Skip to content One channel will not play while the rest are fine
When the problem is a single stream, the fix is rarely in your settings. What to try, and when to stop trying.
A dead channel beside thirty working ones is almost always the source, not the setup.
Quick checks
- Try a twin
Big lists carry the same channel several times, in different categories or qualities. Search its name and try another copy.
- Retry once
mtivi already tries alternate paths on its own and tells you when it does. One manual retry is worth it, five are not.
- Refresh the playlist
Settings, then Playlists, then Refresh Playlist. Channels get moved and renumbered by services more often than you would think.
What the message tells you
| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Channel not available | The channel is gone from your playlist. Hide it. |
| The server is having problems | Their end. Try again later. |
| This device can’t play this channel | A decoding problem. See Format not supported. |
| Maximum streams reached | Something else is using your playlist. See Maximum streams reached. |
| Your playlist has expired | The playlist, not the channel. See Login rejected or expired. |
Hide what is dead. Long-press the channel and hide it. It leaves your lists without being deleted, and Control Center can bring it back if it returns.
A channel that shows a maintenance clip
Some services fill a dead slot with a looping notice instead of an error. That is their placeholder, and there is nothing to fix on your side.
Related reading: hiding dead channels.
