In this guide, I’ll demonstrate how to install Kodi 17.1 Krypton on your device.
Kodi Krypton 17 was released in 2017 (it’s almost a decade now). The latest version is Kodi 20.2 Omega. However, if you are here, you probably want to install the older version.
Note: I will actually install Kodi 17.6 Krypton because the stable version of 17.1 is not available. However, both serve the same purpose.
What is Kodi 17.1?
Kodi 17.1 is one of the many versions of Kodi 17 Krypton. This was one of the most stable and user-friendly versions of Kodi. It was a significant improvement over previous versions, thanks to new features such as the Estuary skin and user interface, improved addon support, and fewer compatibility issues.
I personally adopted Kodi on my devices with the release of Krypton in 2017. Initially, I used the application to organize and play my local media files, such as movies, TV shows, music albums, and music videos. As I got used to the new interface and the multiple streaming addons, I started streaming on-demand content and live sports on Kodi.
Kodi developers regularly update the software to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. Despite these updates, some users feel that Kodi 17.1 is still the sweet spot, even with many new versions available.
I still have Kodi 17 on my old FireStick. My colleague still uses Kodi 17 on his old home computer to stream old movies and TV shows.
For Kodi Users!
ISPs, hackers, and other third-party entities worldwide may monitor your online activities. For security, privacy, and smooth streaming, it is recommended to use a reliable VPN for Kodi. Your IP address is visible to sites you visit.
I recommend ExpressVPN, a fast and secure VPN in the industry. It is very easy to install on any device, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, PC, Mac, and Smartphones. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied with their service, you can request a refund. ExpressVPN also has a special deal where you can get 4 months free and save 73% on the 2-year plan.
Read: How to Install and Use the Best VPN for Kodi
Why I Still Prefer the Older Version?
Kodi is a great software. However, like many open-source and community-maintained applications, it’s prone to bugs and performance issues.
I was one of the users who were quick to update an app to the latest version, until I noticed every update comes with its fair share of issues—software crashes, addon incompatibility, audio-sync issues, among others. While looking for fixes online, I came across a suggestion to revert to Kodi 17 Krypton.
I tried it, and as soon as I did, I wished I had done it sooner. I noticed better overall performance, including no audio-sync issues, no buffering, and smooth navigation.
Below are reasons why I still prefer Kodi 17 today:
- I have older devices, and Kodi 17 runs better on them than newer versions like Kodi 20 Nexus and Kodi 21 Omega.
- The Krypton user interface is intuitive and straightforward. I like the lightning-speed transitions, minimal animations, and lower RAM usage.
- Compatible with all my favorite older addons. Some developers stopped updating their addons along the way, but these addons still work with Kodi 17.
- Supports some of my favorite older builds like Netflix, Evolution, and Titan.
- To avoid bugs associated with Kodi 18 Leia, 19 Matrix, and other newer versions.
- Kodi 17 is familiar, from the layout and skin to remote mapping and addon setup.
Is Kodi 17 Safe and Legal?
Kodi is an official app available through app stores like Google Play, the App Store, and Microsoft Store. The media center is safe and legal to use. However, it still raises safety and legal concerns to allow third-party addons that distribute copyrighted content or content from unknown sources.
To assess the safety of Kodi 17, I uploaded the APK file to VirusTotal, an online security service. All 54 security vendors gave Kodi 17 a green light. See the screenshot below.
While Kodi 17 is legal, FireStickTricks.com can’t vouch for any third-party Kodi addons. We don’t condone piracy, and urge you to stick to official addons to stream content on Kodi.
How to Install Kodi 17 Krypton on Any Device
Note: I’ll show you how to install Kodi 17.6 on Windows and Android. Kodi 17.1 didn’t work, but 17.6 is just fine because it’s an iteration of Kodi 17. Whatever you need 17.1 for, you’ll find it on 17.6, too.
How to Install Kodi 17.6 on Windows
The official Kodi website and app stores provide only the latest and most stable version of Kodi, 21.2. For older versions, you need to visit the official Kodi Mirrors site. I’ll show you how to access this website and install Kodi 17.6 on Windows.
Here’s how I installed Kodi 17.6 on Windows:
1. Open your web browser and go to https://mirrors.kodi.tv. Select Releases.
2. Navigate to Windows.
3. Select Win32/.
4. You’ll see multiple Kodi versions, from latest to oldest. Scroll down to Kodi-17.6-Krypton-x86.exe and select it.
5. The file will start downloading. Give it a few minutes to finish downloading.
6. Close the tab and go to your Downloads folder. Locate the downloaded Kodi 17.6 installation file.
7. Double-click on the file to run it. Select Next once the Kodi setup window appears.
8. Click I Agree.
9. Click Next, then Install to start installing the app.
10. Wait for the app to install.
11. Click Finish once the app has been installed. Make sure the Run Kodi checkbox is selected so that the app can autolaunch after installation.
12. Close the installation window and navigate to the Kodi window, which should be open by now. Kodi 17.1 is incompatible with some newer addons. Select OK when prompted to acknowledge the warning.
13. This is what the Kodi home screen looks like.
14. Navigate to Settings>System Information to confirm that you’ve installed Kodi 17.6.
That’s how I installed Kodi 17.6 on my Windows desktop computer.
You’re now all set. A quick reminder: your internet provider and many websites/apps can see your IP address and some details about your connection. Using a VPN encrypts your traffic and masks your IP address, which helps protect your online privacy.
