Use Kodi Ultimate Beginner’s Guide for Kodi: If you’re new to Kodi, this beginner’s guide is designed to help you get started quickly and become familiar with the app. In this post, I’ll walk you through the essential basics of Kodi, so you can start streaming your favorite content in no time.

How to Use Kodi – Beginner’s Guide

When I first tried Kodi, it felt a bit overwhelming. The layout and unique features made it seem quite different from other media players. But soon, I realized it’s much easier to use than it looks. You don’t need any advanced technical skills or a steep learning curve to start streaming movies or TV shows on Kodi. Still, I believe a little guidance could have helped me get comfortable with Kodi faster. Many readers have asked for a simple, straightforward guide to help beginners get familiar quickly. So, here it is — everything you need to know to get started with Kodi, all in one place.

What is Kodi?

Kodi is an open-source media player that allows you to play videos, music, and other multimedia files on your device. While Kodi lets you access both local and online media, it is best known for its powerful online streaming capabilities. With Kodi, you can stream a wide variety of content, including:

• Movies
• TV shows
• Documentaries
• Sports
• Live broadcasts
• Music, and much more.

In addition, Kodi offers extensive customization options such as:

• Adjusting settings
• Changing display preferences
• Applying different skins through builds, and more.

Kodi is a popular, trusted, and user-friendly app — and best of all, it’s completely free. However, it’s important to note that Kodi itself does not host any content. To access your favorite movies and shows, you need to install Kodi addons. These addons can be installed from Kodi’s official repository or from various third-party repositories. Luckily, there’s a comprehensive selection of Kodi addons available that provide excellent streaming content.

How to Install Kodi on Different Devices

Kodi supports a wide range of device platforms. While this guide can’t cover detailed installation steps for every device, I’ll provide a brief overview of how to install Kodi on some of the most popular platforms. I’ll also point you to the official sources where you can download Kodi, along with a quick summary of the installation process. The platforms covered include:

1. Amazon FireStick & Fire TV
2. Android smartphones & tablets
3. Windows PC
4. macOS
5. iOS
6. Android Smart TVs & Android TV Boxes

The latest official release is Kodi 21.2 Omega. Many users still run the older Kodi Nexus version, especially if they haven’t updated to Omega yet. However, Nexus is no longer available through official channels.

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1. Amazon FireStick & Fire TV

Amazon FireStick is a highly popular media streaming device that connects to your TV via the HDMI port. This Android-based gadget effectively turns any TV into a Smart TV. While there are some physical differences between the FireStick and Fire TV, they operate similarly, so the installation process for Kodi is the same on both.

Since Kodi isn’t available on the Amazon App Store, you’ll need to manually download the Kodi APK file from a trusted source to install it on your FireStick. For a detailed, step-by-step guide on installing Kodi on FireStick, check out our dedicated tutorial. You can also explore our guide on jailbreaking Amazon FireStick for more tips.

2. Android Mobiles & Tablets

Kodi is widely used and trusted by Google. Unlike FireStick or Fire TV, you don’t need to sideload Kodi on Android phones or tablets. The Kodi app is officially available on the Google Play Store, which only hosts verified and safe applications.

Here’s how to install Kodi on Android:

• Open the Google Play Store.
• Search for “Kodi.”
• Tap Install.

3. Windows PC

Installing Kodi varies depending on your Windows version. Below is a breakdown for different versions:

3.1 Windows 10 & 11

For Windows 10 and 11 users, Kodi can be downloaded directly from the Microsoft Store:

• Open the Microsoft Store.
• Use the search bar at the top to look for “Kodi.”
• Select the Kodi app from the results.
• Click the Get button.

Kodi will install on your PC within minutes.

3.2 Windows 8.1 & Older

If you’re running Windows 8.1 or earlier, you’ll need to download Kodi from the official website:

1. Visit https://kodi.tv and click the DOWNLOAD button at the top-right of the homepage (or go directly to https://kodi.tv/download).
2. Scroll down and select the Windows logo among the supported platforms.
3. In the next window, make sure the Recommended tab is selected. Choose Installer (64-bit) if you have a 64-bit system. Choose Installer (32-bit) if you’re on a 32-bit PC.

