📦 Kodi IPTV Setup — PVR IPTV Simple Client

• Kodi installed (version 20 "Nexus" or 21 "Omega" recommended)
• An M3U playlist URL from your IPTV provider (or a local .m3u file)
• Optional but recommended: an XMLTV EPG URL for the TV guide — see our EPG guide

💡 Not sure about M3U vs Xtream Codes? Kodi's Simple Client uses an M3U URL. Read M3U vs Xtream Codes.

1. From the Kodi home screen, go to Settings (the gear icon)
2. Open Add-ons → My add-ons → PVR clients
3. Select PVR IPTV Simple Client
4. If it shows as disabled, click Enable first
5. Then click Configure

On Kodi 21, the Simple Client may need installing from the official repo: Add-ons → Install from repository → Kodi Add-on repository → PVR clients.

1. In the Simple Client config, open the General tab
2. Set Location to Remote Path (Internet address) for a URL, or Local Path for a file
3. Paste your playlist into M3U Play List URL
4. Click OK
5. Restart Kodi when prompted

After the restart, a TV entry appears on the Kodi home screen with your channels.

1. Re-open the Simple Client config → EPG Settings tab
2. Set Location to Remote Path
3. Paste your XMLTV URL into XMLTV URL
4. OK → restart Kodi
5. Open TV → Guide to see the programme grid

If the guide is empty, the channel tvg-id values in your M3U must match the IDs in the XMLTV file.

Kodi's default skin is functional but plain. For a more IPTV-friendly look:

• Aeon Nox: SiLVO — the most popular skin for live TV
• Estuary MOD V2 — a refined take on the default
• Arctic: Zephyr — clean and modern

Install via Settings → Interface → Skin → Get more.

"No PVR add-on enabled"

The Simple Client isn't enabled. Settings → Add-ons → My add-ons → PVR clients → enable it.

Channels load but won't play

• Test the stream URL in VLC first — if it fails there, it's the provider, not Kodi
• Enable Settings → Player → Videos → Adjust hardware acceleration
• Try the inputstream.ffmpegdirect add-on for stubborn streams

Guide is empty

• The XMLTV URL is wrong or offline
• tvg-id in the M3U doesn't match the EPG IDs
• Increase EPG days: Simple Client → Advanced

Buffering / freezing

Add an advancedsettings.xml cache tweak, switch to Ethernet, and see our buffering fix guide.