How to install IPTV on Kodi.

What you need

Kodi installed on whatever you use — a Fire Stick, an Android box, a Windows or Mac computer, a Raspberry Pi — and an IPTV subscription that gives you an M3U URL (and ideally an EPG/XMLTV URL for the guide). You do not need a third-party "build" or repository; those are what get people into trouble. The official add-on does the whole job. If you're new to all this, start with what IPTV is.

Step 1 — Open the PVR IPTV Simple Client

From Kodi's home screen, go to Add-ons > My add-ons > PVR clients > PVR IPTV Simple Client. It's bundled with Kodi, so it's already there — you're just configuring it. Open it and choose Configure.

Step 2 — Add your M3U URL

In the General tab, set Location to Remote URL (Internet address), then paste your M3U playlist link into the M3U Play List URL field. Paste, don't retype — a single wrong character is the number-one reason a Kodi setup loads nothing.

Step 3 — Add the EPG (TV guide)

Switch to the EPG Settings tab, set it to Remote URL, and paste your EPG (XMLTV) link. This is what turns a flat channel list into a proper "now and next" guide. Skip it if you don't care about the guide, but it's worth the extra ten seconds.

Step 4 — Enable and restart

Back out, make sure the add-on is Enabled, and restart Kodi. On the way back up it loads your playlist, and your channels appear under the TV menu on the home screen. First load can take a minute while the guide downloads — that's normal, not a fault.

An easier alternative

Kodi is powerful but fiddly. If the PVR route feels like hard work, IPTV Smarters Pro or TiviMate are simpler dedicated players that take the same M3U or Xtream login — especially on a Fire Stick, where we cover the full setup in how to set up IPTV on a Firestick. There's no shame in the easy path.

If your channels load but stutter at peak time, that's the servers, not Kodi. The app can't fix distance.

That last point is the honest one: Kodi plays whatever stream it's handed. If it's smooth off-peak and falls over during a big match, the provider's servers are the issue — which is why EightK runs on German-based servers and offers a €3 trial to prove it on your own line. The official Kodi website and its PVR IPTV Simple Client wiki have the full reference if you want it.

Frequently asked questions