Set up IPTV on Kodi (PVR IPTV Simple Client)
By Théo Renard, Live Sport & PPV Streaming Editor Last updated
Kodi already has everything it needs to play IPTV — the free, built-in PVR IPTV Simple Client. Point it at your M3U link or Xtream Codes login, drop in your EPG URL, and your channels appear under Kodi's Live TV with a proper guide. It behaves the same wherever Kodi runs — Fire Stick, Android, Windows, Mac. Here's the run-through, and how to keep the picture steady when a card's on.
Steps
- From the cog, drill into Settings → Add-ons → My add-ons → PVR clients — the add-on ships with Kodi, so there's nothing to download.
- Pick PVR IPTV Simple Client, then Configure.
- In General, switch the location to Remote URL and drop in the M3U link we sent (or the Xtream fields, on builds that expose them).
- Hop to EPG Settings and paste the XMLTV guide URL — that's what fills the on-screen guide.
- Hit Enable, back out to the home screen, and your channels are sitting under TV / Live TV.
Before the card, not during it Do the setup — and let the channels and EPG finish their first download — well ahead of kickoff, because that first sync isn't instant. And wire whatever device Kodi runs on: Ethernet beats Wi-Fi for a live main event every time.
Prefer something simpler?
Kodi is the most hands-on route. If you'd rather sign in and watch, a dedicated player is quicker — the field is in our best IPTV app guide (TiviMate for the best guide, IPTV Smarters for cross-device simplicity). Both take the same login we'd give you for Kodi.
If something's off
- No channels — re-check the M3U/Xtream URL for typos, then disable and re-enable the add-on.
- No guide — confirm the EPG URL is right and give it time to pull down.
- Buffering — see the buffering guide and the speed guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kodi actually play IPTV?
Yes — through its free, built-in PVR IPTV Simple Client. Feed it your M3U link or Xtream login plus an EPG URL, switch it on, and your live channels appear in Kodi's Live TV section with a full guide alongside your films and music.
Is Kodi the easy option?
Not the easiest — it's the most manual. If you just want live TV up fast, a dedicated player like TiviMate or IPTV Smarters takes fewer steps. Kodi wins when you already run it as your one media hub and want the channels living in the same place.
Which EPG URL goes in?
The XMLTV guide link your provider sends. Paste it into the add-on's EPG settings and the guide fills itself in. We send you the playlist/Xtream details and the EPG link together, so nothing's missing before the card.
Get a subscription that holds at peak and message us — we send your M3U/Xtream and EPG details and walk the Kodi setup with you.