How to Install, Update, and Use Kodi (2024)

Kodi is a highly versatile and open-source media streaming solution. The successor to Xbox Media Center (XBMC), Kodi is an effective tool for organizing and playing your favorite multimedia content. Like a lot of open-source software, Kodi comes with a ton of documentation and broad community support, but the software can still be a bit overwhelming to set up and use. Our guide walks you through the basics, including installation, updates, libraries, add-ons, and customizations.

First, however, let me clarify some common misconceptions about Kodi. Kodi's official software is perfectly legal. Kodi does not come with any content; you add files you legally own and can install officially approved add-ons that offer legal access to content. Kodi takes a hard-line stance on piracy, stating that "The watching or listening of illegal or pirated content which would otherwise need to be paid for is not endorsed or approved by Team Kodi."

Since the software is open-source, some people install modified versions of Kodi on third-party hardware and sell them as Kodi boxes. Note that Kodi does not sell hardware, nor does it endorse any of these boxes. However, it does offer its branding to hardware cases, such as the Kodi Edition Flirc casefor the Raspberry Pi 4 (RPi).

Some of these Kodi boxes are perfectly legal and bundle official Kodi add-ons. Others are loaded with third-party add-ons, some of which are legal and others of which are not. The only difference between an official Kodi add-on and a legitimate third-party one is that the latter has not been submitted to Kodi for approval. Using illicit third-party add-ons with any Kodi implementation is obviously illegal too. PCMag does not condone any illegal activity.

For further information, check out our in-depth explainer of Kodi.

How to Install Kodi

Depending on your device, installing Kodi can be a simple task, or an arduous one. Either way, you start at Kodi's downloads page. Here, Kodi lists all the platforms it supports, which at the time of publishing are: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, Raspberry Pi, and iOS (technically). Kodi is building support for tvOS in the next version (via jailbreaking or sideloading), but will drop support for iOS 32-bit devices. Kodi is also available on the Xbox One. Click on any one of the platform logos to see the available install files. There are three version options available for each platform: Recommended, Pre release, and Development Builds (for the upcoming v19, codename Matrix). This guide is accurate as of the latest stable build release, 18.6 (Leia).

Kodi's Leia build focuses on improving the software's stability over the previous Krypton version. Improvements in 18.6 are detailed on Kodi's blog. Linux users might also be interested to know that the Kodi Foundation joined the Linux Foundation in 2019.

Kodi on Windows & macOS

At one end of the difficulty spectrum, there are the straightforward Windows and macOS installs. On the Windows side of things, Kodi offers three options: a download from the Microsoft Store, a 32-bit installer, and a 64-bit installer. For macOS, your only choice is a 64-bit installer. Once the file download completes, just follow the install prompts through to the end.

Kodi on Linux

For Linux systems, open a terminal window or SSH and type in the commands below, one line at a time:

sudo apt-get install software-properties-commonsudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppasudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get install kodi

Kodi on iOS

You could try to get Kodi on your iOS device by jailbreaking and installing Cydia, using App Signer, or using Cydia Impactor, but all those methods are tedious and may not even work. If you must have Kodi on your iOS device, follow the steps outlined in Kodi's iOS guide. Otherwise, we recommend using a device that works with Kodi or a different media management solution, such as Plex or Emby.

Kodi on Android

On Android, the easiest way to install Kodi is directly from the Google Play store. If for whatever reason that doesn't work, you can sideload any of the ARM-based install packages (newer devices should opt for the ARMV8A (64-bit) option) on to your device as well.

To set things up, simply enable installs from unknown sources (for Android 10, navigate to Settings > Apps & notifications > Special App Access > Install unknown apps). Browse to the Kodi Download Page using one of the privileged apps and then just download and install the package. Remember to disable the unknown apps setting afterward.

Kodi on Raspberry Pi

The easiest way to get Kodi up and running on the RPi is via a Linux distribution specifically made for running Kodi. Kodi's official site lists a few options, including the "just enough OS," LibreELEC. To install this distro, simply download the LibreELEC USB-SD Creator tool (available on Windows, macOS, or Linux) and choose the correct image for your generation RPi. Then, you select the removable SD card that you plan to use with your RPi as the target.

Although the LibreELEC image only requires 2GB of free space, it recommends at least 4GB, so you have room for everything else you want to store locally. Once you've finished the installation process, you simply plug the card into your RPi, connect the RPi to a display, and turn it on.

Updating Kodi

Getting Kodi installed can feel like a hassle depending on your platform. Still, at some point, you will need to update the software. For the most part, updating Kodi is no different than installing it. With the exception of the Google Play store, Microsoft Store version, and some Linux-based installs, Kodi does not auto-update any of its apps, so you need to download and reinstall the newest version on your own.

Kodi on Android

If you installed Kodi from the Google Play store, the app will update automatically. For manual installs, just complete the same steps with the newest app version.

Kodi on Windows & macOS

For Windows and macOS, return to Kodi's download page and grab the latest version for your platform. You don't need to uninstall the previous version before running the installer. All of your user data lives in a separate folder than the installation files, so none of your existing configurations will be affected. Of course, you can back up these files before you upgrade your software via the Backup Add-on (I discuss add-ons a little further down) if you have any grave concerns. This Add-on exports (manually or on a schedule) your database, playlist, thumbnails, add-ons, and other configuration details to a local folder or Dropbox.

Kodi on iOS

iOS users who were able to install Kodi via Cydia can check the app's Changes section for any updates. Any stable releases simply show up there when it is available.

For those who went the Xcode route, just open iOS App Signer, download the latest .deb file, and (using the same provisioning profile) reload Kodi on to your device.

