# IPTV slow to start or change channel

URL: https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-slow-to-load/

> Channels take ages to start or switch? Speed up IPTV zapping with player settings, smaller playlists, faster DNS and a wired connection.

A few seconds per channel change adds up. These settings make zapping noticeably faster.

## Settings that help

- **Hide unused groups** so the app holds a smaller list.
- **Lower the buffer size** slightly in the player; a big buffer means a longer wait before playback starts.
- **Use hardware decoding**.
- **Favourites list**: channel up and down within favourites only.
- **Faster [DNS](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-dns-guide/)** reduces the time to find the stream server.
- **Ethernet** shortens the start of each stream.

## App-specific

- **[TiviMate](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/tivimate-iptv-setup/)**: Settings, Playback, turn on "Use AFR" only if needed (mode switches add delay).
- **Smarters**: try the built-in player rather than VLC engine for faster starts.
- **[Apple TV](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-on-apple-tv-4k/)**: Match Frame Rate adds a pause at each change; turn it off if speed matters more than motion.

## What is normal

One to three seconds per change is normal for IPTV. Longer than five seconds on every channel points to the network or an overloaded device.

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## Questions and answers

**Why does IPTV take long to change channels?**

Large playlists, big buffers, frame-rate switching and slow networks all add delay.

**How fast should IPTV channels switch?**

One to three seconds is normal.

**Does a smaller buffer cause buffering?**

It can on weak connections. Reduce it gradually.

## More fixes & errors guides

- [IPTV guide shows the wrong time](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-wrong-time-guide/)
- [IPTV works on phone but not on TV](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-works-on-phone-not-tv/)
- [IPTV sport looks choppy: fixing motion](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-stuttering-sports/)
- [IPTV audio out of sync](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-audio-out-of-sync/)
- [M3U playlist not loading](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-playlist-not-loading/)

[All Fixes & Errors guides](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-guides/fixes/) · [Every IPTV guide](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-guides/)

## Sources and official links

- [TiviMate (official site)](https://tivimate.com/)
- [TiviMate on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ar.tvplayer.tv)
- [VLC media player (VideoLAN)](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
- [Apple TV support](https://support.apple.com/apple-tv)

**Viking IPTV Editorial Team**

We open every provider site on our list, record what it offers and re-check the whole list regularly. [Our methodology and disclosure](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/about/).