Guide · Timeshift
IPTV timeshift: pause live TV and rewind
With BurgTV timeshift you can pause a live channel from your playlist and jump back a few minutes, on your TV, on Android phones and on iPhone and iPad. BurgTV is a neutral player: you bring your own source.
What is timeshift?
Timeshift lets you pause a live channel and rewind a few minutes, as if the broadcast were being recorded while you watch. Doorbell rings, you miss a key moment or a line? Pause, then pick up exactly where you left off. BurgTV keeps the last few minutes of the channel you are watching from your playlist in memory, up to the length you choose.
Timeshift, catch-up and recording: three different things
In short: timeshift works on the last few minutes of the open channel, catch-up depends on your provider’s archive, and a recording stays saved on the device. To keep a show, read our guide on how to record IPTV.
- TimeshiftPause and rewind the live channel you are watching, within the buffer length. Premium on TV and, from November 10, 2026, on Android; on iPhone and iPad with App Store Premium.
- Catch-upWatch shows that already aired, but only if your source offers an archive. Premium on TV.
- RecordingSave a show to your TV’s storage, for personal use and in line with your source’s rights. Premium.
How to use it on your TV
- Add your playlist (M3U, Xtream Codes, Jellyfin or Portal) under Settings > My Lists > Add playlist.
- Activate Premium on your TV with your account: get the license at app.burgtv.com.
- Pick the timeshift Buffer length: 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes (30 is the default).
- Open a live channel and use your remote to pause, resume or rewind a few minutes.
- The player bar shows how far behind live you are.
Buffer length and device storage
The timeshift buffer uses your device’s memory: the more minutes you pick, the more space it needs. On a stick with little memory, start with 15 or 30 minutes; on a roomier box you can try 60 or 120 minutes. If there is not enough free space, BurgTV shortens the buffer on its own. If anything misbehaves, go back to the 30-minute default.
Don’t mix up Buffer length (timeshift, in minutes) with Buffer size in the playback settings (8, 16, 32 or 64 MB), which is there to keep playback smooth. And it is not the Time shift option in TV Guide settings either, which only corrects the guide’s times.
Which devices have it
| Feature | TV (Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV) | Android phone | iPhone and iPad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeshift | Yes Premium | Yes Premium from November 10, 2026 | Yes Premium (App Store) |
| Buffer length | 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes | 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes | 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes |
| Recording | Yes Premium | No | No |
On Android every feature is included until November 10, 2026; from that day the same limits as on the TV apply, and Premium is activated with the website license (5 devices across TV and Android). Anyone using the Android app before November 10, 2026 gets 3 months of Premium as a gift.
Honest limits
- Timeshift does not work on HLS channels: it depends on the type of stream your provider sends.
- It applies to the channel you are watching, over the connection your source gives you.
- You can rewind at most the buffer length you picked: for older shows you need catch-up, if your source offers it.
- If the stream stutters, timeshift won’t fix it: see our tips to fix IPTV buffering.
- iPhone and iPad have timeshift from version 1.0.15: Premium is bought through the App Store, and the website license does not apply there.
A neutral player: you bring your own source
BurgTV does not provide, sell or host any channels. Timeshift works on the streams of the playlist you add, from a legitimate subscription or your own server. To get started on a TV, follow the BurgTV on Firestick guide or download the app from download.burgtv.com. Premium on TV costs CHF 8.90 per year (7-day free trial) or CHF 25.90 once. Everything else is on the BurgTV features page.
Frequently asked questions
What is IPTV timeshift?
It lets you pause a live channel and rewind a few minutes. BurgTV keeps the last minutes of the channel in memory, up to the buffer length you choose.
How far back can I rewind?
On TV (Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV), on Android phones and tablets and on iPhone and iPad 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes, with 30 as the default.
Why doesn’t timeshift work on some channels?
Timeshift does not work on HLS channels: it depends on the type of stream your provider sends, not on your TV.
Is timeshift free?
No, it is part of Premium (CHF 8.90 per year or CHF 25.90 once, 5 devices across TV and Android). On Android it is included for everyone until November 10, 2026, and anyone using the app before that date gets 3 months of Premium. On iPhone and iPad it is included in the 7-day trial and then in Premium, bought through the App Store.
What is the difference between timeshift and catch-up?
Timeshift covers the last few minutes of the channel you are watching. Catch-up lets you watch past shows, only if your source offers an archive (Premium on TV).
Does timeshift work on iPhone and iPad?
Yes, from version 1.0.15: on iPhone and iPad you can pause live TV and rewind with a 15, 30, 60 or 120-minute buffer. Premium is bought through the App Store; the website license does not apply there.