If you are new to Kodi, this beginner’s guide to Kodi will assist you in getting started with the program and becoming comfortable with its features. In this tutorial, I will walk you through the fundamentals of using Kodi, starting from the very beginning. In this article, I will cover everything you need to know about Kodi in order for you to begin streaming the content you enjoy most in a very short amount of time.
Kodi is an easy-to-use media player, but it might not be suitable for everyone because of its complexity. However, given the fact that it is utilized by millions of people all over the world, we are compelled to believe that it is a simple device to operate.
To tell you the truth, when I started using Kodi for the first time, I found that it seemed a little bit overwhelming.
This is probably due to the fact that its layout is different from that of other media players and that it possesses a few features that are distinctive. But it didn’t take me very long to figure out that Kodi is actually a lot easier to use than it appears to be at first glance.
Understanding Kodi and getting started with watching movies or shows on it does not require any specialized technical knowledge and there is no steep learning curve involved. It is geared toward ordinary people like myself who are not professionals.
Having said that, I do concur that back when I was first introduced to Kodi, if I had been given a little assistance, I would have been able to navigate it somewhat more quickly.
Many of my readers have inquired as to whether or not I could produce some kind of instruction manual that would hasten the “getting acquainted” phase of the Kodi learning process. The Beginner’s Guide to Kodi is finally here, so let’s get started.
What is Kodi?
Allow me to explain Kodi in the simplest terms possible:
A media player is known as Kodi.
A media player is a piece of software that can play different types of media on your device. Anything that can be viewed, heard, or seen is considered to be a form of media. However, the vast majority of media players, including Kodi, are utilized primarily for the playback of audio and video.
VideoLAN Client (VLC) is a well-known example of a media player, which is software that can play back audio and video files.
Kodi gives you the ability to view video content like movies and TV shows, as well as play audio content like songs.
Kodi is comparable to VLC in many respects, but it does differ from VLC in significant ways.
Kodi is primarily used for playing media that is streamed over the internet, whereas VLC is most commonly used to play media that is stored locally on the device storage. Kodi is most widely known for its ability to stream media from the internet, but it also plays local files.
The free and open-source media player is known as Kodi. An Xbox-only application, it was initially made available in 2002 under the name XBMC (Xbox Media Center). After some time, this application was rebranded as Kodi and made accessible on a diverse assortment of operating system platforms and hardware platforms.
Kodi is currently compatible with a wide variety of platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows PC, Mac, Windows mobiles, Linux, Amazon FireStick, Raspberry Pi, and Android Boxes.
When Kodi was still known as XBMC, installing it on an Xbox required some work and there was a learning curve involved. Installing Kodi on almost all platforms is now much simpler, and the software comes with user-friendly applications that are simple to operate for the majority of devices.
Kodi is becoming increasingly well-known as an online media player. It enables you to stream your preferred content without charging you. You will have access to a wide variety of films, television programs, live television, sporting events, news broadcasts, and documentaries, among other things.
However, Kodi couldn’t accomplish everything by itself. In order to accomplish that goal, the integration of certain plugins is necessary. These plugins are also known as “Kodi addons” by the general public.
A little bit later on, we will go over the Kodi addons in greater detail. To begin, I will demonstrate how to install Kodi on a variety of different devices. Before moving on to the next step, you need to make sure that Kodi is installed, configured, and running properly.
Keep in mind, however, that “addons are the most important aspect of Kodi,” at least for the time being.
Instructions for Installing Kodi on a Number of Different Devices
Kodi can be installed on a wide variety of device platforms. The purpose of this guide does not permit me to go into the specifics of how to install Kodi on each of the available devices, so I will not. As a result, I’m going to provide you with a high-level summary of the steps required to install Kodi on the platforms that are the most widely used.
I will walk you through the steps of installing Kodi as well as point you in the direction of the resources where you can download Kodi. The following are the different kinds of device platforms that we will discuss:
- Fire TV Stick and Amazon’s Fire TV
- Android mobiles & tablets
- Windows PC
- Mac OS
- iOS
- Android Smart TV & Android TV Boxes
Kodi 19.4 Matrix is the most recent official version of Kodi to be distributed to the public. The previous version of Kodi, known as 18.9 Leia, is being used today, particularly by those who have not yet switched to Kodi Matrix. On the other hand, there is no longer any way to get Leia via any official means.
