In this guide, you will learn how to install Kodi on various devices.
Kodi is an open-source media software designed for home entertainment. Kodi lets you stream trending movies, TV Shows, IPTV, sports, live events, and more. The media software is free to download and can be installed on virtually any computing device.
Below in this guide, you can find step-by-step instructions on installing Kodi on Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, AppleTV, and other smart TVs.
Quick 2023 Update: I just wanted to let everyone know that I have reviewed and updated this article for 2023. I wanted to make sure that the guides here are still working, so I went ahead and tested everything.
As such, everything that’s below should be accurate. 🙂
Note: It’s highly recommended to use a VPN with Kodi in order to avoid any potential legal issues due to copyright.
My personal recommendation is NordVPN because it has a proven safety record and very fast servers.
With NordVPN, you will be able to watch even 4k videos without any buffering, and it will also keep you safe form any legal troubles.
Use the navigational menu on the right (desktop) or just below (mobile) to jump to the relevant sections.
It is legal to use Kodi; however, you can get into trouble using third-party add-ons. This is because these add-ons partly offer links to pirated content, and this infringes copyrights.
This issue has attracted negative publicity against Kodi, as various governments and copyright agencies are against copyright infringement.
Due to reason, most third-party add-ons are blocked by ISPs. Furthermore, manufacturers of various pre-loaded Kodi boxes have also been sued.
Additionally, several Kodi users have received DCMA warnings for streaming copyrighted content illegally via third-party add-ons.
All these cases demand the use of a good VPN option to keep your activities secure and private. A VPN will also help you access geo-restricted content while giving you fast speeds to stream HD content.
I recommend ExpressVPN if you want to use Kodi with third-party add-ons.
Kodi is compatible with multiple home devices, including your smartphone, smart TV, Android TV, Firestick, PC, and more.
Subsequently, you can install Kodi on various platforms, like Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, tvOS, Raspberry Pi, and Linux.
This guide gives you a simplified step-by-step guide on installing Kodi on various devices and platforms.
Kodi offers an Android app available on Google Play Store. Unlike other platforms, the installation procedure doesn’t require Sideloading but a simple search, click and download process.
Here’s how you can install Kodi on your Android device:
This action will download and install the app automatically. Open when finished to use Kodi.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick is a popular Android-based device plugged into your TV via an HDMI port. Firestick is similar to Fire TV, bar for a few physical features. Thankfully, these devices share the same installation procedure.
Note that the Amazon store doesn’t have the official Kodi app yet. Therefore, you have to sideload the APK file and do a manual install. But first, you must ensure your Fire TV Stick/ Fire TV device has permission to install third-party apps.
Here’s how (I used the Fire TV Stick 4K with the latest update):
1. On the Firestick home screen, navigate to Settings and select My Fire TV.
2. Go to Developer options.
3. Enable ADB debugging and also “Allow apps from Unknown Sources.”
Since Firestick runs on a fork of Android, we’ll download a regular Kodi APK file. To download the file, you must have a Downloader app readily available on the Amazon store. If you don’t have it:
1. Go back to the home screen, under Find, select Search and type “Downloader”.
2. Click on the first-choice orange app named Downloader.
3. Click “Get” to download and install Downloader into your Firestick.
After the installation, open the app and download and install the Kodi app.
Therefore, on the Downloader app:
1. Navigate to the URL field of the app, and type this link: http://www.kodi.tv/download and click “Go”.
2. You’ll see the official Kodi website on the screen. Scroll and select the Android option.
3. Next, you’ll see multiple download options. I recommend the “ARMV7A (32BIT)” option as it works well than the 64Bit version.
The download process takes a few seconds to finish, and installation will begin. Once it’s done, open Kodi and customize it to your liking. You might be prompted to delete the APK file afterward.
Windows users get two options on how to install Kodi. First, you can choose to download the Kodi app instantly from the Microsoft store. Alternatively, you can also opt for the offline app from the official Kodi website. This guide covers both download options.
To download directly from the Microsoft Store:
1. To download directly from the Microsoft Store:
2. On the search bar, type Kodi.
3. Select the top Kodi result and click “Get”.
4. The app will automatically download and install.
Once the installation procedure is done, click “Launch” to open the app.
If you prefer downloading the app from the website, here’s how you can do it:
1. Navigate to the official Kodi website download page and select Windows.
2. Download the correct version of your PC, whether 32-bit or 64-bit, and proceed to installation.
If you don’t know the version of your PC’s operating system, here’s how to check it:
The procedure is pretty much similar to that of a Windows PC. However, Kodi gives a macOS app that is only compatible with Macs running OS X 10.13 or higher. To install Kodi on your Mac:
Unfortunately, Kodi is not available on the iOS App Store. To install the streaming app, you need a third-party app like TweakBox. Subsequently, you can’t download TweakBox directly from the App Store.
