FAQ
Q: What is the difference between Fix names and Clean up?
Fix names looks each live channel up in the M3UTool channel database and gives it its real name, spelled the way the channel spells it. Clean up in Bulk rename only takes things out by rules you switch on, such as country codes and quality tags, and works for movies, series and group names too. Run Fix names first, then Clean up for what is left. More in Fix names.
Q: Can I see what a tool will do before it changes anything?
Yes. Every Tools window has a step 3 Preview with the names Before → After and how many will change. Nothing is written until you press the main button at the bottom. Bulk rename, Change provider and Remove duplicates fill the preview while you type. Fix names shows its list after Find new names, Match logos after Find logos, and Posters & info after Preview first.
Q: Why does the window open on a group I did not pick?
Every window picks for you when it opens: the channels you ticked, else the groups you ticked on the left, else the group you have open, else all. Under 1 On what? you can click another choice. More in How the tools work.
Q: I ran a tool by mistake. Can I take it back?
Yes, with Undo in the top bar of the editor, or Ctrl+Z. Press it again to go further back: the last 20 changes of the last 7 days are kept, whoever made them. Channels a tool moved to the bin are also in the Bin. More in Undo.
Q: Why are some tools missing on the Movies and Series tabs?
Fix names, Match logos, Map guide, Tag genres & 18+, Remove duplicates and .ts / .m3u8 are for live channels only. Every Tools window works on the tab you opened it from, so on Movies and Series the menu lists only the jobs that apply there.
Q: Can I rename many groups at once?
Yes. Open Bulk rename… under Tools and click Group names next to Rename. Quicker: tick the groups in the column on the left and click Rename these groups… in the panel on the right. The window then opens on Group names with Ticked groups (N) chosen. A new name that another group already has gets " #2" at the end, and linked groups are skipped. More in Groups.
Q: I renamed a series and it now has " #2" after its name. Why?
Two series in one playlist cannot have the same name, because the episodes of a series are kept together by its name. Two shows with one name would merge into one for your customers. When a rename would make two series equal, the second one gets " #2". In the list, a small label "same name · 2" next to the show says so. Player apps mix up two shows with one name, so the number stays. Rename one of them by hand to something unique. The same rule applies to group names.
Q: Should I remove duplicates or use fallbacks?
Use Remove duplicates for true copies with the very same stream address. When the copies play from different sources, keep them as fallbacks with Fold copies into one channel under Tools. A fallback takes over when the main stream dies. More in Fallbacks.
Q: My provider moved to a new server. What do I change?
Open Change provider… under Tools, keep New provider next to How and type the new address in New address. It rewrites the stream addresses and the Auto refresh source of the playlist in one go. More in Change stream addresses.
Q: Copy edits updated fewer channels than I expected. Why?
With Name matching, only channels with exactly the same name on both playlists are updated. Clean the names on both playlists, or use Stream ID when both come from the same provider. More in Copy edits.
Q: Do fallbacks work in every player?
Yes, in two ways. The M3UTool apps and players that use the Xtream login get one channel that switches by itself. Players that use the M3U link see the fallbacks listed after each channel as "Channel (Backup 1)" and so on, and your customer can pick one. These names still say Backup, so favourites keep working.