How to Watch IPTV in Kodi With IPTV Simple Client

Kodi can play IPTV with a full TV guide, for free, using its official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on. You install Kodi, install the add-on from Kodi's own repository, give it your M3U playlist and XMLTV guide links, and restart. A TV section appears with channels, a guide grid and, where your service supports it, catch-up. It takes about 20 minutes and works on Android TV, Windows, Mac, Linux and more.

Why Kodi

• Free and open-source, with no premium tier.
• Runs almost everywhere: Google TV, Android TV, Fire OS devices, Windows, macOS, Linux.
• Powerful guide features: multiple playlist-and-guide pairs, compressed guides, catch-up and timeshift.

The trade-off is setup effort and an interface that's more media-centre than cable box. If you just want the simplest TV-style player on Android TV, TiviMate is quicker; see the best M3U player for Android TV.

Step 1: Install Kodi

• Google TV / Android TV / Android phones: Kodi is on Google Play (Kodi on Google Play).
• Windows: from kodi.tv or the Microsoft Store.
• Mac and Linux: from kodi.tv.
• Fire TV: Kodi isn't in the Amazon Appstore; on Fire OS devices it's sideloaded using the download link on kodi.tv. It can't be installed on Vega OS sticks (why).

Step 2: Install PVR IPTV Simple Client

1. In Kodi, open Add-ons.
2. Choose Install from repository, then PVR clients.
3. Select PVR IPTV Simple Client and install it.

This add-on is maintained by the Kodi team (IPTV Simple Client on GitHub). Install it only from Kodi's official repository.

Step 3: Add your playlist and guide

1. Open the add-on and choose Configure.
2. In the general settings, set the playlist location to a remote path (URL) and paste your M3U link.
3. In the EPG settings, paste your XMLTV guide URL. Compressed guides (.gz and .xz) are fine.
4. Close the settings and restart Kodi.

If your service only gave you Xtream Codes details, look for its M3U link, which usually contains the same username and password; see M3U vs Xtream Codes.

Step 4: Catch-up and timeshift

The add-on's documentation explains that what you can do with live streams depends on the playback component used:

• Kodi's default player can only play and stop live streams.
• inputstream.adaptive (for HLS and similar formats) lets you pause and rewind within the stream's window.
• inputstream.ffmpegdirect adds a timeshift mode (rewind to when you started watching) and a catch-up mode that lets you move freely within your service's catch-up window.

Both inputstream add-ons are in Kodi's official repository. Catch-up only works if your service offers it; see IPTV catch-up explained.

More than one playlist

Since Kodi 20, the add-on supports several playlist-and-guide pairs. In its settings, choose to add another add-on configuration and enter the second pair. Handy if you combine a service with your own home media.

Common problems

• No TV section: restart Kodi after configuring; check the add-on is enabled.
• Channels but no guide: check the XMLTV URL loads in a browser, and that channel IDs match; see What is EPG?
• Guide an hour out: check the device's time zone, then the add-on's EPG time shift.
• Streams won't play: test the playlist in VLC. If it fails there, the problem is the playlist or service.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Installing unofficial add-ons or builds.
• Forgetting to restart Kodi after configuring the add-on.
• Expecting Xtream Codes support directly instead of using the M3U link.

A word about add-ons

Kodi itself is legal. Its reputation comes from unofficial add-ons that stream unlicensed content and from "fully loaded" Kodi boxes. Those add-ons are also a common malware route. Stick to the official repository and your own legitimate playlist, and Kodi is a safe, excellent piece of software. See Is IPTV safe?