1. Amazon FireStick & Fire TV
A very well-liked media player that connects to your television via the HDMI connector is the Amazon FireStick. This Android-based gadget makes any television sets seem to be a Smart TV immediately. The FireStick and the Fire TV are almost identical, with the exception of a few minute variations in their physical appearance. Because of this, the same technique of installation may be used for either one.
Kodi is not currently hosted on the Amazon Store. Because of this, in order to install Kodi on the FireStick, we will need to manually download the Kodi APK file (from a reliable source).
Read our in-depth tutorial on how to install Kodi on FireStick to get started. This installation guide will walk you through the simple steps involved in setting up your new device. In the event that you would rather install Kodi version 19.4, our instructions will take care of that for you.
You may also refer to our previous instructions on how to jailbreak the Amazon FireStick if you would want more information on this topic.
2. Android Mobiles & Tablets
This is a simple question. Not only is Kodi widely used, but Google also has faith in the software. You do not need to sideload (or manually install) Kodi on Android mobiles and tablets, in contrast to Amazon’s FireStick and Fire TV devices. The Kodi app may be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
The Google Play Store is reserved for reliable and secure applications. Having Kodi present provides us with peace of mind knowing the software has been tested and is trustworthy.
To install Kodi on an Android device, follow these steps:
- Release the Play Store
- Lookup for Kodi
- Simply install Kodi by following the on-screen directions.
It really is that simple!
3. Windows PC
The installation procedures for Windows 10 and earlier versions of Windows, including 8.1 and before, are distinct from one another. Both of these will be discussed further on.
3.1 Windows 10
If you have Windows 10, you can go on over to the Microsoft Store and download the official version of Kodi. This is how you can go about doing that:
Click the “Cortana” search button, then enter “Kodi” into the text box that appears (without quotes)
The symbol for Kodi will be shown among the search results in the ‘Start’ menu as a ‘Trusted Microsoft App.’ To access Kodi, choose its icon.
You are about to be brought to the Microsoft Store. Simply choose the “Get” or “Download” option to proceed.
Allow Microsoft Store to take care of the rest for you.
Kodi will be installed on your computer running Windows 10 in about one to two minutes.
3.2 Windows 8.1 & Older
Kodi can still be downloaded from its official website, https://kodi.tv, even if your version of Windows is 8.1 or an older version.
Open the website, and when you are on the home page, click the ‘DOWNLOAD’ button that is located on the top-right side of the page (or go directly to https://kodi.tv/download).
Keep scrolling down until you find the logos of the different supported platforms and devices.
The Windows icon can be accessed by clicking on it.
Check that the tab labeled “Recommended” is selected in the following window before moving on.
If you have a 64-bit computer, click the INSTALLER (64 BIT) button. If you have a 32-bit PC, you will want to click the INSTALLER (32 BIT) button.
4. Mac OS
Kodi is not available for download from Apple’s App Store; however, the Kodi website hosts a macOS version of the media player. For Kodi to function properly, your computer must be running Mac OS 10.8 X or a later version and have an Intel processor. Installing Kodi Matrix on a Mac can be done by following the steps below:
Kodi can be downloaded by going to https://kodi.tv/download in the Safari web browser (Safari will auto-mount the DMG file). Scroll to the bottom and click on the ‘MacOS’ logo.
Check the pop-up window to see that the ‘Recommended’ tab is selected before continuing. INSTALLER can be accessed by clicking here (64-BIT)
Proceed as you normally would install the application on your Mac computer.
5. iOS (iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch)
Kodi can be installed on iOS devices in a number of different ways, and the official website provides instructions for all of them.
Additionally, there are some third-party app stores, such as TweakBox, that host the iOS version of the application.
On your iOS device, navigate to https://www.tweakboxapp.com in any web browser (Safari is recommended), and then download the TweakBox app store by clicking the Download button.
Installing TweakBox is as simple as following the on-screen instructions. During the installation process, you will be prompted to grant the app permission to access specific information on your device.
Now, launch TweakBox, and from the main menu, select the “Apps” tab. Locate Kodi in the list of available apps, and then select the Kodi icon. Installing Kodi on iOS requires, once more, that you follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Android Smart TV & TV Boxes
Google Play Store is compatible with Android TV boxes and smart TVs. Installing the application is not too difficult because Kodi Matrix has an official listing in the Google Play store.