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4. Mac OS

Kodi is not available on the Apple App Store, but you can download the macOS version directly from Kodi’s official website. Your Mac must be running OS X 10.8 or later. To install Kodi on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open https://kodi.tv/download using the Safari browser (Safari will automatically mount the DMG file). Scroll down and click the macOS logo.
2. In the pop-up window, ensure the Recommended tab is selected, then click Installer (64-BIT).
3. Proceed with the standard installation process to complete the Kodi setup on your Mac.

5. iOS (iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch)

Kodi can be installed on both jailbroken and non-jailbroken iOS devices using various methods listed on the official Kodi website. Additionally, some third-party app stores like TweakBox also offer the Kodi app for iOS devices.

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6. Android Smart TV & TV Boxes

Android Smart TVs and TV Boxes have access to the Google Play Store. Since Kodi Omega is officially listed there, installing the app is simple:

1. Power on your Android TV or connect your TV Box to your television.
2. From the home screen, open the Google Play Store.
3. Search for the Kodi app.
4. Follow the prompts to download and install Kodi.

In just a few minutes, Kodi will be ready to use on your device. Would you like help with any other parts of your Kodi guide?

What Are Kodi Addons?

Kodi addons enable you to stream online content through Kodi, such as movies, TV shows, live television, sports, documentaries, and much more. Without addons, Kodi functions like any standard media player, capable only of playing media files stored locally on your device. Addons are essential because they provide access to streaming content from the internet.

In essence, addons let you watch a variety of media, including:

• Movies
• TV shows
• Live TV
• Music
• Sports
• News
• Documentaries, and more.

To put it simply, think of Kodi as a DVD player and addons as DVDs. Without DVDs, the player has limited use. Similarly, Kodi addons are vital for streaming as they fetch media from different sources to bring you high-quality content. There are many addons tailored for live streams, on-demand videos, news, and other types of content. You can choose specific addons for your favorite movies or opt for multipurpose addons that offer a wide range of streaming options all in one place. To help you find the best addons quickly, be sure to check out our curated list of top Kodi addons.

How to Install Addons on Kodi

Installing addons on Kodi is a simple and straightforward process. Whether you’re downloading from the official Kodi repository or from third-party sources, it only takes a few easy steps.

Here’s a general overview of how to install any addon on Kodi:

1. First, decide what type of addon you want. For example, if you love movies, pick a movie-focused addon. You can explore our curated list of the best Kodi addons by category.
2. Enable installation from third-party sources in Kodi’s settings.
3. Locate the source URL for the addon and add it to Kodi’s File Manager.
4. Use this source to download the repository that contains the addon.
5. Finally, install the addon from the downloaded repository or wizard.

For detailed, step-by-step guides with screenshots, check out how to install some popular addons like:

• The Crew
• Asgard
• Homelander
• The Magic Dragon
• The Loop

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How to Use Kodi Addons to Stream Movies, Shows, Live TV, and More

After installing an addon, you’ll find it inside the Add-ons section on Kodi. Here’s how to access and use your installed addons:

• From the Kodi home screen, press the back button repeatedly until you return to the main menu.
• Select Add-ons from the left sidebar.
• Hover over Video add-ons on the left — all your video streaming addons will appear on the right.

This list displays all the video addons you’ve installed.

To launch any addon, simply click its icon once. For example, if you open The Crew addon (one of the best Kodi addons), you’ll see various categories like Movies, TV Shows, and more organized for easy browsing. Clicking on a category may reveal more subcategories or a list of titles. For example, within Movies, you might see subcategories such as New Movies, Trending, In Theaters, or genres like Action, Adventure, Anime, etc. Navigate through the categories until you find a title you want to watch. The addon will then scrape multiple servers to find streaming links. Click one of the links to start watching your selected content.

What Are Kodi Builds?

When you install Kodi for the first time, it opens with the default Estuary skin and a basic interface. While addons provide access to tons of content, they don’t change Kodi’s appearance. If you want to customize the look and feel of Kodi, you’ll want to install a Kodi build.

A Kodi build serves two main purposes:

• It changes Kodi’s interface (skin) to give it a fresh new look.
• It comes pre-loaded with a collection of popular addons.

Instead of installing each addon separately, a build packages multiple addons together, saving you time and effort. For example, after installing a popular build like Xenon, Kodi will look completely transformed and more visually appealing.

