How to use Kodi: the complete installation guide

Do yous direct maintain a vast library of TV programs, movies, as well as music saved locally? If so, hence yous belike postulate a way to acquire by all your content. Alternatively, yous could hold back for legal ways to access video on need or TV. If this describes your situation, yous direct maintain ii choices inwards price of software: Plex or Kodi.

Previously nosotros explained how to install as well as work Plex. This guide volition focus on how to work his non bad rival, Kodi. Read on to larn how to install Kodi software, how to navigate the initial setup, as well as how to upload repositories as well as add-ons.

What is Kodi, as well as how is it used?

Kodi is best described every bit a dwelling house application. It was developed inwards 2002 every bit the Xbox Media Player as well as rapidly evolved into the Xbox Media Center (XBMC). Then it finally turned into Kodi inwards 2014.

Probably the most meaning pull of Kodi is that it is opened upward source. Since it is open-source, a large community of programmers as well as developers has developed approximately the app. If yous are an experienced programmer, yous tin fifty-fifty brand changes to the beginning code.

The community is responsible for all the skilful things the app offers. Without its contribution, Kodi would live on an absolute undertone trounce as well as would non supply anything beyond the interface.

We emphasize this because Kodi newbies often ignore it: if yous don't direct maintain locally saved media as well as yous direct maintain no involvement inwards learning how to work repositories as well as add-ons, yous don't postulate Kodi. No back upward is included inwards the app.

Finally, proceed inwards take heed that the customization of Kodi has a cost. It requires a lot of user input to brand the app piece of work the way yous desire it as well as requires to a greater extent than endeavor to proceed everything running overtime. If yous desire a plug-and-play application, Plex could live on a amend choice.

How to install Kodi

Kodi is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (mobile as well as TV), iOS, as well as Raspberry Pi.

If yous are running the app on a desktop or Android computer, yous only postulate to download the app from the associated website or app store. Windows users tin work the Windows Store version, piece from Android, yous tin download the APK file as well as upload the app. Sideloading volition brand updating the app to a greater extent than difficult, but nosotros recommend using the Play Store method.

If yous desire to install Kodi on iOS, the province of affairs is much to a greater extent than complicated.

Kodi is non available inwards the Apple App Store. It is necessary to compile an app using XCode. To acquire started, yous postulate iOS 10.9 or later, a re-create of the Kodi DEB file, XCode vii or later, an iOS signer, as well as an Apple ID.

You tin every bit good install Kodi on iOS using Cydia on a jailbroken device, but many users don't desire to direct chances voiding the warranty. However, if yous direct maintain an quondam iOS device as well as are willing to accept some risks, it's definitely the most straightforward approach.

For other platforms, only download the installation file as well as follow the instructions on the screen. You volition direct maintain Kodi running on your device inwards minutes.

Download: Kodi (free)

Execution of Kodi for the kickoff time

Now you're looking at the primary Kodi interface. There is no content, no installation wizard, as well as no suggestions on how to work add-ons as well as repositories.

We volition explicate everything, but first, let's accept a hold back at some basic concepts.

On the left side of the screen, yous volition reckon shortcuts for all the unlike multimedia classes. They are films, TV programs, music, music videos, TV, radio, add-ons, images, videos, games, and weather. If you're non going to work everything, yous tin take away some yesteryear going to Settings> Skin settings> Main card items as well as scrolling through the appropriate switches to the Off position.

Check Kodi

As yous work Kodi, yous volition belike discovery it easier to navigate through the app using the keyboard rather than the mouse. There are to a greater extent than than 100 unlike keyboard shortcuts yous tin use. Some keys fifty-fifty perform unlike functions depending on what is on the screen. However, in that place are some of import keyboard shortcuts that all users should know. Here are some of the most common:

F9 or -: Volume down

F10 or +: book up

Spacebar or P: play / pause

X: Stop

F: Fast forward

R: Rewind

Left arrow: saltation dorsum thirty seconds

Right arrow: saltation forrad thirty seconds

I: shows information on the video currently playing

T: plough subtitles on or off

Note: You tin work an add-in to the keyboard editor to modify the keys that perform the function. Experienced users tin every bit good modify shortcuts yesteryear editing the userdata file.

Add your media to Kodi

If yous are only starting your journeying amongst Kodi, in that place are belike 3 forms of media that yous volition desire to add together to the app every bit before long every bit possible: video, music, as well as photos. We volition utter nigh each ane individually.

Adding videos to Kodi

Kodi is an extremely powerful app amongst which experienced users tin perform all kinds of tricks. However, for the vast bulk of users, the primary argue for installing the software is watching videos.

If yous desire to maximize the pleasance of watching videos on Kodi, in that place is a precise procedure that yous must follow.

