Setup guide
How to watch IPTV on a Windows PC or Mac
A laptop or desktop is often the first place people test an IPTV subscription, and for some it stays the main screen. You have three good routes on Windows and macOS: VLC for the fastest start, Kodi for a full TV interface with programme guide, and a dedicated desktop player for the familiar Smarters layout.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Before you start
- Your ZELVIX IPTV M3U link. For Kodi you will also want the EPG (XMLTV) link; ask support if you do not have it.
- Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 11 or later. Linux users can follow the VLC and Kodi steps too.
- A wired or 5 GHz connection. Browsers are not needed; IPTV plays in an app, not a web page.
- An HDMI cable if you want to show the computer’s picture on a TV.
Which player app to use
All three options are free and downloaded from the developer’s official website or the Microsoft Store, never from third-party download sites.
VLC media player
Already installed on many computers. Opens your M3U link as a playlist in seconds and plays almost any stream format. No programme guide and no Xtream login; use the M3U link.
Kodi + PVR IPTV Simple Client
Turns the computer into a television: channel groups, full programme guide from the XMLTV link, timers and a remote-friendly interface. Takes five minutes to configure once.
MyIPTV Player
A simple Windows app from the Microsoft Store that takes an M3U link and an EPG link and shows channels with a guide. Easier than Kodi, more complete than VLC.
Open your playlist in VLC
VLC is the two-minute route and the best way to check that your access works. It plays live channels from the M3U link; for a programme guide move on to Kodi or MyIPTV Player afterwards.
- Install or update VLCDownload VLC from the VideoLAN website and install it, or update your existing copy to the current version. The same steps work on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Open a network streamOn Windows choose Media, then Open Network Stream, or press Ctrl+N. On a Mac choose File, then Open Network. Paste your ZELVIX IPTV M3U link into the address field.
- Play the playlistClick Play. VLC downloads the playlist and starts the first channel. Open View and then Playlist (Ctrl+L on Windows, Cmd+Option+P on Mac) to see every channel grouped by category.
- Find channels quicklyUse the search box at the top of the playlist panel to filter by name. Double-click a channel to switch. Right-click the playlist and choose Save Playlist to File if you want to open it later without pasting the link.
- Adjust for smooth playbackIf channels stutter, open Tools, Preferences, Input / Codecs and raise the network caching value to 1500 ms or more, then restart VLC. Full-screen playback is the F key on Windows and Cmd+F on Mac.
Other players that work
Kodi with the PVR IPTV Simple Client (full guide)
Kodi gives a television experience on any computer, including a full programme guide. The setup is done once.
- Install Kodi from the Kodi website or the Microsoft Store and open it.
- Go to Settings (the gear icon), then Add-ons, then Install from repository, then PVR clients. Select PVR IPTV Simple Client and choose Install.
- After installation choose Configure. Under General set Location to Remote path (Internet address) and paste your M3U link in the M3U playlist URL field.
- Open the EPG tab, set Location to Remote path and paste the EPG (XMLTV) link we provide. Enable the add-on and confirm.
- Restart Kodi. The TV entry appears in the main menu with Channels, Guide and Recordings. Use the guide to browse by time or the channel list to browse by group.
- On Kodi 20 or later you can add a second configuration if you have more than one subscription.
MyIPTV Player on Windows
A light Windows alternative with a guide and no configuration files.
- Install MyIPTV Player from the Microsoft Store and open it.
- Open Settings, choose Add new playlist and EPG source, enter a name, paste the M3U link under Remote channel list and the EPG link under Program guide, and save.
- Select the new playlist, choose Refresh, and return to the home screen to browse channels and the guide.
Showing the picture on a TV
Any laptop can feed a television over HDMI.
- Connect the computer to the TV with an HDMI cable and select the TV as the display, duplicating or extending the screen.
- Set the TV as the audio output in the system sound settings.
- Run the player in full screen. On Windows use Win+P to pick the display mode; on a Mac use Displays in System Settings.
If something does not work
Most first-time problems come from one of a handful of causes. Check these before contacting support, and tell us which step you were on if you still need help.
VLC opens the link but nothing plays
Confirm the link is complete and has no spaces at the end. Try playing a single channel from the playlist panel rather than the whole list. If no channel plays, run a speed test and then ask support to check that your access is active.
Kodi shows “No channels” or an empty guide
Check that the M3U link is in the General tab and the EPG link in the EPG tab, both set to Remote path, then restart Kodi. The guide can take a few minutes to download the first time. If channels appear but the guide stays empty, verify the EPG link with support.
Streams stutter on a laptop that otherwise works fine
Use a wired connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi, close downloads and video calls, and in VLC raise the network caching value. A laptop in power-saving mode may also throttle Wi-Fi; plug it in.
The picture is small or the wrong shape on the TV
Set the display resolution to match the TV (1920×1080 or 3840×2160) and choose the correct aspect ratio in the player’s video menu. In VLC use Video, Aspect Ratio.
Questions about this device
Can I use my Xtream login on a computer?
VLC and Kodi’s simple client use the M3U link rather than a username and password. Your M3U link contains the same access, so ask support for it if you only received Xtream details. Some dedicated desktop players accept Xtream login directly.
Is there a programme guide in VLC?
No. VLC plays the channels but shows no schedule. For a guide use Kodi with the PVR IPTV Simple Client or MyIPTV Player, both free.
Does it work in a web browser?
IPTV streams are designed for player apps, not browser tabs. Using a player also gives you channel groups, a guide and smoother playback.
Is Kodi legal?
Kodi is an open-source media centre, and the PVR IPTV Simple Client is an official add-on from Kodi’s own repository. We only document those official components, used with your own subscription.
Can I record programmes on a computer?
Kodi can record a stream to disk if the service allows it, and VLC can record what is playing with the Record button on its advanced controls. Recording is for personal use only.
Want us to walk you through it?
Start with a free 24-hour trial and set it up with our support team on WhatsApp or Telegram. We answer around the clock, in English, French and Spanish.
ZELVIX IPTV provides the subscription and the access details for your device. The player apps named in this guide are made by independent developers, are not affiliated with ZELVIX DIGITAL, and their prices, store availability and menus can change at any time. Use the service only in a way that is lawful where you live.