IPTV with recording: catch-up, cloud DVR and local recording

IPTV with recording lets you watch programmes later instead of live, either through catch-up, a cloud DVR or by recording onto your own device. Which of these you can use depends on two things: what your IPTV service offers and what your player app supports. This guide explains the three methods and how to set them up.

Three ways to record IPTV

Catch-up TV

Catch-up is the most convenient form of IPTV recording because you do not have to plan ahead. Channels that support it show a symbol in the programme guide; you open a past programme and press play. The number of days available varies by channel and service.

Catch-up only works if the programme guide is set up correctly, because the player uses guide times to request the right part of the stream. Our IPTV EPG guide explains how to fix wrong times.

Cloud DVR

Broadband TV operators often include a cloud recorder: you press record and the programme is stored on their servers, ready on any device. Independent IPTV services rarely offer this. If it matters to you, ask before you buy.

Local recording

Several player apps for Android TV and Fire TV can record a live channel to internal storage or an attached USB drive, and schedule recordings from the guide. On a computer, VLC media player can record a stream while you watch. Smart TV apps usually cannot record IPTV.

Points to check:

• Storage: an hour of HD uses roughly 2 to 4 GB; 4K far more.
• Simultaneous streams: recording one channel while watching another uses two connections. Make sure your plan allows enough devices.
• Power: scheduled recordings need the device on or in a light standby mode.

Our best IPTV player guide notes which types of player offer recording.

Setting up IPTV with recording

1. Check in your player's settings that recording is enabled and choose the storage location.
2. Open the programme guide, select a future programme and choose "record".
3. For catch-up, select a past programme marked with the catch-up symbol.
4. Test once with a short programme before relying on it for a big event.

Recording on different devices

If recording matters to you, choose the device first and the app second. A box with a USB port and an external drive is the most flexible setup for regular recording.

Catch-up or recording: which is better?

Catch-up is easier and uses no storage, but it only covers recent days and not every channel. Local recording keeps programmes as long as you like and works for any channel your player can play, but it needs a capable device, storage and a little setup. Many viewers use both: catch-up for the evening news they missed, and recordings for films or matches they want to keep for the weekend.

Recording and the law

Recording TV for watching later at home is normal private use. Sharing recordings, uploading them or selling them infringes copyright. And recording does not change whether a service is legitimate in the first place: see Is IPTV legal?.

IPTV Europa plans for one to four devices are on the pricing page; if recording is essential for you, contact us and we will tell you what works with your setup.