Thankfully, here is a guide on how you can get it:
Visit the home page of your phone and search for TweakBox to start the process of installing Kodi on your iPhone. Next, navigate to the Apps tab, search for Kodi, and click install.
The process of installing Kodi on Apple TV is somewhat lengthy. But with enough practice, the whole procedure becomes more straightforward. In this guide, I used Apple TV4.
Note that the Apple TV 4K lacks a USB-C. As such, you’ll have to use Xcode on macOS with a wireless connection if you’re to sideload Kodi onto the Apple TV box.
To get macOS 0n your Windows PC, I recommend installing a virtual machine. Alternatively, refer to Hackintosh for more.
On the downside, this method dictates that you re-install Kodi every seven days if you use a free Apple development account.
Before we get started, confirm you have the following requirements beforehand:
Of importance, the Cydia Impactor only accepts the .ipa format of Kodi. As such, you’ll have to convert the .deb to .ipa. Here’s how you can convert the .deb file to .ipa format:
If you’ve followed every step to this point, we can now install Kodi on Apple TV. Here are the simple steps to follow:
You’ll have to repeat this process every seven days if you’re using a free Apple dev account. Hence keep the .ipa file on your Windows PC.
Many Smart TVs and TV Boxes run on Android and support Google Play Store services. Therefore, installing Kodi on these platforms is pretty straightforward:
Note that you can also refer to the process of installing Kodi on Android devices if you’re stuck somewhere on the Play Store.
If your Smart TV doesn’t use Android, such as Lg (Web OS) and Samsung, you will need to use an Android TV box or Fire TV Stick.
This guide gives detailed steps to install Kodi on any compatible home device. Remember that Kodi requires a constant internet connection to work. Moreover, Kodi is legal home-theatre software, but its third-party add-ons often compromise it.
Moreover, privacy and security should be prioritized while using the internet. Therefore, I recommend that you connect to a stable and reliable VPN when using Kodi.
As said in the beginning, you can get into legal issues if you use Kodi for watching copyrighted content.
I personally recommend ExpressVPN, as it will hide your internet activity and is also very fast, which will ensure you won’t have any buffering issues.
You can find our VPN reviews here: VPN Reviews
Some people found answers to these questions helpful
Is Kodi legal?
Yes, Kodi is a legal home entertainment software in many regions worldwide. However, most of its third-party add-ons aren’t.
Do I need a VPN when using Kodi?
Yes, connecting to a stable and reliable VPN is highly recommended before using Kodi. A high number of Kodi’s third-party add-ons provide links to pirated content, which is considered illegal in many regions around the globe. To avoid receiving a DCMA warning and possible penalties, use a VPN. A good VPN gives you online anonymity and gains access to geo-restricted content.
Is Kodi a free software?
Yes, Kodi doesn’t require any subscription fee. However, you’ll need to pay for the online protection service if you use premium VPNs.
Do I need other apps after installing Kodi?
After installing Kodi, you need to install add-ons. Add-ons help you stream different content such as TV shows, movies, etc.
7 Comments
loz
April 25, 2023 11:37 pm
can I install KODI on Amazon Studio ?
Daniel Sellers
December 26, 2022 8:11 am
It would appear that the information here is out of date. The version for smart TVs is old. I do not have the option of allowing third party apps.
KC
September 15, 2022 2:50 am
I can’t install Kodi on my shield..tryed everything!! Please help me
Ana Lado
September 12, 2022 11:03 am
Hi Justin, could u pls let me know what tv fits more with Kodi App. I want to give to my husband for his recent retire a tv smart and I would like he be able to have such a great App. a friend showed me in a smart phone and I liked. Should I get a Sony or Samsung smart tv. Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Ana L
KC
May 30, 2022 1:56 pm
Gm..Justin.I have a LG(smart Tv) with a Nividia shield.When I go to the play store to download Kodi app..it goes thru all the motions but in the end will not install!Also..I’m a novice but I installed Kodi on my other Tv.But this one is a mystery!I would appreciate your expertise! Thxs!
Neels Theron
March 5, 2022 9:48 am
I don’t agree with your statement that most KODI addons are illegal.
There are some that are, but I found that the majority is legal!
H37273u3b4 ur illegal
March 13, 2023 4:44 am
Taste good for you and last dude sounded like he doesn’t have a REALLY BIG HUGE (AAA) clue on what’s he talking about with legal and illegal add-ons.