect children from unsuitable content |
If your current player lacks these features, it may be worth trying another one; see how to choose an IPTV player app.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my favourites disappear?
Favourites are stored by the player on the device. Reinstalling the app, clearing app data or a major playlist change can reset them. Use backup features where available.
Can I sync favourites between devices?
Some players offer cloud sync or account-based backup. Otherwise, favourites are stored separately on each device.
Does hiding categories remove channels from my subscription?
No. It only changes what the player shows. You can unhide them at any time.
A tidy channel list in minutes
Add favourites, hide categories you never use, reorder what matters, and use search, the guide, profiles and parental controls. A few minutes of setup saves time every day. For more on playlists, see M3U playlists explained.