What is Kodi, How it Works, and Newbie's Starter Guide [2023]

In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about Kodi and how to get started. I will provide you with all the tips and tricks and access to all the necessary resources you could need. With the help of this guide, you not only get introduced to Kodi, but you also know all the tools to start streaming free Movies, TV Shows, Live TV, Sports, and more. Kodi 20.1 is the latest official version.

What is Kodi?

Kodi is an open-source, free media player. That’s the simplest and the aptest definition of this hugely popular app.

When you think of media player names like VLC cross your mind. Usually, the media players are used to playback the media from the local storage. Kodi can do that too. But, the true potential of Kodi is unlocked when you use it to play media over the internet and that too for free.

Yes, Kodi gives you free access to a host of content including shows, movies, live TV, sports and a lot more. All you need is the right Kodi addons. And, if you are looking to enhance your overall Kodi experience, you might want to try out Kodi builds too. We will talk about addons and builds in a while.

Kodi is compatible with nearly all popular platforms. Some platforms host Kodi in their official App Stores (such as Android Smartphones, Android TV Boxes, Windows 10, etc). On others, it can be sideloaded easily (such as Amazon Fire Stick & Fire TV, Mac, etc.). In fact, we will talk about installation in the next section.

Attention, Kodi Users!

Kodi Addons and builds offer unlimited streaming content, but could also get you into legal trouble if caught streaming free movies, TV shows, or sports. Currently, your IP is visible to everyone. Kodi users are strongly advised to always connect to a VPN while streaming online. A good Kodi VPN hides your identity, bypasses government surveillance, geo-blocked content, and ISP throttling (which also helps in buffer-free streaming).

I personally use ExpressVPN, which is the fastest and most secure VPN. It is very easy to install on any device including Amazon FireStick. You get 3 months free and save 49% on its annual plans. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied, you can always ask for a refund.

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Read: How to Install and Use the Best Kodi VPN

How to Install Kodi

The installation process varies across devices. As I said, Kodi is available officially on some devices and on some it must be manually installed using the sideloading method. Here is a quick look:

Amazon FireStick, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV, Fire TV Cube

These devices are pretty much the same in every aspect. Thus, the installation process of the Kodi app is also the same.

Amazon does not host Kodi in its App Store. But, you can quickly sideload it on all the Fire TV line of devices. Here are our useful resources.

How to Install Kodi on FireStick

Android Smartphones, Tablets, Android TV & Android Boxes

All these Android devices come with built-in support for Google Play Services, including Google Play Store. Kodi is officially included in the Play Store.

Hence, all you need to do to install Kodi is download it from the Play Store if you are using any of these Android devices.

Windows PC & Xbox

Windows 10 & Xbox One: Kodi is officially available in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 users. Simply type ‘Kodi’ in Cortana and click the Kodi icon in the search results. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Kodi

Windows 8.1, Xbox 360 and older versions: You can download the installer from the official Kodi site https://kodi.tv/download. When you are on this page, click Windows.

Mac and iOS & Other Devices

For Mac, iOS and other devices go to the Kodi download page at https://kodi.tv/download and click the icon of your OS. For instance, click Mac OS for Mac and iOS for iOS.

A small window will pop up with the link to download the installer file. The window also has a How-To link that will take you through the guide to install Kodi on the selected OS in case you need any assistance.

How to Get Started with Kodi

Kodi does not host any content. Kodi is just a media player that simply facilitates content playback. You can play the media on your local storage via Kodi. But, as I already told you, that’s not what Kodi is best known for. Kodi is popular because it lets you play free videos and music over the internet.

To get started with Kodi, you need add-ons and builds.

Kodi Addons

Add-ons are the biggest contributors to the success of Kodi. These are the gateway to the huge world of free content on the web. Whether you like to watch movies and TV shows, satellite TV over the internet, or sports, it is the addons that will make it possible for you. In simple words, Kodi addons are absolute essentials for you to get started.

Kodi addons also do not host any content of their own. They are the aggregators that fetch the streams or streaming links from various sources on the internet.

You will find everything you need to know about addons on Fire Stick Tricks. Here are some of our best resources and How-to guides:

Kodi Builds

Builds give a visual makeover to the Kodi interface. They change the way you interact with Kodi. These builds also come preloaded with popular and working addons, so that you don’t have to install them manually.

The Kodi builds eventually rely on addons for content streaming. Thus, one could say, they are the non-essentials. That’s not entirely untrue. You might get started with a bunch of addons and without any build. But, Kodi is just so much more fun with the builds. Even though it’s not mandatory, I personally recommend a Kodi build.

Not sure how to go about it? Don’t worry, we have everything to help you pick the right build. Here are some of our useful resources:

Is Kodi Legal and Safe?

Let me start by saying that Kodi is one hundred percent legal. And, it is also completely safe if you make sure you install addons and builds only from the trusted sources. All our resources and How-to guides cover only those addons and builds that are safe. We personally test every addon and build before sharing their installation instructions with you.

Kodi is legal and this claim is substantiated by the fact that it is included in Google Play Store and Microsoft Store. Trust me, that’s the litmus test not easy to pass.

But, when you are streaming free content using the Kodi addons, you might land into copyright troubles. What you do on the internet can be monitored by your ISP, your Government and even third-party entities. We do not encourage copyright violations in any capacity, but we are the strong advocates of your right to privacy.

Using a VPN is the best way to avoid any troubles while streaming free content. VPN will make sure your online activities are encrypted and kept away from the prying eyes.

How to install the best VPN for Kodi

How to Fix Kodi Issues

Having issues with Kodi? Don’t worry, we have you covered here as well. Kodi is a stable, trusted app. But, let’s accept this. It is a digital tool and even though Kodi issues are rare they are not unheard of.

Here are some resources that will help you get Kodi working trouble-free again:

Wrapping Up

That’s the quick summary of all the important aspects of Kodi every user must be aware of before getting started. Every section of this guide is further elaborated through links to various useful resources. How has your experience been? We would love to hear from you.

Legal Disclaimer - FireStickTricks.com does not verify the legality or security of any add-ons, apps or services mentioned on this site. Also, we do not promote, host or link to copyright-protected streams. We highly discourage piracy and strictly advise our readers to avoid it at all costs. Any mention of free streaming on our site is purely meant for copyright-free content that is available in the Public domain. Read our full disclaimer.

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