The 60-second first response

Before anything specific, run through these four. Together they resolve most "HiTV suddenly broke" reports:

  1. Force-close the app and reopen it.
  2. Check you're on the latest version. Old builds lose server compatibility; the update guide shows how on each platform.
  3. Restart the device. Especially TV sticks, which run for weeks without a reboot.
  4. Test another app that streams video. If YouTube also struggles, the problem is your connection, not HiTV.

Buffering and endless loading

Video pauses to buffer every minute

HD streaming wants a steady 5 Mbps. Run a speed test on the same device that's buffering; results on your phone don't tell you anything about your TV stick behind the television.

  • On TV sticks, switch to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band or move the router closer. The area behind a TV is a Wi-Fi dead zone in many homes.
  • Lower the playback quality one notch in the player settings. Adaptive quality usually handles this, but a manual step down ends the pause-play cycle immediately.
  • Pause 20 seconds and let the buffer build before resuming a stubborn episode.

Library loads but every episode spins forever

Almost always an outdated app after a server-side change. Update first (how). If you're current, try switching your DNS to a public resolver (1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8) in your device's network settings; some ISPs resolve streaming CDNs badly.

Install errors

"App not installed" on Android

  • A previous HiTV with a different signature is still present. This happens when switching between the official APK and the mod build. Uninstall the old one, then retry.
  • The APK didn't finish downloading. Delete the file, download it again from the download page, and compare the file size looks sensible (tens of MB, not a few hundred KB).
  • Storage is nearly full. Free up a few hundred MB and retry.

Install button greyed out on a TV

The unknown-sources permission isn't enabled for Downloader. Each platform hides it differently; exact paths are in the Fire TV, Android TV, and Google TV guides.

Windows SmartScreen blocks the installer

Click "More info", then "Run anyway". SmartScreen flags installers it hasn't seen often; it isn't a virus verdict. If you'd rather avoid the prompt entirely, install from the Microsoft Store instead.

Account and login problems

Login fails with correct credentials

  • Update the app first; expired API versions produce misleading "wrong password" errors.
  • If you registered through Google or another social login, use that same button, not the email form.
  • Try logging in on a second device. If it works there, clear the app's cache on the failing device (App info → Storage → Clear cache).

"Trial ended" as a guest

Guests get two free episodes per series. Once used, the app asks you to register; a free account restores access to the full library. This is expected behavior, not a bug.

Subtitle problems

Subtitles missing on one show

Open the CC button in the player and check the language list; not every title carries every language. Newly aired episodes sometimes get subtitles a few hours after the video goes live. If English is listed but doesn't render, toggle it off and on, or restart the episode.

Subtitles out of sync

Skip back ten seconds; the player realigns subtitle timing on seek. If a whole episode is offset, report the title through the app so it gets refreshed, and check whether the alternate server for that episode behaves better.

TV-specific issues

Black screen with audio on Fire TV or Android TV

  • Force-stop HiTV and reopen (Settings → Applications → HiTV → Force stop).
  • Turn off any "match frame rate" or HDMI-CEC enhancement your TV applies to unknown apps.
  • Try another episode first; a single broken stream looks identical to a broken app.

App crashes on launch after a TV firmware update

Clear cache and data for HiTV, then reinstall over the top with code 1910890 in Downloader. Firmware updates occasionally break sideloaded apps' cached state.

Offline download issues

Downloads stuck at 0% or failing

  • Check free storage; the app needs room for the full episode before it starts.
  • Downloads require a signed-in account. Guests can stream their trial episodes but not save them.
  • Some titles are streaming-only for licensing reasons; if the download icon is missing on one show but present elsewhere, that's why.

Still stuck?

If none of this matches your problem, two options: check the FAQ for account and content questions, or describe the issue through our contact page with your device model and app version, and we'll point you in the right direction.