How to use Helix TV app features

Learn how to use the different features of the Helix TV app on mobile and online to get the most out of it.

Don’t have the Helix TV app yet? Find out how to download it to your mobile devices or access it on a computer.

 

Depending on your subscription and location, the Helix TV app enables you to:

  • View your entire content and channel lineup
  • Watch content that has been recorded or is being recorded
  • Watch your live TV channels
  • Access various On Demand content
  • Download your On Demand content and your recordings to watch offline.
  • Use your tablet or smartphone to stream your content to your TV. See how to stream with Chromecast or with AirPlay.

Important : Streaming live TV and downloading content uses mobile data when you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi network. Also, content can only be viewed in Canada.

Application Stream

Watching live TV

On mobile

  1. To display the TV Listings, go to the Live TV section, at the bottom of the screen.
  2. To narrow down your search, select Filter and choose one or more of the filters available, such as Available Out of Home and High definition.
  3. To search for a specific content, go to the Browse section at the bottom of the screen. The app will start searching automatically and narrow down the results as you type.
  4. Choose a content to access its info page and then tap Watch to view it.

Online

  1. To display the TV Listings, go to the Live TV section, then select All Channels.
  2. To narrow down your search, select Filters and choose one or more of the filters available, such as Available Out of Home and High Definition. Select APPLY to confirm.
  3. To search a specific content, tap Search in the upper right corner. The app will start searching automatically and narrow down the results as you type.
  4. Choose a content to access its info page and then click on Watch to view it.

Good to know

As a Helix subscriber, when you use the Helix TV Web platform, the For You section is displayed by default when you log in and shows you the last channel you watched on your TV. Click on Watch to resume viewing.

Record

Programming your recordings

You can program a recording from anywhere in the world with the Helix TV app. However, viewing is only possible in Canada.

 
Note that the Recording feature is included in all Helix TV plans and offered as an option in all TV App plans. You can add the Recording feature in My Account.
  1. To display the TV Listings, go to the Live TV section, at the bottom of the screen.
  2. If the Available out of home filter is enabled, disable it so that all the channels are displayed.
  3. Select the content to record and tap Record.
  4. Set up the recording and tap Confirm.
picto play

Watching your recordings

  1. Select My library, at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Go to the section of your choice:
    Recordings enables you to watch all your recordings.
    Scheduled allows you to browse and manage your scheduled recordings.
Picto cloud

Managing your recordings

Browse your recordings and easily delete unwanted content from the Helix TV app, on mobile or online.

On mobile

  1. Select My library, at the bottom of the screen, then Recordings.
  2. Select a content.
  3. Tap Recording Options, then Delete Recording.
  4. From the list of episodes of a given series, press More and then Delete Recordings to delete all episodes.

Online

  1. Go to Saved, then Recordings.
  2. Hover over a content and delete it by taping the symbol on the right.
  3. Delete multiple episodes from a same series by going to the list of recorded episodes and clicking on Edit at the top right.

You can recover a deleted recording by clicking on Deleted Recordings at the bottom of the list of recorded content.

Download

Downloading your recordings

Important: Downloading content is only available from the Helix TV mobile app for customers subscribed to a Helix TV or TV App plan. Are you an illico TV subscriber? Please note that you cannot program, watch, or download recordings with the Helix TV app

Download your recordings or On Demand content directly to your mobile device to watch them offline. A maximum of 5 devices can contain up to 10 downloads each. Note that downloaded content can only be watched in Canada.

  1. Select My library, at the bottom of the screen, then Recordings.
  2. Choose a content and tap Download.
  3. When the download is complete, you’ll be able to watch the recording without using data.
  4. Go to My library section, then Downloads to find all your downloaded content.
 
A downloaded recording is automatically locked. It cannot be watched or downloaded to another device until it’s returned (consult the FAQ below to learn the release procedure). Note that several movies and series can also be downloaded from On Demand content, for example on Club illico.

Frequently asked questions about Helix TV app features

With the Helix TV app, you can access Parental Control settings to manage the content that various devices can access.

To enable it:

  1. Tap the icon in the upper left corner.
  2. Tap Parental Control.
  3. Enable the feature and create a PIN.
  4. Configure various restrictions in the same menu.

To disable this option, you’ll have to re-enter your PIN. You can quickly reset all locked content by tapping Reset Parental Control at the bottom of the menu.

A recording that has been downloaded to a device will not be available on your Helix TV terminal or on other devices synced to your Helix system. You’ll have to release the content by following these steps:

  1. Select My library, at the bottom of the screen, then Downloads.
  2. Choose the content you want to release.
  3. Tap Return to return your device’s content and then Yes to confirm.
  4. Once released, the recording will once again be available on other devices.

Paid content is not available on the Helix TV app, unless it has been previously purchased on a Helix TV terminal. Content purchased or rented on an illico terminal is therefore not accessible at all.

  1. Go to the Browse section to access the shows and movies that you can view at home and the HELIX GO content that you can view outside your home.
  2. You can browse the content by type (shows, movies, channels, kids’ content) or other filter if needed (Available out of home, HD Channels, Closed Captioning, Secondary Audio Program, Video Description, Available to Download).

Accessing paid content
To remotely access On Demand content you have already purchased, select Purchases from the main menu of the Helix TV app, under the My library tab.

If you are told that Google will no longer support Flash when you watch movies and series online with Helix TV, you can still watch your content. Simply enable Flash in your Chrome 76 browser (or any more recent version).
 

Follow the instructions on the Google Chrome Help page.

Paid content is not available on the Helix TV app, unless it has been previously purchased on a Helix TV terminal. Content purchased on an illico terminal is therefore not accessible at all.

Some content, programs and channels can only be watched at home or in Québec. If that’s the case, you’ll see a notification in the info page.

We had to make adjustments to certain replay and viewing history features on our platforms to meet technical requirements related to a technological invention patent.

These changes are necessary to maintain access to the programming you love. All other features and full access to our catalogue remain available.

What features are affected? 

Helix 

  • Removal of the resume viewing feature on all Helix platforms. However, for a completed episode, the next one will be offered for viewing from the beginning (Save/For you).
  • Removal of the viewing progress bars from menus.
  • Removal of the automatic launch of next episode (except for iOS and tvOS).

Illico+

  • Viewing carrousel now leads to the series' homepage (no more direct launch).
  • Removal of the "Resume" and "Watch" buttons from a series' homepage.
  • Removal of the automatic launch of next episode options.

Illico

  • Resume viewing (VOD): now leads to the show's homepage (no more direct launch of an episode).
  • Removal of the automatic launch of next episode after pressing STOP.
  • Recordings: you have to go through the list of episodes to start watching an episode (even for a single episode).

Are these changes temporary?

We are currently unable to provide a specific timeline, but rest assured that this is not a permanent situation. Our teams are actively working to further develop our platforms and improve your user experience.

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