Kodi on Linux

For Linux installs, enter the following lines of code in Terminal or SSH one at a time:

sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get upgrade

In some cases, if the installation fails, you also may need to run the below command to install any missing packages:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Kodi on Raspberry Pi

RPi users are in luck. If you used the LibreELEC distro, Kodi should update itself automatically. If for some reason, Kodi does not automatically upgrade itself, then you can try some of the manual alternatives LibreELEC outlines on its website.

Adding Files to Your Kodi Library

Once you install Kodi, it's time to add some files. For the purpose of this guide, I tested with the Windows and Android versions of Kodi, but all the options and procedures should be identical across platforms so long as you install the official Kodi release. I did not have any issues installing version 18.6 (Leia) on either platform.

To reiterate, Kodi does not provide any content. Therefore, you need to add it on your own. Along the left-hand side of the application, you will see a wide range of content categories including Movies, TV Shows, Music, and Pictures. These categories work with any local or remote files, so all you need to do is add a source. Click on the Videos section, for example, and then hit the Add videos button. Each content section works this way. From the pop-up, you select files from any folder on your local device or an external drive (local or network). Once you add files, Kodi will index everything and populate the respective sections with your files.

Some of the other categories in this menu, such as TV and Radio require a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) back end. Setting up this connection can be complex, and I recommend you visit Kodi's full-fledged PVR FAQ page on the topic if you actually plan to use this functionality. In short, PVR software converts your cable signal into something Kodi can actually process. If you use an antenna to watch TV, you can install a PCI tuner or receiver for your computer or laptop. Cable users (especially in the US) might face more difficulties, since providers typically encrypt the signal. In that case, you need to purchase a TV Tuner that supports CableCARD, and then connect that to your PC via Ethernet. In this scenario, cable companies need to physically come out to your home to install and activate the CableCARD.

How to Install Kodi Add-Ons

Kodi add-ons vary widely in their utility. Some more technical ones add support for various audio codecs or PVR back ends. Others affect more visual elements, such as screensavers or playback visualizations. The best way to discover useful add-ons is to spend some time browsing the catalogs. You never know what might catch your attention. I would recommend starting in the Video add-ons section, since this section features some recognizable apps such as DAZN, Plex, Pluto TV, Twitch, and Vimeo. Regardless of what you choose, installing add-ons is a simple process. Simply select the add-ons section from the main content menu and enable the add-on browser extension. Categories of add-ons include: Look and Feel, Weather, and Context Menus, in addition to those made to complement all the main content categories.

Once you find one that interests you, go ahead and hit the install button. Some may require some additional configuration, but these settings are easily accessible via the My add-ons section of the interface. Here, you can launch, configure, update, disable, or uninstall any add-ons.

Kodi makes add-ons conveniently accessible from relevant sections of the interface, in addition to this central repository. For example, if you navigate to the Pictures content menu section, Kodi shows you all the related add-ons you installed. In my case, Kodi listed the Google Drive, Flickr, and XKCD (for viewing entries from the satirical daily webcomic) add-ons. Be careful about providing your credentials to any unofficial apps that offer access to well-known services; you might be putting your account at risk.

Should You Use a VPN With Kodi?

You should use a virtual private network (VPN) whenever you connect to the internet and especially when using a public Wi-Fi network. Therefore, if you plan to install and use add-ons (especially any illegitimate third-party ones) that use your network connection, we recommend using a VPN to help protect your privacy. A VPN is not a perfect security solution, however, and can't do anything to prevent you from downloading malware disguised as a useful third-party add-on or from giving your account details to an authentic-looking login page. A VPN simply isn't necessary if you are just using Kodi to manage local media.

Since there aren't any official VPN add-ons, the easiest way to install a VPN alongside Kodi is to do so on the device that is running Kodi. A VPN will protect all of the outgoing internet traffic on your device, including that of Kodi. Native VPN apps are readily available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux-based systems.

If you bought a Kodi box or your Kodi installation is otherwise not compatible with a VPN app, Brian Hornsby's OpenVPN for Kodi, though the last commit on that Github was five years ago. To get this to work, you will need to enable the Unknown Sources option in Kodi's settings to install the zip file you downloaded from GitHub as well as generate an OpenVPN profile from your VPN provider.

How to Customize Your Kodi Installation

The easiest way to customize Kodi's look and feel is by changing the theme. Simply navigate to Settings > Interface > Skins. Kodi comes preinstalled with two default skins, Estuary (default) and Estouchy (touch-screen friendly). Click the Get More button to the right to add additional skins, but keep in mind that not all skins support all interfaces and features. For example, some are only suited for touch-screen devices, and others do not work with the previously described PVR functionality.

Once you decide on one, head over to the Skin settings menu item to customize its look and feel. You can select which items appear in the main content menu and toggle other elements and animations. Kodi also lets you update various art throughout the application, such as the thumbnails for music genres (Kodi refers to these sets as Fanart) or changing the application background.

Users can also customize the way Kodi works by, for example, choosing the start page. If you use Kodi specifically to power an HTPC setup (especially now that Plex has dropped support for HTPCs), it makes sense to set the Movies or TV Shows content sections as the default. You can also set up a screensaver for when you aren't using your setup. The default options are a bit boring (either dim the screen or fade to black), but more visually captivating ones are also available, such as the one that displays Bing's photos of the week or scrolls multiple Instagram feeds, for example.

Kodi displays useful information, too. You can configure weather forecast information in the main content menu with a number of different services, such as Weather Underground and Yahoo Weather, and add it permanently to the top menu. Although it's not customizable, the System Information tab is a great place to go if you need to collect hardware or network info on your device or quickly see how much storage you have left.

Kodi Community

If you run into any issues or simply want to share your experience with Kodi on any of its many platforms, please add a comment below. We'd love to hear your thoughts on Kodi and are curious to know how you use the software. Also, be sure to check out Kodi's official community forums for all the latest news and updates.