How to Install Kodi Builds

Though installing a Kodi build might seem complicated at first, it’s actually very similar to installing addons. If you want to get started, here are some popular builds to check out along with their installation guides:

• EzzerMacs Build
• cMaN Wizard Builds
• Doomzday Builds

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How to Use a Kodi Build

Using Kodi with a build isn’t much different from using the app without one, except you get a fresh new interface. The good news is that even beginners can quickly get comfortable with Kodi builds. For this guide, I’m using the Xenon build as an example, but most builds have a similar layout with just a few minor variations. So, even if you’re using a different build, the steps will be quite similar.

1. Here’s what Kodi’s home screen looks like with the Xenon build installed.
2. The Xenon skin is much more vibrant and visually appealing compared to the default, plain Kodi interface. The home screen features a Section bar near the center and a contextual submenu bar right below it.
3. When you select an item in the Section bar, the submenu shows related options underneath. For instance, selecting the “Diggz Xenon” section displays options like Skin Settings, Kodi Settings, Refresh Weather, and more.
4. Browse through different sections such as Movies, TV Shows, Debrid Zone, etc., and notice how the submenu options update accordingly.
5. As mentioned earlier, builds come with pre-installed addons. For example, in the TV Shows section, you’ll see several preloaded addons like Scrubs, TV Portal, Twisted, among others.
6. In the Debrid Zone section, relevant addons also appear at the bottom of the screen.
7. Keep in mind, the addons listed on the Xenon home screen are not exhaustive. A build often includes many more addons than what is shown on its main interface. To explore all available addons, navigate to the Add-ons section from the home screen and then click on Video Add-ons.
8. There, you’ll find the full list of video addons that come preinstalled with the Xenon build.

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How to Add Addons to a Build

Most Kodi builds already come packed with several useful addons. But if your favorite addon isn’t included, you can easily install it manually.

Here’s the general process for adding an addon to a Kodi build:

• Add the addon’s file source URL to Kodi’s File Manager.
• Install the repository from that source.
• Download and install the addon from the repository.

For a more detailed walkthrough, check out our guide on installing addons on Kodi builds.

Why You Should Use a VPN with Kodi

Before you start streaming movies, TV shows, or sports on Kodi, I highly recommend using a reliable VPN. A Kodi VPN helps protect your streaming activity from being monitored by your ISP, government, hackers, or other third parties. It encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through private servers, keeping your online activity completely private. Many Kodi addons come from third-party sources, allowing you to stream content for free. While I don’t encourage piracy or watching copyrighted content illegally, I believe everyone deserves privacy online.

ExpressVPN is my top choice for Kodi users because it’s fast, secure, and uses strong encryption to keep your identity safe. ExpressVPN supports all Kodi-compatible devices, including Android, FireStick, iOS, Mac, Windows, and more. It also works seamlessly with popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

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• Step 3: Open the app and click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kodi?

Kodi is a free, open-source media player that lets you stream and organize movies, TV shows, music, and more. It’s popular for turning any device into a home theater system.

Is Kodi legal and safe to use?

Yes, Kodi is completely legal and safe to use when streaming content you own or from legitimate sources. Legal issues only arise when using unauthorized third-party add-ons.

How do I install Kodi on my device?

You can download Kodi directly from the official Kodi website or app stores like Google Play and Microsoft Store. It’s available for Windows, Android, macOS, Linux, and more.

What are Kodi add-ons and how do they work?

Kodi add-ons are plugins that enhance its features by providing access to streaming services, live TV, or utilities. They can be installed from the official Kodi repository or third-party sources.

Is Kodi compatible with streaming devices like Firestick?

Yes, Kodi works well on Amazon Firestick and other streaming devices. It may require sideloading the app, but once installed, it runs efficiently.

Do I need a VPN for Kodi?

Using a VPN with Kodi is recommended to protect your privacy and bypass geo-restrictions. A VPN encrypts your connection and keeps your streaming anonymous.

Wrapping Up

Well, that’s all about how to use Kodi. All you need to do is install Kodi, get addons, and start watching your favorite content. You may also install Kodi builds to enjoy a more dynamic interface. Let me know your thoughts in the comments box below.

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