Key Takeaways
- Kodi is free, open-source media centre software — completely legal, and it comes with zero live TV channels by default.
- Kodi IPTV means adding the official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on and connecting it to a legitimate subscription.
- "Fully loaded" Kodi boxes bundle illegal add-ons onto the device before sale — that's the illegal part, not Kodi.
- Setup takes about 10 minutes and works with any standard M3U or Xtream Codes IPTV subscription.
- IPTVUKElite works with Kodi exactly like any other player — 25,000+ channels, 200,000+ films, from £4.92/month.
Few pieces of software have been as misunderstood in the UK as Kodi. Search "Kodi" and you'll find years of headlines about "illegal Kodi boxes" — but Kodi the software has never been illegal, and it has never contained a single live TV channel out of the box. This guide explains what Kodi actually is, how Kodi IPTV UK setups genuinely work, and why buying a pre-loaded box is the worst way to do it.
What Kodi Actually Is
Kodi is a free, open-source media centre maintained by the non-profit XBMC Foundation. It plays your own local videos, music and photos, and supports thousands of official add-ons for legitimate services. On its own, straight after installing it, Kodi has no live TV, no sport and no films — it is an empty shell until you point it at a source. That single fact is the whole story behind the UK's "Kodi box" controversy: sellers were pre-loading Kodi with unofficial add-ons that streamed copyrighted content without a licence, and it was those add-ons — never Kodi itself — that were illegal.
Why "Fully Loaded" Kodi Boxes Are a Bad Idea
A "fully loaded" Kodi box is exactly what it sounds like: a cheap Android box with Kodi and a stack of unofficial add-ons already installed, sold as a shortcut to free TV. In the UK, selling these devices has led to real prosecutions, because distributing pre-configured access to copyrighted streams is illegal, unlike installing Kodi itself. Beyond the legal risk to the seller, the practical experience is poor for the buyer too: unofficial add-ons get taken down constantly, there is no real support when something breaks, and the device is frequently abandoned by whoever sold it within months.
None of that has anything to do with Kodi as software. The fix is simple: install Kodi yourself for free, and connect it to a proper IPTV subscription the same way you'd connect any other player.
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The official route uses an add-on called PVR IPTV Simple Client, built into Kodi's own repository — nothing needs downloading from outside Kodi itself.
- Open Add-ons. From the Kodi home screen, go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from repository.
- Find PVR Clients. Select PVR Clients, then choose PVR IPTV Simple Client and install it.
- Configure the add-on. Open its settings and choose either M3U Play List URL or Xtream Codes login, then enter the details from your IPTV welcome email. Xtream Codes is the better option — it pulls in the full programme guide automatically.
- Restart Kodi. You'll be prompted to restart after enabling the add-on — do this now.
- Enable the PVR backend. Under Settings > Player > TV, make sure the IPTV Simple Client backend is switched on.
- Watch. Open the TV section from the Kodi home screen — your full channel list and guide load automatically.
That's the entire process, and it's identical in principle to setting up IPTV Smarters or TiviMate — only the interface is Kodi's own, rather than a dedicated IPTV app.
Kodi vs a Dedicated IPTV App: Which Should You Use?
| Factor | Kodi | IPTV Smarters / TiviMate |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | ⚠️ Extra add-on step | ✅ Built for this from the start |
| Plays local media too | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Add-on ecosystem | ✅ Thousands | ❌ IPTV only |
| Best for | Existing Kodi users | Simplicity, IPTV only |
If you already run Kodi for your film and music library, folding IPTV into the same interface makes sense — one app, one remote, one home screen. If you only want live TV with no other media library to manage, a dedicated app is usually the simpler starting point; our full IPTV player apps comparison covers those in detail.
Devices Kodi Runs On
Kodi installs on far more hardware than most dedicated IPTV apps: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android boxes and phones, Amazon Firestick, Apple TV (via sideloading) and Raspberry Pi. It notably does not have an official build for Samsung or LG's own Smart TV operating systems — see our IPTV on Smart TV guide if that's your setup instead.
The Verdict
Kodi has never been the problem — it's free, legal, open-source software with no live TV of its own. The actual answer to "Kodi IPTV UK" is the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on connected to a real subscription, not a pre-loaded box from a stranger. Set it up yourself in ten minutes, and you get the same 25,000+ channels and 4K sport as any other IPTV player, inside an interface you may already know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kodi legal in the UK?
Yes. Kodi is free, open-source media centre software maintained by a non-profit foundation, and installing it is completely legal in the UK. The controversy around "Kodi boxes" in the UK press was about third-party add-ons pre-loaded onto sold devices that streamed copyrighted content illegally — not about Kodi itself, which has no live TV features built in.
What is a "fully loaded" Kodi box and is it safe to buy one?
A "fully loaded" Kodi box is a generic Android box pre-installed with Kodi and illegal third-party add-ons that stream copyrighted content without a licence. Buying and selling these devices has led to prosecutions in the UK, the add-ons are frequently taken down without warning, and sellers rarely offer any real support. It is safer and more reliable to install Kodi yourself and connect it to a legitimate IPTV subscription.
How do I add IPTV channels to Kodi?
Install the official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on from Kodi's own repository, then enter your M3U playlist URL or Xtream Codes login details from your IPTV subscription. Restart Kodi and your channels and TV guide appear under the TV section.
Does Kodi come with live TV channels built in?
No. Kodi is a media player, not a broadcaster or content provider. It has no channels of any kind until you add a PVR add-on and connect it to a legal source, such as an IPTV subscription with proper broadcaster licensing.
What is the difference between Kodi and an IPTV player like IPTV Smarters?
Kodi is a general-purpose, open-source media centre that can play local files, add-ons and, with the right PVR add-on, live TV. IPTV Smarters and similar apps are purpose-built specifically for IPTV, with a simpler setup aimed only at live channels and VOD. Kodi suits people who already use it for other media and want IPTV folded into the same interface; a dedicated app is usually simpler if IPTV is all you need.
Can I use Kodi with IPTVUKElite?
Yes. An IPTVUKElite subscription provides standard M3U and Xtream Codes access, which works with Kodi's PVR IPTV Simple Client exactly as it does with any other IPTV player, giving you 25,000+ channels and 200,000+ films inside the Kodi interface.
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