Every plan includes the whole Pillar IPTV catalog, which means a channel list far longer than any household needs day to day. Ten minutes spent organising it pays back every evening: fewer clicks, a faster guide and no more scrolling past countries you never watch.
The steps below use the general menu names found in most players. If you have not picked a player yet, our player app comparison shows which ones have the best organising tools.
Step 1: decide what your list is for
Before touching any settings, jot down the channels each person in the house actually watches: local news, a couple of sports channels, the children’s channels, a film channel or two. Most households end up with 15 to 40 channels they use regularly. That short list is your target.
Step 2: build favourites
- In most players, highlight a channel and long-press OK (or the menu button) to add it to favourites.
- Some players let you create several favourite lists, for example Sport, Kids and News. One list per person also works well.
- Set the favourites list as the default view, so the player opens straight into it.
- Favourites are stored by the app on that device, so repeat the process on each TV or phone, or use the app’s backup option if it has one.
Step 3: hide groups you never use
Channel groups are usually sorted by country and topic. Most players let you hide whole groups from the main list and the guide, typically from a “manage groups” or “hide categories” option in settings. Hiding is reversible, so be generous: you can always unhide a group later.
Hiding groups also speeds up the programme guide, because the player has fewer channels to draw.
Step 4: reorder what is left
- Drag favourites into the order you would press them on a remote: main news first, then sport, then everything else.
- Some players let you give channels your own numbers, so the remote’s number buttons jump straight to them.
- Move the groups you keep to the top of the group list.
Step 5: tune the guide
- Show only favourites in the guide grid if the player allows it.
- Shorten how many days of listings the guide downloads; two or three days is plenty and loads faster.
- Check that the device’s time zone is right, or listings will appear shifted by hours.
- If the guide is empty, reload it from settings; our checklist for channels not loading covers stubborn cases.
Lock what children should not see
Many players include a parental PIN that locks chosen groups or channels. Set the PIN first, then lock the groups, and test it by trying to open one. Some also let you hide locked groups entirely until the PIN is entered.
Keep it tidy over time
Channel line-ups change now and then, so a favourite may occasionally need re-adding. After a big app update, check your hidden groups are still hidden. And if you set up a new TV, export and import favourites where the player supports it rather than starting again. For setting up a simple list for someone less confident with technology, see our guide to IPTV for older relatives.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a channel to favourites?
In most players, highlight the channel and long-press OK or press the menu button, then choose Add to favourites.
Can I hide channel groups I never watch?
Yes, most players have a manage groups or hide categories option. Hidden groups disappear from the list and the guide, and you can unhide them later.
Do favourites sync between devices?
Usually not. Favourites are saved by the app on each device, though some players offer a backup or export option.