Activate your home theater system (if you are using an Android TV Box, make sure it is connected to the TV)
Once the home screen has loaded, select the Play Store (also known as Google Play) icon.
Look up for Kodi apk.
If you carefully follow the instructions that appear on the screen, you will soon have Kodi installed.
What exactly are these Kodi addons?
When I said that add-ons are the most important aspect of Kodi, I wasn’t exaggerating the statement at all. It’s possible that I’m understating it even more.
The ability of Kodi to run a wide range of add-ons has been a critical factor in the media player’s meteoric rise to prominence in recent years. Naturally, Kodi is a potent media player that comes with a plethora of additional features. The add-ons, however, are the foundation of it.
Kodi is a media player, but there is no point in having a media player if there is nothing to play on it. Addons are essentially a bridge that connects the media player Kodi to the various online sources of media content.
To put it another way, add-ons serve as the interface between Kodi and the vast library of online content that is available. If you want to view movies or television series, you will need to purchase DVDs in addition to a DVD player. When it comes to Kodi, an addon is analogous to a DVD when it comes to a DVD player.
Kodi is able to play movies and audio stored locally on the device itself. But such functionality is built into most media players. Integration with web add-ons unlocks Kodi’s full potential as a media player.
Therefore, after you have Kodi, the next thing you need are addons in order to begin viewing your preferred television programs, movies, or anything else you want to watch.
There are literally hundreds of different addons for Kodi that may be downloaded. There are some wonderful ones, but most are not quite as wonderful.
Because Kodi is an open-source platform, anyone or anyone may create add-ons for it at their own discretion. There is no mystery as to why there are so many of them.
The goal is to locate the most useful add-ons for Kodi that correspond to the material that you want to view. You will discover add-ons for the following, as well as other things:
- On-demand content (movies & TV shows)
- TV that is broadcast in real time
- Sports content
- Music
Installing an add-on on Kodi is the first step toward using it. In the next part of this tutorial, I will demonstrate how to add add-ons to Kodi.
How to Install Addons on the Kodi Media Center
I would appreciate it if you could give the list of the best Kodi add-ons a brief glance right now. The purpose of these add-ons will become clearer to you after reading this. In addition to this, it will assist you in selecting the add-ons that you want for your Kodi installation.
The following is a rundown of the typical six steps involved in selecting and installing add-ons:
- Make a decision on the kinds of shows or movies that you wish to see (such as a movie, TV show, or live TV).
- Choose the add-on that will provide you with the content.
- Locate the location from which you may download and install the desired add-on.
- Kodi needs the necessary source added to it.
- Put in place the repository from its original source.
- Install the add-on by selecting it from the repository.
You shouldn’t be concerned even if it seems like a lot since that’s not the case. In point of fact, it is rather simple.
When I first began using Kodi, I thought it was really confusing as well. However, it did not take very long at all to get around it.
Within minutes, you’ll be able to install and begin utilizing a variety of add-ons with the assistance of our in-depth instructions that walk you through each step. This is a list of the guidelines, which may be found below.
Extras for movies, television series, and other forms of on-demand content:
- The Mythical Dracolich
- Asgard
- 4K Addon
- The Lightning Storm
Addons for Live TV and Sports on Kodi:
- Its Members
- The Apex of Athletics
- Rising Tides
How to Make Use of Kodi Addons to Watch Live TV, Movies, Shows, and More
After you have successfully installed an addon, you will be able to locate it in the Video-addons area. First, I’ll demonstrate how to locate the add-ons that you already have installed on your system. When the time comes, I’ll demonstrate how to put them to use.
Take notice that the Video-addons area is restricted to just those add-ons that stream video material, such as movies and programs, and only such add-ons may be viewed there. However, not all addons may be used for videos. Additionally, a number of helpful add-ons are supported by Kodi. These additions may be found in the Program add-ons area of the website. However, you do not need to be concerned about the Program’s add-ons. Since you are just getting started with Kodi, the only video addons that you are going to be interested in learning about are the ones that enable you to view the material that you like. Kodi is a media player that I have been using for years, and the only add-ons I find myself utilizing regularly are those that allow me to stream videos.
You Can Access Your Video Addons Here.
If you are not currently at the home screen for Kodi, you may go there by continuously tapping the button labeled “back.”
Now, go to the left side of the page and click Add-ons.