Prepare video files

Preparing video files is essential because Kodi uses scrappers to search for the appropriate metadata for your videos. Metadata includes illustrations, synopsis, descriptions of shows/films, flavor numbers, episode numbers, cast lists, directors, as well as much more.

This information is non essential to live on able to lookout your videos through Kodi, but it is the only way to construct your library on a lively as well as dynamic list.

So, if you're naming a TV program, identify the files inwards the next folder structure:

/ Show mention / Season XX / (for example, Friends / Season 05 )

For private episodes, mention each file every bit sXXeYY and, for multiple episodes, mention the file every bit sXXeYY-eYY. For example, S05E02.

The specials should live on inserted inwards the next folder structure:

/ Show mention / Specials /

Movies tin live on saved every bit stand-alone files or saved inwards their sub-folder. Use the next structure:

[Movie Name] (Year) (e.g., The Hurt Locker (2008) )

Therefore, the folder tree should hold back similar Movies / The Hurt Locker (2008).mp4 or Movies / The Hurt Locker (2008) / The Hurt Locker (2008).mp4.

If the content is messy, yous tin essay using FileBot. He is a cinema renamer; volition scan the online databases as well as practice all the hard piece of work on your behalf. However, FileBot costs $ 19.99.

Note: yous must proceed movies as well as TV shows inwards split folder trees.

Add your videos

Now it's fourth dimension to add together your video files to Kodi.

To acquire started, select Video from the card on the left side of the Kodi dwelling screen. On the side yesteryear side screen, pick out File. Finally, click Add Video.

Now yous postulate to add together the video source. "Source" is a give-and-take yous volition oft come across piece using Kodi. It tin refer to many unlike things. In this case, it only agency that yous direct maintain to select the folder on your hard drive where yous saved your video files.

You tin mention your source. Generally, yous should mention it Movies, TV shows, home videos or something else that is similarly descriptive.

Now yous direct maintain to order Kodi what form of videos are inwards the beginning folder. It volition allow Kodi to analyze the right online metadata database. Use TheTVDB for TV-based metadata as well as TheMovieDB for painting information.

On the in conclusion screen, yous tin laid some additional options. The frequency amongst which Kodi scans the folder for novel content as well as some painting naming conventions. When you're ready, press OK, and Kodi volition start importing your content. If yous direct maintain hundreds of TV episodes as well as movies to lookout on Kodi, the procedure may accept a long time.

Repeat the previous steps for each type of video content yous desire to add.

Add music to Kodi

Once your video collection is upward as well as running, it's fourth dimension to plough your attending to your music library.

Prepare your music files

As amongst video files, if yous desire Kodi to discovery metadata nigh your music, yous postulate to ready your music collection earlier yous tin add together it.

Kodi uses the open-source MusicBrainz database for music tagging. The database includes over 1.2 meg artists, 1.8 meg albums, as well as 17.5 meg songs.

Fortunately, MusicBrainz provides a costless desktop app that tin automatically tag all the music for you. You tin download it for costless on Windows, Mac, as well as Linux.

If MusicBrainz can't correctly tag your music, yous tin practice it yourself. The file tree of your music must follow the artist> Album> Track structure. For example, Michael Jackson> Thriller> Billie Jean.

Download: MusicBrainz (free)

Add your music

Properly tagging all your music is a meticulous process. But when you're finally done, you're ready to add together your music collection to the Kodi app.

Adding music to the library is a two-part process. First, yous postulate to scan the collection hence Kodi tin import it. Secondly, yous postulate to analyze the library for to a greater extent than information. You must consummate the kickoff measurement earlier yous tin motion on.

To start the scanning process, yous postulate to order Kodi where your music collection has been saved to your hard drive. Go to the Kodi dwelling hide as well as click on Music inwards the card on the left side of the screen. On the side yesteryear side screen, become to File> Add Music. Click Browse as well as select the folder when yous discovery the music.

Now mention your music collection. If yous are going to import to a greater extent than collections, pick out something recognizable.

On the side yesteryear side screen, Kodi volition enquire if yous desire to add together your media beginning to the library. Click Yes, as well as the application volition start scanning.

Again, if yous direct maintain an extensive collection, this procedure may accept some time.

Next, it's fourth dimension to analyze your collection for to a greater extent than information. The additional information comes inwards many forms: they could include the trend of the artist, the appointment of formation of a band, the topic of an album, or fifty-fifty the appointment as well as identify where the creative mortal died.

To get together to a greater extent than information, start yesteryear clicking Music on the Kodi primary screen. On the side yesteryear side screen, pick out Artists. Right-click on whatsoever creative mortal mention to display the context card as well as select Query information for all artists to start the scrap.

