Hands-On Tech 247: Saving Your TiVo Files on a Windows PC

Host: Leo Laporte
Date: December 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Leo addresses a listener’s question about transferring recordings from a TiVo DVR to a Windows PC—a process made significantly harder by TiVo’s discontinued support and increasingly locked-down ecosystem. Leo explores the available options, highlights user-friendly and technical approaches, and discusses the realities of working with legacy hardware in today’s environment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question: The TiVo Transfer Dilemma

• Richie’s Problem: Unable to use TiVo Desktop (discontinued), unable to connect via the old web interface, and confused by command-line solutions like TiVo Decode.
• Empathy & Encouragement:
  • Quote: "You're not stupid. It's not a matter of stupidity, it's a matter of time and energy and all those things." – Leo (02:02)

2. State of TiVo File Transfers in 2025

• Traditional Methods Are Obsolete: Most official and user-friendly options have been discontinued.
• Rise of Open Source Solutions: Community-driven tools have filled gaps, but are themselves increasingly abandoned.

3. Recommended Software Solutions

A. KMTTG (Java-based)

• What it is: A user interface for handling TiVo file transfers; wraps around TiVo Decode for ease of use.

• Current Status:

  • The original project is abandoned.
  • A GitHub user, lart2150, has forked and continues to update the tool (last update: August 2025).

• Why it matters:

  • "KMTTG gives you the ability to interface with your TiVo and save those files elsewhere." (06:01)
  • Runs on Java; needs installation of Java Runtime.

• Explanation of “Forking”:

  • Quote: "It's almost like the multiple universes, multiple timeline situation... you can kind of add to it with the main project still being intact." – Leo (04:42)

B. PyTiVo Desktop (Windows version)

• Not to be confused with: PyTiVo (which moves files to TiVo)
• What it does:
  • Allows you to see and transfer content from your TiVo to your PC.
  • Free, open-source, available at pytivodesktop.com.
  • Windows-friendly user interface.
• Quote:
  • "It'll show you your list of content and then it lets you transfer that content from your TiVo to your PC." (08:45)

4. Alternative: The Analog “Output Capture” Approach

• How it works:

  • Play back TiVo output and capture the signal (using HDMI decoder/transcoder).
  • Essentially records “what you see”–a fallback if all digital methods fail.

• Why consider:

  • Avoids all DRM and software compatibility hassles.
  • "It's, as Alex C said, the old analog hole trick, meaning that it's as kind of analog as you can get with this." (13:12)

5. The Locked-Down Landscape & Urgency

• TiVo’s Evolution:

  • More restrictions due to business deals and content provider pressure.
  • Open source tools are increasingly abandoned or neglected.
  • Last update for PyTiVo Desktop was 5 years ago—move quickly!

• Quote:

  • "So yeah, you really need to hop on this as quick as you possibly can to make sure that you have all the files that you want off of that TiVo device." (15:22)
  • "It's end of life as far as I see it, for the once free world of TiVo recording and storage and streaming." (16:01)

6. Recommendations and Community

• Get TiVo out of the equation:

  • Clear advice to transfer all wanted files as soon as possible and cease using TiVo for long-term storage.
  • No single drop-in replacement device exists—new solutions are often complicated, piecemeal.

• Community Invitation:

  • Leo invites listener feedback and alternative suggestions: "If you heard this and you said, here's what I use, love to hear from you, hot twit tv." (17:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On user frustration:

  • "Not everybody has time to learn what they need to learn about the command line...it's just a matter of time that many of us don't have." – Leo (02:31)

• On the demise of user-friendly TiVo options:

  • "The main user-friendly method that people use to interact with their TiVo files...the developer is no longer working on it anymore." – Leo (03:41)

• On urgency:

  • "You really need to hop on this as quick as you possibly can to make sure that you have all the files that you want off of that TiVo device." – Leo (15:22)

• On the analog alternative:

  • "Record your output... In many cases is going to be easier... it's as analog as you can get." – Leo (13:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30 – 02:30: Reading Richie’s question and empathizing with the frustration.
• 03:00 – 06:40: Introduction of KMTTG, explanation of project forking, ease-of-use compared to command-line methods.
• 08:00 – 09:30: Explanation of PyTiVo Desktop vs PyTiVo; solutions for Windows users.
• 13:00 – 14:00: Detailed look at the “analog hole” output-capture method.
• 15:15 – 16:30: The impending obsolescence of TiVo for file storage; urgency to transfer files now.
• 17:00 – 18:00: Invitation for community input; closing sentiments.

Summary Conclusion

Leo provides clear, practical advice for saving TiVo recordings in a post-support world: use community-supported software like KMTTG (Java) or PyTiVo Desktop (Python) while they still work, or fall back on analog capture methods if all else fails. The window for easy digital transfers is closing, so act quickly. Leo’s tone is understanding and encouraging, reinforcing the communal spirit of sharing tech solutions on TWiT.

For further questions or feedback, listeners can reach out to Leo at hot@twit.tv.