What is Kodi and how can you start using it?

Kodi has grown in popularity in recent years, but there’s still a ton of misinformation out there about what this software can do, which addons are best, and whether Kodi is even legal. Not to worry, though: we’re here to clear up any doubts you might have by providing a comprehensive, novice-friendly guide to Kodi and answering some of the most common questions new users ask.

Warning: Kodi should only be used for content to which you have the legal right to access. Neither the Kodi Foundation nor Comparitech advocates the use of Kodi for piracy.

First things first: what is Kodi?

Kodi is a free media center app that gathers all of your photos, music, and video files in one place for easier access, cataloguing, and searching. This program works with just about every device you can think of and is open-source, too, which means that anyone can examine the code and make sure there’s nothing sketchy hidden inside.

So what can Kodi do? Well, it allows you to:

• Play music
• Watch videos
• Stream and record live TV (provided your device has a tuner card installed)
• View photos
• Drastically alter the software’s appearance and theme

One of the biggest advantages Kodi has over rivals like Stremio is that it has a thriving addon development scene. In other words, just about anyone can create their own Kodi plugin which adds new functionality to the service. Most often, people use these to bring content from their favorite websites or streaming services to Kodi, but there are addons for everything from performing maintenance to automatically finding subtitles.

Although Kodi is capable of playing several different kinds of media, users should note that content must be provided by the user. Kodi does not come with any content or addons installed at all.

What are the most common devices for running Kodi?

Plenty of people run Kodi on their desktop PC but the software also works perfectly well on Android and iOS phones, Amazon Fire TV or TV Stick, Linux systems, Raspberry Pis, and Roku. If you really want to, you can even run Kodi straight from a USB flash drive!

Because Kodi has such low system requirements, you’ll often see people selling simple Android boxes that come with Kodi preloaded. These are an inexpensive alternative to something like a Firestick, but make sure to stay away from so-called “fully loaded” Kodi boxes — these tend to contain lots of copyright-infringing addons.

Let’s dive right into the exciting stuff: how to actually get started with Kodi. To begin with, you’ll have to download the latest version from the official Kodi website. Then, simply run the installer and open Kodi once it’s finished.

A quick guide to Kodi’s user interface

When you open Kodi, you’ll see the main screen. This is nice and simple, with just a few areas of interest. On the left side of the screen, you will find the various options used to access different categories of content, such as Music, TV, and Pictures.

On the top left you will find the following icons, going from left to right:

1. Power: Users can exit, power off, create a custom shutdown timer, suspend the system, hibernate or reboot their system.
2. Settings (gear symbol)
3. Search (magnifying glass)

Adding your own files to Kodi

It’s actually very simple to collect all of your different media files in one place. Here’s how to add specific folders of content to Kodi’s library:

1. From Kodi’s home screen, click the type of content you’d like to add (for instance, Music)
2. Select Add music…
3. Hit the Browse button and navigate to a folder that contains the type of file you’d like to add (in this case, I’d probably add my Music or iTunes folders)
4. Give the source a name, such as “My music” and click OK, then click the Yes button. Your files should now appear when you click on the Music tab!

Installing official Kodi add-ons

The other way to access media with Kodi to use one of the many addons available from the Kodi repository (or repo, as it’s often called).

Here’s how to install Kodi addons from the official repo:

1. 1. First select Add-ons from Kodi’s main screen:
      

1. 1. Next, select the package icon in the top left hand corner of the screen
      

1. Select Install from repository and choose the type of addon you’d like (we recommend starting with video or music addons)
2. Browse the list until you see something you’d like to try, then click it and hit Install

Here’s a list of our recommended add-ons from the official repository:

• Youtube: Allows access to Youtube Videos and syncs to Youtube accounts
• PBS Kids: Free-to-watch childrens content including hit shows like Arthur
• Crackle: This allows for access to free movies and TV shows from Crackle
• Twitch: Watch people live stream their days, gaming sessions, or cooking
• iPlayer WWW: This add-on allows for access to the BBC iPlayer through Kodi (BBC TV License required, UK residents only)

You can also find more options using our list of the best Kodi addons of 2024.

Installing third-party add-ons

If you’ve decided to try out a third-party addon, the installation process is a little differnet. Because third-party addons are often packaged with malware, we suggest you carefully consider the risks (and reputation of the creator) before proceeding.

1. First, we’ll have to add a source. To do this, first open Kodi’s settings menu by clicking the gear icon
   
2. Next, you will need to open the File manager
   
3. Now, select Add source and enter the required source information. Under Enter the paths or browse for the media locations, click on and enter the URL corresponding to your source. Under Enter a name for this media source, type a suitable name then hit the OK button
   
4. Next, click the gear icon on Kodi’s main screen. Under System > Add-ons, click Unknown sources
5. Under Add-ons from Kodi’s main screen, select the package icon in the top left hand corner
6. Select Install from zip, click the source you just added, and install either an add-on repository or specific add-on zip files. If you added a repo, you can now browse its addons by clicking Install from repository

Configuring PVR

Another option for enjoying media through Kodi is by configuring the PVR functionality in Kodi. PVR on Kodi relies on a physical TV tuner/radio tuner adapter and its corresponding backend software which interprets live TV or radio signals.

A PVR client add-on for Kodi can then be used to translate the information from the backend software into video or audio output. See the Kodi Wiki for more detailed information on how this works and how to setup PVR on Kodi.

Having Kodi display the weather

You can configure Kodi to display the weather in your location. This feature is quite convenient as it allows you to quickly glance at the weather when enjoying your favorite media.

In order to set up the weather in your location, from Kodi’s main screen, select the Settings icon, the select Services followed by Weather. Under Service for weather information, hit Get more, then select the service you wish to use to display the weather conditions in your location.

From here, hit Settings and enter the name of your city, then click OK. When you return to the Weather tab on the home screen, you should see the current conditions where you are.

Changing the look and feel of Kodi

In Settings>Interface setting, you also have the option of choosing various skins, themes, colors, screensavers, and font options. Under the Regional tab, you can also change the time format, temperature units, and date format, which is helpful if you’ve set up a weather addon using the steps above.

Why you should always use a VPN with Kodi

Did you know that your service provider can see everything you do online? For instance, they can keep track of your browsing history or automatically reduce your speeds if they realize you’re streaming. Needless to say, this isn’t great for privacy or performance, and may actually be causing a worse Kodi experience for you. By connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can prevent both of these issues.

We recommend NordVPN. This service boasts exceptionally strong security, very fast speeds, and a true no-logs policy. Not only that, it works with every Kodi addon we’ve tested and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. In other words, you can try it risk-free and claim a full refund if you’re unsatisfied.

Using Kodi: Frequently Asked Questions