After that, return to the left sidebar and choose Video add-ons. Even if you don’t click the Video add-ons button and instead simply hover over it, all of the video streaming addons that you have installed will display on the right.
This is how the list of the add-ons that have been installed will appear.
Using Your Available Add-Ons
You will be able to see the add-ons’ corresponding icons when you go to the Video add-ons section. Simply clicking an add-on once will launch it in the browser.
I’m going to demonstrate this by clicking on the Asgard addon (which is one of the best addons for Kodi).
The Asgard addition is a “demanding” addon. Therefore, what you will see below are the categories that different titles have been placed inside.
When you choose a category using the mouse, you will either be shown a list of the titles or the subcategories. It is different with each addition.
When I select the Asgard Movie Scrapers category under the addon, I am presented with a list of subcategories that include the Movies Years Section, Asgard 4K Movies Section, and many more.
Within a subcategory, further subcategories could also be present. For instance, you may navigate the Asgard Movie Scrapers category to locate subcategories that are arranged according to the year.
The goal is to go through all of the categories and subcategories until you reach the list of titles, at which point you only need to click on the game that you want to play. The addon will immediately begin scraping a variety of servers in order to get the streaming URL for you.
Simply click the link, and you’ll be ready to start viewing movies or series on Kodi right now.
To be honest, this is pretty much all that is required of you.
What exactly are these Kodi Builds?
When you initially open Kodi after installing it, the interface that is shown to you is known as the “Estuary” skin, which is also the name of the default Kodi skin.
After you have installed Kodi on your computer, you will need to download certain add-ons before you can begin viewing your preferred television episodes and movies. Installing the numerous addons one at a time is necessary due to this reason.
What if there was a way to customize the look of Kodi as well as receive many add-ons pre-installed all at the same time? When it comes to Kodi, this is where the builds come into play.
To put it more simply, a Kodi build offers the standard Kodi user interface a facelift and transforms it into something more engaging by applying a different skin. At the same time, a build will already have a number of Kodi addons installed for a broad variety of content kinds, which means that you won’t have to install them manually.
To summarize, a Kodi build consists of:
- Modifies Kodi’s overall look and feel.
- Offers you a number of add-ons that have already been installed.
After installing a version known as the “Titanium Build,” this is what the Kodi interface looks like after the installation.
How to Install Kodi Builds
There are literally hundreds of different Kodi builds available. There are some duds among them. Have a look at what many consider to be the greatest Kodi builds, and choose the one that appeals to you the most. You are free to experiment with alternative builds whenever you want.
Installing a build on Kodi may require some effort, but the process is not very difficult. We provide comprehensive, user-friendly, and step-by-step installation directions for the builds that are the most popular. By reading through the installation procedures for the following builds, you will be able to get the version that best suits your needs in a matter of minutes:
- EzzerMacs Build
- Misfit Mods Lite
- Diggz Xenon Build
- The Doomsday Preparations Continue.
How to Use a Kodi Build
There isn’t much of a difference between Kodi with a build and Kodi without it, except for the fact that the user interface has been updated. Even if you are just starting out, you won’t have a hard time learning how to utilize a Kodi build because of this tidbit of helpful information.
For the sake of this post, I will use Titanium Build as an example. The arrangement of each of the structures is almost identical, with just a few minute variations between them. The purpose of this example is to provide you with a broad concept of how to use any other build, regardless of whether or not you have another build.
1. This is how the primary interface of Kodi appears while using the Titanium Build. It should come as no surprise that this skin is far livelier and more exciting than the uninteresting default skin for Kodi.
There is a Menu bar that circles the center of the Titanium home screen, as can be seen, and there is also a contextual submenu bar that is located beneath the main Menu bar.
When you choose an item in the main Menu bar, submenu items that are associated with that item slide out from below it. For instance, when I pick Movies, I am presented with submenu options such as Search, Trending, New Releases, and so on.
2. Feel free to pick additional alternatives such as TV Shows, IPTV, and Sports, and take note of the way in which the submenus adapt.
You do remember that I said that builds arrive with addons already preloaded, right?
3. Within the menu bar, I decided to go with the Movies option. You may see the complete list of Movie addons at the bottom of the page (Gaia, etc.). These are some of the add-ons that are pre-installed with the Titanium Build.
4. When I choose TV Programs, the add-ons that host TV shows are shown at the bottom of the screen.
In a similar fashion, you will locate the add-ons for IPTV (live TV), Sports, Kids Zone, and so on.
