Support

What do I need to use GiVo Stream?

An iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV running iOS/iPadOS/tvOS 18.6 or later, and a playlist from your own content source — either a standard M3U URL or an Xtream Codes login. GiVo Stream does not provide any channels or content itself.

How do I add my playlist?

Open Settings → Playlist Manager → Add Playlist, choose M3U & EPG or Xtream Codes, and paste your details. Guide data (XMLTV/EPG) can be filled automatically for Xtream logins or supplied as a separate URL.

Do I need the GiVo Server app?

Only for DVR features — recording, scheduling, and watching recordings across devices. Playback, the guide, and pause/rewind of live streams work without it. Download GiVo Server for macOS or Windows, install it on a computer that stays on your home network, and pair from the app.

My server doesn't show up under Available Servers

Discovery uses your local network (mDNS/Bonjour), so the computer and your Apple device must be on the same network and VLAN.

• Windows: make sure the firewall allowed givo-server.exe — the installer sets this up, so if you use the portable zip instead, allow it when Windows asks (Private networks).
• Any platform: you can always connect directly — choose Add Server Manually, enter the computer's IP address and port (8088 by default), and pair with the code as usual. The server's address is shown in its menu under “URL”.

Where do I find the pairing code?

Click the GiVo icon in the Mac menu bar or Windows system tray — the current pairing code is shown right in the menu and can be clicked to copy. A random code is generated each launch, or you can set your own 6-digit code in the server's Settings.

Can I set both a home and an away address for one server?

Yes. Each paired server keeps a Local Address (your home Wi-Fi, usually 192.168.x.x) and an optional Remote Address for when you're away from home. GiVo Stream uses the local address at home and switches to the remote one automatically when you leave, so a single paired server works both at home and on the go — no re-pairing. Add or change either under Settings → DVR → your server → Edit Server. See remote DVR access below for setting up the remote address with Tailscale.

Where are my recordings stored?

On the computer running GiVo Server, in the GiVo Recordings folder inside your user folder by default. You can change the location in the server's Settings.

Windows says the app is unrecognized / SmartScreen warning

The Windows installer is currently unsigned, so SmartScreen shows a one-time warning for new downloads. Click “More info” → “Run anyway”. The macOS app is notarized by Apple and opens normally.

Can I connect to my DVR server when I'm not at home?

Yes. Each server you pair in GiVo Stream keeps two addresses: a Local Address for your home Wi-Fi and a Remote Address for when you're away. GiVo Stream uses the local address at home and automatically switches to the remote address when you leave — so a single paired server works both at home and on the go, with no re-pairing.

The easiest and most secure way to get a remote address is Tailscale, a free (for personal use) app that creates a private network between your own devices. Your server's local IP (like 192.168.x.x) only works on your home Wi-Fi; Tailscale gives the computer running GiVo Server a stable private address that works from anywhere, with no router port-forwarding and nothing exposed to the public internet. Put that Tailscale address in the server's Remote Address field.

How do I set up remote access with Tailscale?

1. On the computer running GiVo Server — install Tailscale from tailscale.com and sign in.
2. On your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV — install the Tailscale app from the App Store and sign in to the same Tailscale account.
3. Find the server's Tailscale address — in the Tailscale menu (or admin console), note the computer's Tailscale IP. It starts with 100. — for example 100.84.23.7.
4. Add it as the server's Remote Address in GiVo Stream — pair the server normally on your home network first (Available Servers, or Add Server Manually with its local IP). Right after pairing, GiVo Stream offers Add Remote Address — enter the Tailscale IP and port (8088 by default) there. You can also set or change it any time under Settings → DVR → your server → Edit Server → Remote Address.

Put the Tailscale IP in the Remote Address field — not the Local Address. GiVo Stream uses the Local Address on your home Wi-Fi and automatically falls back to the Remote Address when you're away, so you don't have to re-pair or switch anything by hand.

