Kodi is a free, open-source media centre maintained by the XBMC Foundation. It has no channels of its own: to watch live TV you add a playlist from an IPTV subscription through the PVR IPTV Simple Client, an add-on that lives in Kodi's own official repository. This guide walks through that setup on any device that runs Kodi — Windows, macOS, Android TV boxes, Fire TV devices and Raspberry Pi — because the menus are the same everywhere.
Note: Kodi setup is more involved than a dedicated IPTV player. If you're new to IPTV and use a Fire TV device, TiviMate or IPTV Smarters on Firestick is quicker. This guide is for people who already use Kodi and want live TV inside it.
What You Need Before You Start
- ✓Kodi 19 Matrix or newer. Kodi 20 Nexus and 21 Omega use the same steps; only the add-on settings screen looks slightly different. Download Kodi from kodi.tv or your device's official app store.
- ✓Your M3U playlist URL and, for the TV guide, an XMLTV (EPG) URL. Both are in the welcome message you receive after subscribing. Kodi's Simple Client uses the M3U link rather than an Xtream Codes login — see how an M3U link differs from an Xtream Codes login.
- ✓A stable connection. HD and 4K streams need far more bandwidth than SD, and each extra screen adds to it. The FCC's broadband speed guide lists typical requirements by activity.
Setting Up IPTV on Kodi with PVR IPTV Simple Client
- 1Open Kodi and select Settings (the gear icon) → Add-ons.
- 2Choose Install from repository → Kodi Add-on repository → PVR clients.
- 3Select PVR IPTV Simple Client and press Install. Wait for the "Add-on installed" notification.
- 4Open the add-on again and press Configure. On Kodi 20 and later you may first be asked to choose or add a configuration — pick the existing one or add a new one.
- 5On the General tab, set Location to Remote path (Internet address).
- 6Paste your M3U playlist URL into the M3U playlist URL field. Check there is no space before or after it.
- 7Open the EPG settings tab, set Location to Remote path, and paste your XMLTV URL.
- 8Press OK, then make sure the add-on is enabled (the Enable button should read Disable once it is on).
- 9Restart Kodi so the channel list and guide load cleanly.
- 10Choose TV from Kodi's main menu. Your channels appear under Channels and the programme guide under Guide.
💡 On some Linux distributions the add-on is packaged separately (for example kodi-pvr-iptvsimple on Debian and Ubuntu) and must be installed with the system package manager before it appears in the list.
Which Players Work on Kodi Devices?
Inside Kodi, PVR IPTV Simple Client is the standard way to load an M3U playlist and it ships in the official repository, so there is no need for third-party repositories or add-ons of unknown origin. Avoid add-ons that promise free premium channels: they are a common source of malware and unlicensed streams.
If Kodi is running on an Android TV box or a Fire TV device, you can also install a dedicated IPTV player alongside it. TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro both accept Xtream Codes logins and are generally faster to set up — see the Android TV guide. On a computer, compare Kodi with the other IPTV players for Windows PC and Mac. TiviMate is a third-party player developed by Armobsoft FZE and listed on Google Play; it is not our product and contains no channels.
Troubleshooting IPTV on Kodi
❓ "Unable to load playlist" or no channels after restart
Re-paste the M3U URL and check the add-on is enabled. Open the URL in a web browser on the same network — if it doesn't download a file, the link or your subscription is the problem, not Kodi. See fixing channels that will not load.
❓ Login or authorization errors
An expired subscription, a typo in the username or password inside the URL, or too many devices connected at once all produce the same error. The fixes are the same as in the Smarters failed to authorize guide.
❓ Channels play but the guide is empty
Check the XMLTV URL on the EPG tab, then clear Kodi's stored guide data under Settings → PVR & Live TV → General → Clear data (switch the settings level to Advanced or Expert if the option is hidden). More fixes in EPG not working.
❓ PVR IPTV Simple Client is missing from the list
On Linux, install the separate system package mentioned above. On other platforms, update Kodi to a current release from kodi.tv or your device's app store — older builds may not see the current add-on version.
❓ Buffering or freezing
Start with the connection tips below. Kodi's video cache can also be enlarged through the advancedsettings.xml file documented on the official Kodi wiki. The full checklist is in how to fix IPTV buffering.
Performance Tips for Kodi
- ▸Use a wired connection where you can. Ethernet is steadier than Wi-Fi for live TV. On Wi-Fi, connect to the 5 GHz band and keep the device close to the router.
- ▸Keep Kodi lean. Every add-on and skin you install uses memory. Remove the ones you don't use, particularly on low-powered sticks and Raspberry Pi boards.
- ▸Restart regularly. Fully close Kodi and restart the device now and then, and clear its thumbnail cache if menus become slow.
- ▸VPNs are a trade-off. A VPN can help if your internet provider slows down streaming traffic, but it also adds an extra hop and some providers block VPN addresses. Test with and without one — see does IPTV work with a VPN?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tivimate IPTV work on Kodi?
Yes. Load your M3U playlist URL into the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on, and add the XMLTV (EPG) URL for the TV guide. Both URLs are in the welcome message you receive after subscribing. Kodi 19 Matrix or newer uses the same steps.
Which Kodi add-on do I use for IPTV?
PVR IPTV Simple Client. It is a Kodi add-on maintained by the Kodi team that loads M3U playlists, and it ships in Kodi's own official repository (Add-ons → Install from repository → Kodi Add-on repository → PVR clients), so no third-party repositories are needed. On some Linux distributions it is packaged separately, for example kodi-pvr-iptvsimple.
Why are my channels not loading in Kodi?
Re-paste the M3U URL, check the add-on is enabled, and restart Kodi. Open the URL in a web browser on the same network — if it doesn't download a file, the link or your subscription is the problem, not Kodi.
Why is the TV guide empty in Kodi?
Check the XMLTV URL on the add-on's EPG tab, then clear Kodi's stored guide data under Settings → PVR & Live TV → General → Clear data (switch the settings level to Advanced or Expert if the option is hidden).
Should I use Kodi or a dedicated IPTV player on Firestick?
Kodi runs on Fire TV and Android TV devices, but TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro accept Xtream Codes logins and are generally faster to set up. Kodi suits people who already use it and want live TV inside it.
Get Your M3U & EPG URLs
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New to IPTV? Read our the service guide — covering how IPTV works, every device setup, troubleshooting, pricing, and how to choose the best IPTV service provider.