Favourites and categories on iPad

Start with the exact symptom

Favourites are usually a player or account preference. Their storage location matters when changing apps, refreshing playlists or moving to another device.

For iPad, the relevant platform is iPadOS. Start by identifying the installed player and version instead of assuming that every device sold under a similar name has the same menus. A tablet screen does not increase the account connection allowance or guarantee higher source resolution.

What to record before changing anything

Save a small set of frequently watched sources and note which player and playlist hold them. Use clearly named groups when the player supports them.

Pay attention to tablet orientation, wi-fi or mobile data, picture-in-picture support and subtitle controls. This device context helps distinguish a local control or compatibility problem from the service-account and source checks that apply to every player.

A controlled checklist

1. Confirm the baseline

   Use a compatible App Store player, check its playlist or account fields, and test a live source and a VOD item.

2. Run the first check

   Check whether the app offers export, backup or account-level preferences before resetting it. A screenshot with credentials concealed can help reconstruct the selection.

3. Compare one result

   Refresh the list once and reopen the favourites area. If entries disappear, compare whether source identifiers or category names changed.

4. Use the device-specific route

   Use the supported App Store or verified Mac application update route. Preserve the account format and any supported export before deleting the app.

5. Confirm the outcome

   Common channels remain accessible and the backup or reconstruction method is understood before major changes.

Read the result, then choose the next step

For this favourites and categories check, a useful result is: Common channels remain accessible and the backup or reconstruction method is understood before major changes. Keep the source, account and player version unchanged long enough to compare the action you took. If another category works while the intended one fails, report the exact affected group rather than saying the entire service is offline.

If the same symptom occurs on a second supported player or device, stop the first active session before testing the next when the account permits only one connection. A connection-limit problem should not be mistaken for a device defect. Note what remained the same and what changed so support can repeat the comparison.

Avoid the common detour

Assuming favourites automatically follow a subscription into every player can lead to avoidable setup work.

A tablet screen does not increase the account connection allowance or guarantee higher source resolution.

Do not enter a new account, reset the whole device and change the network in a single attempt. That combination can remove the original evidence and leave several possible causes. Keep a small record of each result and reverse an unsuccessful setting change.

Find where your preferences are stored

Favourites can be stored locally in the player, attached to a saved playlist or controlled through an account preference system. Identify which method your actual setup uses. A new application can reach the same service while still starting with an empty local favourites list.

Before updating or clearing data, use a supported export where available. If there is no export route, record a short selection list or a screenshot with private access details concealed. Keep the player version and playlist identity with it so the record can be interpreted later.

After a catalogue refresh, some favourite entries can point to a changed source identifier. Search the current channel list and compare the updated entry before deciding that the account has lost its access. A category filter and a missing favourite reference can both hide an otherwise playable channel.

A support note you can copy

Send this through the published private support route. Conceal passwords, complete playlist links, payment details and unrelated personal information in any attachment. A clear device and symptom report is more useful than a screenshot that exposes account access.

Choose the follow-up that matches the evidence

If this is your first setup on iPad, return to the device guide and confirm the supported player route. If playback worked previously, keep the known-working account and investigate the changed condition: source, player update, storage, network or expiry.

Before changing a subscription term, test the channels, titles, languages and controls you actually need. The website pricing table shows the complete USD term total, while app-store licences or separate player activation fees should be checked with the relevant developer. A successful test today is evidence for your decision, not a guarantee that every source will remain unchanged.