The scraping procedure could accept many hours. It covers nigh 300 artists per hour. When done, yous should run it a 2nd fourth dimension to brand certain all server busy answers are correct.

Add photos to Kodi

You'll live on happy to know that adding photos as well as images to Kodi takes much less fourth dimension as well as grooming than adding music or video files.

To add together a photograph folder, select Images from the card on the left side of the Kodi dwelling screen. On the side yesteryear side screen, pick out Add Photo.

A novel window volition appear. Click Browse as well as dot to the folder that contains the images yous desire to add. When you're ready, click, OK.

Kodi offers some features to brand viewing images to a greater extent than enjoyable. They include a presentation, a randomizer, as well as a zoom.

Use of Kodi add-ons as well as repositories

The other of import component subdivision of using Kodi is the vast catalog of repositories as well as add-ons. They allow yous to access on-demand services every bit good every bit some alive TV shows, real-time news, as well as costless movies on Kodi. You tin every bit good discovery Kodi add-ons for non-video content, such every bit weather, context menus, skins, as well as fifty-fifty mini-programs.

When yous install add-ons as well as repositories, brand certain the content you're looking at is legal inwards your area. Kodi has developed an unfortunate reputation every bit a paradise for pirates as well as copyright thieves inwards recent years.

A repository is a library of Kodi add-ons. The add-ons themselves are what allows yous to access as well as lookout the content. You postulate to add together a repository earlier yous tin install an add-on.

Kodi offers an official repository, but yous tin every bit good discovery many third-party repositories of people who create their ain add-ons. The Kodi repository is included inwards the app automatically.

Unfortunately, given the authorities' recent crackdown on Kodi, many once-famous repositories direct maintain disappeared for good. It is no longer possible to refer to a "must-have" repository because the province of affairs is strange. We can, however, explicate how to add together a repository on Kodi.

Using the official Kodi Repo

The official Kodi repository contains many add-ons, as well as many users volition non fifty-fifty postulate to consider using third-party repositories. Additional components available include BBC iPlayer, Pluto TV, Crackle, SoundCloud, Arte TV, Bravo, BT Sport, as well as Disney Channel. Above all, all the add-ons inwards the official repository are alone legal.

To explore the official repository from the Kodi app, select Add-ons from the left side of the Kodi primary screen. On the side yesteryear side screen, click Download (again, on the left side of the screen).

Now yous volition reckon a listing of additional categories. You tin click on ane of them to reckon what is available. To install an add-on, click on the mention of the item inwards query as well as select Install. Once the procedure is finished, yous tin start the add-on from the relevant department of the Kodi primary screen.

Installation of third-party repositories

Before yous tin install a third-party repository, yous postulate to practice online research. You can't only browse a listing of repositories from Kodi.

When yous direct maintain flora the repository yous want, download the ZIP file on your hard disk.

Now become to your Kodi app as well as become to Settings> System> Add-ons. Check the box side yesteryear side to Unknown sources.

To install the ZIP file, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

Click Add-Ins on the Kodi primary screen.

In the upper left corner, click on the box icon.

A novel hide volition appear. Select Install from the ZIP file.

Use the browser window to betoken Kodi inwards the ZIP file.

Highlight the ZIP file yous desire to install as well as click OK.

Installing an add-on from a third-party repository

Add-ons of whatsoever third-party repositories volition live on mixed together if yous become to Add-ons> Downloads> [Category]. However, yous tin only reckon add-ons from a detail repository. It makes it much easier to discovery the add-ons yous desire to install.

To reckon add-ons from a specific repository, become to the Kodi primary hide as well as click Add-ons. Next, inwards the upper left corner, click on the box icon.

A novel listing of options volition appear. Click Install from repository as well as finally click on the mention of the catalog yous desire to search. To install an add-on, click on its mention as well as select Install.

Troubleshooting Kodi

As amongst whatsoever app, things tin occasionally become wrong.

Excessive buffering

It is non possible to practice much on the buffering of the alive TV yous are watching, but buffering on locally saved media as well as on-demand video is quite uncomplicated to adjust.

Usually, the cache causes the problem. In particular, the amount of retentiveness the cache tin use. You tin modify the cache settings yesteryear editing the advanced settings file.

Open the file as well as glue the next code:

<cache>

</cache>

</advancedsettings>

A dark as well as white hide when playing videos on Windows

DirectX is often responsible. Either yous didn't install it, or you're using a real quondam version. Get the latest re-create of the software from the Microsoft website.

Audio delay problems on Android

The Android version of Kodi is known for sound synchronization problems. If updating your app doesn't help, yous tin manually conform the delay yesteryear going to Audio Options> Audio Offset.