Overview
Kodi is a powerful open-source media center that can play IPTV streams using the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on. This method uses M3U playlists and XMLTV EPG data for a complete TV experience.
Important: Xtream Codes logins aren't supported by this add-on directly—use the M3U URL from your Neo4K welcome email instead.
What you'll need
- Kodi v20+ (Nexus/Omega) on your device (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android/Fire TV)
- Neo4K M3U Playlist URL (and optional XMLTV EPG URL from welcome email)
- 5–10 minutes and stable internet connection
1 Install PVR IPTV Simple Client
🗺️ Step-by-step navigation:
- 1. Open Add-ons from Kodi's main menu
- 2. Select Install from repository
- 3. Choose Kodi Add-on repository
- 4. Navigate to PVR clients
- 5. Find and select PVR IPTV Simple Client
- 6. Click Install and wait for completion
Success indicator: You'll see an "Add-on enabled" notification when installation is complete.
2 Configure Playlist
Configuration Steps
- 1 Go back to the PVR IPTV Simple Client and click Configure
- 2 In the General tab, set Location to "Remote path (Internet address)"
- 3 Enter your M3U URL in the "M3U Play List URL" field
- 4 Click OK to save settings
- 5 Restart Kodi completely for the PVR to load channels
- 6 Open the TV section from Kodi's main menu
📅 Optional: EPG & Channel Logos
Enhance your TV experience with electronic program guide (EPG) data and channel logos:
| Field | Example | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| M3U URL | https://example/neo4k/playlist.m3u | Channel list and streams |
| XMLTV URL | https://example/neo4k/guide.xml.gz | EPG program guide |
EPG Configuration
- • Add XMLTV URL in the EPG settings tab
- • Set EPG time offset if guide times are wrong
- • Enable "Refresh EPG on startup"
Channel Logos
- • Usually included in M3U playlist automatically
- • Can specify custom logo path if needed
- • Supports PNG, JPG, and SVG formats
⏯️ Optional: Timeshift & Playback Tips
Timeshift Support
Timeshift availability depends on your provider and stream. Simple Client supports basic timeshift for compatible streams.
Refresh Rate Matching
Settings → Player → Adjust display refresh rate = "On start/stop" for smoother playback.
Hardware Acceleration
Try toggling hardware acceleration on/off in Player settings if you experience stuttering.
Performance Optimization
Increase PVR cache or minimize GUI while playing for low-power devices like older Android boxes.
🔄 Refresh/Update Playlist
Force Refresh Methods
Quick Method
- 1. Go to Add-ons → My add-ons → PVR clients
- 2. Select PVR IPTV Simple Client
- 3. Click "Disable" then "Enable"
- 4. Wait for channels to reload
Complete Refresh
- 1. Settings → PVR & Live TV → Guide
- 2. Click "Clear data"
- 3. Settings → PVR & Live TV → General
- 4. Click "Clear data" and restart Kodi
Note: Changes to your Neo4K account may take a minute to appear in your playlist. Be patient after making account modifications.
🔧 Troubleshooting
TV menu never appears
- • Ensure PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on is enabled
- • Restart Kodi completely (exit and reopen)
- • Check that at least one PVR add-on is enabled
- • Go to Settings → Interface → Skin → Configure skin and ensure TV is enabled in main menu
No channels after setup
- • Verify your M3U URL is correct and accessible
- • Test M3U URL in a web browser to ensure it loads
- • Check your network connection is stable
- • Clear PVR data (Settings → PVR & Live TV → General → Clear data) and restart
- • Try disabling and re-enabling the PVR IPTV Simple Client
Guide empty or wrong times
- • Add XMLTV EPG URL in the add-on's EPG settings tab
- • Set EPG time offset to correct timezone issues (e.g., +2 hours, -5 hours)
- • Clear guide data: Settings → PVR & Live TV → Guide → Clear data
- • Enable "Refresh EPG on startup" in add-on settings
- • Wait 5-10 minutes for EPG data to fully download
Buffering or stuttering playback
- • Use wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi if possible
- • Connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi band instead of 2.4 GHz
- • Enable refresh rate matching: Settings → Player → Videos → Adjust display refresh rate
- • Close other apps and background processes
- • Increase video cache: Settings → Player → Videos → Advanced → Video cache
Only some channels work
- • Region or ISP restrictions may block certain streams
- • Try using a reputable VPN service
- • Verify your playlist is current and subscription is active
- • Test different servers if available in your account
- • Contact Neo4K support if many channels consistently fail
Crashes on older Android boxes
- • Switch to a lighter Kodi skin (Estuary, Confluence)
- • Disable hardware acceleration that causes platform-specific issues
- • Reduce animation quality in Interface settings
- • Close unnecessary add-ons and background services
- • Consider using an older Kodi version (19.x) for very old hardware
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kodi versions are supported?
Kodi v20 (Nexus) and v21 (Omega) are recommended for the best compatibility with PVR IPTV Simple Client. Older versions may work but are not officially supported and may have compatibility issues.
Can I use Xtream Codes credentials?
PVR IPTV Simple Client doesn't support Xtream Codes API directly. You must use the M3U playlist URL provided in your Neo4K welcome email instead of the Xtream Codes login credentials.
How do I add EPG channel logos?
Channel logos can be added via XMLTV EPG data or by specifying a logo path in the add-on settings. Most Neo4K M3U playlists include logo URLs automatically, so logos should appear without additional configuration.
Can I record TV shows with this setup?
PVR IPTV Simple Client doesn't support recording functionality by itself. You would need additional recording add-ons, external PVR software like TVHeadend, or use Kodi's built-in recording features with compatible backend software.
How do I switch between channel groups?
Use the Groups section in Kodi's TV interface to switch between different channel categories (Sports, Movies, News, etc.) that are defined in your M3U playlist. You can also filter channels by group in the channel guide.
Does Kodi work on Fire TV?
Yes, Kodi works excellently on Amazon Fire TV devices. Install Kodi from the Amazon Appstore or sideload it using the Downloader app, then follow this same guide for IPTV setup using PVR IPTV Simple Client.