Remote access worked at home but not when I'm out

• Tailscale must be running on your device. Open the Tailscale app on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV and make sure it's connected (the VPN toggle is on) before opening GiVo Stream.
• Check your server's Remote Address. Open Settings → DVR → your server → Edit Server and make sure the Remote Address is set to the server's 100.x.x.x Tailscale IP. The Local Address (192.168.x.x) only works on your home Wi-Fi — GiVo Stream uses the Remote Address automatically when you're away, so there's no need to re-pair or switch servers by hand.
• The home side has to be up too: the computer must be awake with both GiVo Server and Tailscale running. On a Mac, check Energy/Battery settings so it doesn't sleep; Tailscale's menu shows the machine as “Connected” when it's reachable.

A stream says “temporarily unavailable” or takes a while to load

That message comes from your content provider — it usually means the provider is limiting simultaneous connections on your account. GiVo Stream retries automatically and shows the status while it does. If it happens constantly, check how many devices are using the same login at once and your plan's connection limit.

Pause and rewind — how far back can I go?

From the moment you start a stream, GiVo Stream keeps a rolling timeshift buffer on-device, so you can pause and scrub back within the current session. For permanent copies, record to your GiVo Server.

Does GiVo Stream sync between my devices?

Yes. Turn on sync in Settings → Sync & Data and your playlists, favorites, and settings follow you across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV — through your own private iCloud, never our servers. You can choose exactly what syncs.

How do I set a reminder for a show?

Open the program in the guide and choose Remind. You'll get a notification just before it starts. Reminders pair nicely with scheduled recordings — set both and the show is waiting for you either way.

How do parental controls work?

Two layers: lock categories behind a PIN so they need a code to open, or hide channels entirely so they never appear in the lineup — perfect for keeping the guide family-friendly on shared devices like the living-room Apple TV.

Can I change how far the skip buttons jump?

Yes — Settings → Playback lets you pick 10, 15, 30, or 60-second jumps for rewind and fast-forward. The same intervals apply to the Lock Screen and Control Center buttons.

Audio tracks and subtitles?

Streams with multiple audio languages or subtitle tracks expose them in the player's playback menu, and you can set a default audio language in Settings so the right track is chosen automatically.

How often do playlists and guide data refresh?

Your choice: on app launch, every 1–24 hours, or manual-only — set separately for playlists and guide data in Settings → Playlist & EPG Refresh. There's always a Refresh Now button when you want it immediately. Guide data can be kept for up to 7 days ahead.

Picture in Picture and background audio?

Both. On iPhone and iPad you can pop playback into a floating window while you use other apps, or let the audio continue in the background with full Lock Screen / Control Center controls.

How do I stop or cancel a recording?

From the DVR tab (or the recording's row in the guide), choose Stop to end an in-progress recording and keep what was captured, or Delete to remove it entirely. Scheduled recordings can be cancelled any time before they start.

What happens if my connection drops mid-recording?

GiVo Server automatically reconnects and repairs the recording, stitching the parts together when it finalizes. If the source never comes back, you keep everything captured up to the drop as a partial recording.

Recordings are slow to start or fail — iCloud Private Relay & VPNs

If recordings from your iPhone or iPad take a long time to start (or fail with a connection-limit message) while everything works instantly from Apple TV, the usual cause is iCloud Private Relay or a VPN. Both route your device's traffic through a different address, so your provider sees the device as a separate connection — and on accounts that allow only one stream at a time, that extra "viewer" can delay or block a recording from starting.

Two ways to fix it:

• Keep Private Relay, but exempt your home Wi-Fi (recommended): on your iPhone/iPad, open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the ⓘ next to your home network, and turn off Limit IP Address Tracking. Private Relay stays on everywhere else — cellular, public Wi-Fi — but your device connects directly at home, where your DVR server lives.
• Or turn it off entirely: Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Private Relay → Off. If you use a third-party VPN app or profile, disable it (or add a rule so it doesn't route local/home traffic) while recording.

Apple TV isn't affected because Private Relay doesn't exist on tvOS. This also speeds up other same-account features between your devices, like taking over a stream from another device.