How to Set Up PVR IPTV Simple Client on Kodi

To set up PVR IPTV Simple Client on Kodi, install it from the official repository, then point it to an M3U playlist from a service or source you are authorized to use. XMLTV guide data is optional: add it in the client’s EPG settings if your provider supplies a compatible file or URL. Kodi provides the player interface; it does not supply channels or a subscription.

The screens below are Kodi-style interface illustrations. Menu wording and layout can vary by Kodi release, platform, and skin.

Before you start

• Make sure Kodi has internet access so it can install the add-on and retrieve a remote playlist.
• Have either an M3U playlist URL or a playlist file that Kodi can access. Use the URL or file supplied by your service provider, and confirm your account is allowed to use the streams.
• If you want an on-screen program guide, get the matching XMLTV guide URL or file from the same source. The guide is optional; the playlist can load channels without it.

Treat playlist URLs as private credentials. Some include an account name, password, or access token. Do not post yours publicly, and use an HTTPS address when your provider offers one.

Install and configure the client

1. Install IPTV Simple from Kodi’s repository

In Kodi, open Settings > Add-ons > Install from repository > PVR clients. Select PVR IPTV Simple Client, choose Install, and wait for Kodi to finish. Kodi’s official PVR guide lists PVR clients in the official repository; if the labels differ, look in the Add-on browser for the PVR clients category.

2. Open the client’s settings

Go to Settings > Add-ons > My add-ons > PVR clients, select PVR IPTV Simple Client, then choose Configure. You can also open the add-on’s information page after installation and select Configure there.

3. Choose how Kodi will access the playlist

In the client’s General settings, find Location. Choose Remote path if your provider gave you a web address, or Local path if you saved the M3U file on the device or a network location Kodi can browse.

4. Enter the M3U address or browse to the file

For a remote playlist, enter the full M3U URL in M3U playlist URL. Keep any query string or token supplied by your provider intact. For a local playlist, choose Local path, open M3U playlist path, and browse to the file. The add-on supports a device path or a local network path; the location must be readable from Kodi on the device running it.

If you are troubleshooting a file you created yourself, a basic M3U contains a header, a channel entry, and a stream address. For example:

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="sample.channel",Example Channel
https://stream.example.invalid/live/channel.m3u8

The address above is only a format example and will not play. The upstream documentation describes the supported M3U fields and formats.

5. Add XMLTV data if you want a program guide

Open the client’s EPG settings. Choose Remote path and enter the XMLTV URL, or select Local path and browse to the XMLTV file. Save the settings with OK. The channel IDs in the playlist should correspond to the IDs in the guide; when they do not match, Kodi may show channels but no program titles. Leave the EPG time shift at zero unless the guide consistently displays programs at the wrong time.

6. Save the settings and let Kodi load the data

Choose OK to save. Confirm that the client is enabled; if its details page offers Enable, select it. Kodi then loads the playlist and, if configured, guide data. A large list or slow remote server can take a little time to process. If Kodi displays a prompt to reload PVR data or restart, follow that prompt.

7. Open the channel list

Return to Kodi’s home screen and open TV, then Channels. If the playlist contains radio entries, open Radio to see them. The menu can appear only after Kodi’s PVR service has initialized, and the exact navigation depends on the skin.

8. Check the guide

Choose TV > Guide to browse listings. A blank guide does not necessarily mean the playlist failed: channel playback and EPG data are separate. If you see channels but no program information, verify the XMLTV location and channel-ID mapping before changing other settings.

Fix common setup problems

• No channels appear: Recheck the selected location type and URL or file path. Confirm the playlist opens from the Kodi device and has not expired. A playlist with a typo, inaccessible network share, or revoked account token will not load.
• Channels appear but will not play: The add-on reads the stream addresses in the playlist; it does not host the streams. Check that the provider still supports the address and that your account and network can reach it.
• The guide is empty or matched to the wrong channels: Confirm the XMLTV URL or file is valid and that channel identifiers in the playlist match guide entries. Use the EPG time shift only when listings are consistently offset.
• Changes do not show up: Save the configuration, allow the PVR service to reload, and restart Kodi only if the app prompts you or the refreshed list remains unavailable.

For exact setting descriptions and supported playlist and XMLTV fields, consult the Kodi Wiki page for PVR IPTV Simple Client and the upstream IPTV Simple documentation.