Instruction on how to use Kodi on firestick
The list of add-ons that appears on the home screen of Titanium may not be comprehensive at all times. It’s possible for a build to have more addons than it can show off on its main screen. If you wish to investigate further add-ons, the following options are available to you:
5. Select Main Menu from the drop-down list in the menu bar (just select, do not click it. Clicking will open a completely different set of options)
6. Now, choose Video add-ons from the drop-down menu that is located under the main menu.
7. You can discover the whole list of video add-ons that were pre-installed with the Titanium Build right here.
How to Add Addons to a Build
A build often comes pre-configured with a number of extras. Having said that, this does not definitely ensure that it will always contain the add-on that you are looking for.
In the event that your build does not come pre-packaged with your preferred add-on, you have the option to manually install it.
Earlier on in this post, I went through how to install add-ons on the Kodi media player. However, it just dealt with the configuration of addons without any build.
Add-ons may be installed on top of any of the builds that are available. The good news is that the installation procedure with a build is not too dissimilar to the installation procedure without a build. As you did previously, you will need to add the source URL to Kodi, then install the repository from the source, and then install the addon from the repository.
#Recommended – Get A Kodi VPN
Get a reliable virtual private network (VPN) for Kodi before you start using it to stream the movies, TV episodes, or sports you like the most. I highly suggest this.
Kodi VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool that, for those who are unaware, shields your Kodi streaming activities from the prying eyes of “Big Brother.” To put it another way, it disguises the internet traffic that comes from and goes to your device, ensuring that the government, your internet service provider (ISP), hackers, and any other entities cannot log or track your online activities.
Installing add-ons is the first step in using Kodi as a media player for streaming movies and television programs. You may watch all of your preferred entertainment for free using the majority of these add-ons, which are offered by third-party service providers.
The viewing of copyrighted material obtained via unlawful means is not something that I recommend to any of my readers. However, at the same time, I am of the opinion that everyone has the right to their own privacy and that this right has to be protected both in principle and in practice.
Your internet connection is secured by encryption, and all of your web traffic is rerouted via a private, virtual server when you use a VPN with Kodi. Anyone who may be attempting to monitor your activity on the internet is unable to do so as a consequence of this. ExpressVPN is the virtual private network (VPN) that comes highly recommended by me for usage with Kodi. It protects your online identity as well as your privacy by using unbreakable encryption technology. ExpressVPN ensures that its customers using Kodi remain completely anonymous.
You may use ExpressVPN on a wide variety of devices that are compatible with Kodi, including Android, FireStick, iOS, Mac, and Windows, amongst others. You may utilize this Virtual Private Network (VPN) service with Kodi as well as any other streaming program you might be using.
Therefore, before you begin streaming, here is how to quickly and easily safeguard yourself using a virtual private network (VPN).
Step 1: First, go here to sign up for an ExpressVPN account.
Step 2: To begin downloading and installing the ExpressVPN application on your device, click HERE.
Step 3: To connect to a VPN server, click the Power symbol in the toolbar. That brings us to the end. Your connection is now protected by the quickest and most reliable VPN service available for Kodi.
Wrapping Up
To get started with Kodi, this should be pretty much all the information you need. Sincerity compels me to tell you that, for the most part, you won’t need to do much more than utilize the fundamental features of Kodi that are described in this tutorial. Even though I’ve been using Kodi for many years, I still only have a rudimentary understanding of the program. If you know how to set up add-ons and know how to install add-ons on the device you are using, then you will have already taken care of a significant portion of the problem.
Kodi builds are wonderful because they improve the aesthetic appeal of the user interface and make your life simpler by installing add-ons for you in advance. Putting on some muscle is always a good idea. I make use of it personally. If you remove the builds from the equation, you can still use Kodi even if you just have the add-ons installed. This is what I am trying to explain. Without the addons, though, there isn’t much you can do. Add-ons are the most essential component of Kodi, and I anticipate that I will emphasize this point a few more times during this book.
Legal Disclaimer: FireStickTips.com does not check the legality or safety of any add-ons, apps, or services mentioned on this site. Also, we don’t promote, host, or link streams with copy protection. We are very against piracy, and we tell our readers to stay away from it at all costs. When we talk about free streaming on our site, we only mean content that is in the Public domain and doesn’t have any copyrights. Read the whole thing.
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