I recommend ExpressVPN. It’s a reputable VPN with strong encryption and fast connections, and it’s straightforward to install on Fire TV/FireStick and other devices.
Next, I’ll show you how to set up and use ExpressVPN.
Step 1: Get the ExpressVPN subscription HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Meaning, you can use it for free for the first 30 days, and if you are not satisfied with the performance (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for a full refund.
Step 2: Click HERE to download and install the ExpressVPN app on your streaming device. If you are using a FireStick, I have given the exact steps starting with Step 4 below.
Step 3: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That's all. Your connection is now secure with the fastest and best VPN for Kodi.
The following are the steps to install Kodi VPN on your Fire TV devices. If you have other streaming devices, follow Step 1-3 above.
Step 4: Subscribe to ExpressVPN HERE (if you are not already subscribed).
Step 5: Go to the Fire TV Stick home screen. Click Find followed by the Search option (see image below).
Step 6: Type Expressvpn in the search bar and select it when it shows up.
Step 7: Click Download.
Step 8: Open the ExpressVPN app and Sign in using the email ID and password that you created while buying the ExpressVPN subscription.
Step 9: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That’s all. Your FireStick is now secured with the fastest VPN.
How to Install Kodi 17.6 on Android
Just like on Windows, you need to download the Kodi 17.6 APK file from the Kodi Mirrors website to install it on Android. I will use the Chrome browser, but any other browser will work too, including Opera and Firefox.
Here’s how I installed Kodi 17.6 on my Android mobile device:
1. Open your web browser and go to https://mirrors.kodi.tv. Select Releases.
2. Click Android.
3. Choose arm/.
4. You’ll see various Kodi versions. Select Kodi-17.6-Krypton-armeabi-v7a.apk.
5. The APK will start downloading.
6. Tap Open once the download is complete.
7. The device will prompt you to install Kodi. Select Install.
8. Wait as the app installs.
9. Once the installation is complete, tap Open.
10. The device will prompt you to permit Kodi to access files and media. Select Continue to allow it.
11. This is what the Kodi 17.6 home screen looks like.
12. Navigate to Settings>System Information to confirm that you’ve installed Kodi 17.6.
That’s how I installed Kodi 17.6 on Android.
Kodi 17.6 Review
Kodi’s user interface has undergone several modifications and upgrades. However, the general outlook is similar. At first glance, I couldn’t tell this was Kodi 17.6 Krypton and not 20 Nexus or 21 Omega.
I only noticed differences during navigation. Here’s what the Kodi 17.6 main screen looks like.
As you can see in the screenshot, the main menu features power, settings, and search icons. The left panel menu contains the following sections:
- Music Videos
- TV
- Radio
- Add-ons
- Pictures
- Videos
- Favourites
- Weather
Clicking the Settings option opens the System window, which includes navigation sections such as interface, system information, and file manager.
To get the best out of Kodi, you need to install addons. These include music, video, and program addons. Because third-party addons offer some of the best content on Kodi, my first step was to enable unknown sources in the settings.
I navigated to Settings > System > Addons > Unknown Sources and turned on the toggle.
Next, I had to install a few addons, depending on what I wanted from Kodi. I started with official addons, because they are easy to install. They come pre-added with the official Kodi repository, and all I had to do was select an addon and click Install.
There are various ways to install these addons. First, navigate to Addons > Downloads in the main menu. Choose the type of addon (program, look and feel, video, music, etc). For instance, I chose Video addons.
From there, I chose Funny or Die, a favorite video addon for hilarious content.
Once I selected the addon, there was an option to install it.
Installation was fast, and I didn’t encounter any issues. Once the addon has been installed, a notification appears on the screen.
Another way to install addons on Kodi 17.6 is through the Addons/Addons Browser path. On the main menu, click Addons, then select the folder icon.
On the next window, select Install from zip file or Install from repository.
I chose the Install from repository option, which took me to the All Repositories tab. Choose Video Addons.
Finally, select your desired video addon, and the download starts.
To install a third-party addon from an unknown repository, use the File Manager>Add Source route.
I noticed that this Kodi version doesn’t support installing addons directly from repository URLs. You need to install the repository separately on your device, then install the zip file from internal storage.
Overall, Kodi 17.6 is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Important Note: This tutorial focuses on Kodi 17, but the latest and stable Kodi version is 21.2. While the former still offers a familiar interface, addon compatibility, and legacy addons, it is no longer supported by Team Kodi. Using older software comes with security and performance risks. Beware of bugs, unsupported features, and security vulnerabilities.
Wrapping Up
This post explained how to install Kodi 17.1 on your device. Unfortunately, Kodi 17.1 didn’t work. However, Kodi 17.6, an iteration of Kodi 17, worked just fine. I have discussed how to install and use the software on Windows and Android.
Have you installed Kodi 17.6 on your device? Share your experience, thoughts, and concerns below in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: No, Kodi 17.1 doesn't work. The oldest stable version of Kodi 17 is Kodi 17.6. It is still supported on various devices, including Windows and Android.
A: The latest version of Kodi as of this writing is Kodi 21.2 Omega.
A: Kodi 17 may fail to install on FireStick due to incompatibility issues. If you're using a recent FireStick model, it's likely not to support an older version of Kodi.
A: You can find Kodi 17 and all older Kodi versions on the Kodi mirrors website (https://mirrors.kodi.tv).
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