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IPTV in Kodi: configure PVR IPTV Simple Client with M3U and EPG
Kodi IPTV setup with the official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on: install it, add your M3U playlist, then a separate XMLTV EPG URL, step by step.
Kodi does not play an IPTV playlist directly in its main interface: it goes through its PVR (Personal Video Recorder) infrastructure, common to many live television sources. For IPTV, the most used official add-on is PVR IPTV Simple Client. This guide details its installation and configuration with an M3U playlist and an XMLTV EPG.
What you need
- Kodi installed on your device (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android or Android TV in particular).
- An M3U URL provided by your IPTV access.
- If available, an EPG URL in XMLTV format, to display the program guide.
How do you install the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on?
Install the add-on from Kodi's own repository: go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from repository > PVR clients, then pick PVR IPTV Simple Client and install it. Step by step:
- In Kodi, open Settings > Add-ons.
- Choose Install from repository.
- Navigate to the PVR clients category.
- Select PVR IPTV Simple Client, then Install.
This add-on is maintained by the Kodi team itself, as shown in its official GitHub repository, so it is not an unverified third-party add-on.
How do you configure the M3U playlist in Kodi?
Configure the playlist in the add-on's General tab: set the source type to Remote URL (or Local Path), enter your full M3U URL, then enable the add-on if Kodi asks. Step by step:
- Once installed, open the settings of the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on (configuration icon next to its name, or from Settings > Add-ons > My add-ons).
- In the General tab, choose the source type (Local Path or Remote URL) for your M3U playlist.
- Enter the full M3U URL provided by your access.
- Validate, then activate the add-on if Kodi asks for it.
How do you add an XMLTV EPG in Kodi?
Add the EPG in the add-on's EPG tab by entering a separate XMLTV URL, then let Kodi refresh: the guide is a distinct source from the M3U playlist, so a working playlist does not carry the EPG with it. Step by step:
- In the same settings screen, open the EPG tab.
- Choose the source of the EPG (Local path or Remote URL) and enter the XMLTV URL provided by your access, if it is available separately from the M3U playlist.
- If the displayed times are offset, adjust the time shift offered by the add-on.
- Validate and let Kodi refresh the EPG.
The EPG and the M3U playlist are two distinct sources in this add-on: a working playlist does not automatically imply an already configured EPG.
Where do your channels appear in Kodi?
Once the playlist is loaded, the channels appear in the Live TV section of the main Kodi menu, with a program schedule if the EPG has been configured. This is covered in more detail in our EPG guide. If this section does not appear, check that PVR has been enabled in Settings > PVR & Live TV (or the splash screen offered by Kodi when you first launch a PVR add-on).
What advanced options does the add-on offer?
The official add-on repository documents several additional settings useful depending on IPTV access: grouping of channels by category, genre matching for EPG, support for catch-up functions when the provider offers them, and Gzip or XZ compression for large XMLTV files. These options remain optional for a first functional configuration.
Troubleshooting
- No channels appear: check that the M3U URL has been copied in full and that the add-on has been enabled after installation.
- EPG grid remains empty: confirm that a separate XMLTV URL has been provided in the EPG tab of the add-on settings.
- The EPG times seem offset: adjust the time shift in the add-on settings.
- Unstable playback: the problem is usually the network rather than the Kodi configuration itself. See our buffering troubleshooting guide.
In summary
Watching IPTV in Kodi goes through the official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on: an M3U URL for the channels, a separate XMLTV URL for the EPG, and the channels then appear in the live TV section of Kodi. For a configuration method valid on any device, our IPTV installation guide details the three universal methods.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kodi support IPTV natively, without an add-on?
No. Kodi offers a generic PVR (live television) infrastructure, but playing an IPTV playlist requires a dedicated add-on, most often PVR IPTV Simple Client.
Does PVR IPTV Simple Client also accept Xtream Codes identifiers?
The add-on is primarily designed for an M3U playlist, but its official repository documents a detection of the Xtream Codes format in certain URL configurations. A classic M3U URL remains the simplest and most reliable method.
Why does the EPG remain empty after adding my M3U playlist to Kodi?
The EPG depends on a separate XMLTV source, configured separately from the M3U playlist in the add-on's settings. If no URL or XMLTV file is entered, the program schedule remains empty even if the channels are working.
Do you have to restart Kodi after setting up the add-on?
A restart is not always necessary, but forcing a refresh of the playlist and EPG from the add-on's settings resolves most incomplete displays.
Is Kodi an IPTV channel provider?
No. Kodi is media center software; the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on only displays an M3U playlist coming from the IPTV access to which the user is subscribed.
