Short answer: Kodi plays IPTV through an official add-on called PVR IPTV Simple Client, which ships in Kodi's own repository — no third-party repositories, builds or downloads needed. You point it at your M3U playlist and XMLTV guide, restart, and your channels appear under TV with a full programme guide. Since Kodi 20 it handles several playlists at once, and it supports catch-up where your provider offers it. The most common frustration is that half its settings are hidden until you raise the settings level from Basic to Advanced.
Why Kodi for IPTV
Kodi is free, open source, and runs on almost everything: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, Fire TV and Raspberry Pi. It's the most configurable IPTV player there is.
It suits people who want control — custom channel groups, several playlists merged, recordings through a backend, and a guide they can shape. It suits less well anyone who wants a player that works the moment it's installed; TiviMate is easier on Android TV.
Setup, step by step
1. Install Kodi from kodi.tv or your platform's store. On Fire TV it's a sideload through Downloader — the process is here.
2. Install the add-on. Settings → Add-ons → Install from repository → PVR clients → PVR IPTV Simple Client → Install. It's in Kodi's official repository; nothing else is needed.
3. Configure the playlist. Open the add-on's settings, go to General, set Location to Remote path, and paste your M3U URL. Use Local path instead if you've saved and edited the file yourself — here's what's inside an M3U.
4. Configure the guide. Under EPG settings, add your XMLTV URL. Compressed guides in gzip or XZ format are supported.
5. Restart Kodi. Channels and guide load on start-up. A large playlist takes a minute the first time.
6. Open TV from the main menu, and the guide should be populated.
The settings-level trap
Kodi's settings have four levels: Basic, Standard, Advanced and Expert. The add-on only shows options available at your current level, so many guides describe settings you simply can't see.
If a setting mentioned anywhere seems missing, click the cog at the bottom-left of the settings screen and raise the level to Advanced or Expert. That's the fix for most "I can't find that option" problems with Kodi.
Several playlists at once
Since Kodi 20, the add-on supports multiple configurations — each its own M3U and XMLTV pair. Open the add-on, choose Configure, then Add add-on configuration.
That's the clean way to run, say, a free broadcaster list alongside a paid service, or separate playlists for different languages, all in one guide.
Catch-up
Catch-up works where the provider archives channels and the playlist declares it — through catchup attributes in the M3U, or archive flags from an Xtream Codes server. Enable it in the add-on's Catchup settings and set the number of days to match the provider's archive.
If it's greyed out, it's almost always the playlist rather than Kodi. Why catch-up goes missing, and how to fix it.
Streams that need headers
Some streams won't play unless the request includes a particular user agent or referer. Kodi handles this with #KODIPROP lines in the M3U, placed above the stream URL, which set properties for that stream.
If a stream plays in VLC but not in Kodi, a missing header is one of the likelier reasons. Your provider's documentation should say what's needed.
Common problems
No channels after setup. Restart Kodi — changes apply on start-up. Then check the M3U URL in VLC; if it doesn't play there, it's the playlist, not Kodi.
Guide empty. Channel IDs don't match between playlist and XMLTV. Check tvg-id values against the guide file.
Guide times wrong. Adjust the EPG time shift in the add-on's settings.
Channels stutter. Kodi's cache settings can help on marginal connections, but test the network first — the buffering guide works through the causes.
Playlist doesn't update. Set Auto refresh mode, or disable local caching of the M3U.
Avoid "builds" and third-party repositories
This is the part that matters most with Kodi.
Kodi itself is legitimate software, and the Kodi foundation has been consistently clear that it doesn't endorse piracy add-ons. The reputation problem comes from "builds" and third-party repositories that bundle add-ons scraping unlicensed streams. Beyond the legal issue, they're a genuine security risk: unvetted code from anonymous sources, running with network access on a device inside your home.
Everything in this guide uses Kodi's official repository. For IPTV, that's all you need — PVR IPTV Simple Client plus a playlist from a source you've chosen. How to evaluate a source.
Quick answers
Which add-on do I use for IPTV on Kodi? PVR IPTV Simple Client, from Kodi's official repository.
Do I need a third-party repository? No, and you're better off without one.
Can Kodi handle more than one playlist? Yes, since Kodi 20 — add a new add-on configuration for each.
Why can't I find a setting? Raise the settings level from Basic to Advanced.
Does Kodi support catch-up? Yes, where the provider archives the channel and the playlist declares it.
Why won't a stream play in Kodi but plays in VLC? Often a missing header — set it with #KODIPROP.
Sources: PVR IPTV Simple Client documentation in the kodi-pvr GitHub repository, including multiple configuration support since Kodi 20 (Nexus), compressed XMLTV support, catch-up handling and settings levels.