How does Kodi work? You might have heard of Kodi, the open source content organizer and media player that works on almost every device and handles all of your favorite media. But do you know how it works, where to get it, or how to install it? Juggling multiple media and streaming software programs can be a hassle, especially if you’re not familiar with the technology. Kodi makes everything streaming content simple. And most of all, it’s even easy to learn how you can make the most of its incredible capabilities, even if you’re not a programmer. Read on, while we demystify this exciting new technology.

What is Kodi?

Ultimately, Kodi is free, open-source home theater software for your smart TV. What does it do? Well, just about everything except the dishes, actually. As a matter of fact, you can use it to organize your digital photos and to play streaming media — music, movies, podcasts, TV, and more. In addition, you can use it to access your favorite streaming media services like Amazon and Hulu. You can also use its PVR and DVR functions to record live media. And then, finally, the software stores it all in a convenient, user-friendly format for your future enjoyment.

Is Kodi a content provider?

You might wonder, is Kodi a content provider like Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu? No, the company does not produce or distribute content. Instead, it provides the technology that allows you to access content through various distributors. You might use it to access your Amazon subscription, for example. You could also use it to archive and stream the music or photos that you own.

What is open source?

“Open source” is the term used for the software that developers create and license so that anyone can use any part of its code for anything. As a result, users are free to change, modify, and develop the code further to serve their purposes.

While playing with and writing code is fun for some, if you don’t know how to code, or simply don’t have the time, you really don’t have to with Kodi. The software is so easy to use and the interface so attractive and intuitive that no coding skills are necessary. You could play developer if you like, but if you’d rather just have a powerful media organizer that does what it’s told, you can have that, too.

Plus, it’s free. Yes, free. The XBMC Foundation, a nonprofit, maintains Kodi. A lot of their work comes from volunteers, donors, and other kinds of contributors. In addition, the foundation has several high-profile corporate sponsors. This allows them to focus on creating and maintaining the best possible product for their users — and to keep it free of charge.

Which devices and platforms does it run on?

How does Kodi work? Kodi is a multi-platform home theater PC (HTPC) application. That’s a mouthful. But what it means is actually pretty simple. A platform is an operating system, and Kodi runs on most of them. Which means that it will run on just about any device. OSX and iOS? Of course. How about Windows? Sure. Will it run on Linux? You bet. It will even run on Raspberry Pi. So you can access your content from your phone, tablet, and computer as well as your smart TV.

kodi music player

How does Kodi Work?

How can you get started with Kodi? It’s really simple. A download, installation, and set up is all you’ll need, although the steps may vary some depending on what device and operating system combination you have specifically.

Download the Kodi media player

First, you’ll need to download the software from their website. You can also get it on Google Play. In addition, if you’re a developer and want the source code, you can find it at GitHub.

Install Kodi on your device

The instructions to install Kodi will differ, depending on your device. Depending on your setup, installation can be easy or it can be a little tricky. Here are a few sample installation instructions, from simpler to more complex.

Windows and MacOS

It’s pretty easy to install Kodi on Windows and MacOS devices. First, for Windows, you’ll need to download the media player software from the Microsoft Store. Alternately, you can use the 32-bit installer on the company’s own downloads page. Don’t let the 32-bit version fool you, though. It will work on both 32- and 64-bit Windows PCs.

For MacOS, you’ll need to get the 64-bit installer from the Kodi downloads page. Then, once the download finishes, the software will tell you what to do, every step of the way.

Android devices

To put Kodi on your Android device, you’ll need to first download it from the Google Play Store. Before you do that, however, you’ll need to enable installations from unknown sources. First, navigate to Settings. Then Choose Apps & Notifications > Special App Access. Then choose Install Unknown Apps. Your device will ask you to confirm your choice, and often issues a warning that installing apps from unknown sources could harm your device. While this is true, and it could happen, Kodi is known software.

Linux

For Linux, you’ll first need to open a terminal window (command line) or SSH. Then enter the following lines of code, one line at a time.

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install kodi

If you get stuck, you can always check the Kodi wiki.

Amazon Fire Stick

The Amazon Fire Stick is a piece of hardware that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port. It gives you access to all of your favorite content. Also, it allows you to take your content with you and view it on other compatible devices. Does Kodi work with a Fire Stick? You bet. And this video will show you how to install it.

Should You Use a Kodi VPN?

What’s a VPN, and why might you consider using one? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN connects a private network, such as a home or office network, across a public network, such as those available from Starbucks, for example. This allows users on the private network to send and receive data across the public network while maintaining the security of the private network.

Companies use VPN technology to allow their employees to access corporate data remotely securely. The main attractions of a VPN are privacy, security, and user authentication. If you have sensitive data, and you want to protect it, you might consider using a VPN.

Will a VPN work with Kodi and how does kodi work? Yes! And VPN technology is cheap and readily available. Why should you use a Kodi VPN? Well, internet providers are starting to block access to a number of things in the Kodi add-on library. In addition, some providers are beginning to throttle and slow download speeds for different Kodi functions. A Kodi VPN can help.

Of course, some users use VPN technology to transfer copyrighted material illegally. We, of course, do not recommend this illegal usage and condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

Explore the Amazing Kodi Add-On Library (How does Kodi Work)

Kodi’s add-on library brings together hundreds of powerful apps that do an astonishing number of things. Each add-on was created by a user, and you’d be surprised at the creative things Kodi users have come up with.

There are add-ons that help you to access content through streaming providers like Hulu and Amazon, for example. There are also gaming add-ons. You can change the look and feel of your Kodi interface with some, and add functionality with others. In addition, there are add-ons to help you organize and stream music. There are also add-ons to help you to access live sports. You will also find a number of add-ons to help you to access both cartoons suitable for children and anime for older viewers. Have a look at 100 of the best Kodi add-ons for 2018 at Firestick Tricks.

Alternately, if you’re feeling confident with your developer skills, try to come up with an add-on of your own!

How can I Get it?

The most direct way to get Kodi is to download it from Kodi’s website. In fact, you can download versions for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, Raspberry Pi, and more. In addition, you can download it from the Google Play Store or the Microsoft Store. Unfortunately, it’s not available from the Mac App store, because the App store doesn’t distribute third-party apps. However, Macworld has some advice about installing the software on your iPhone or other Mac device without jailbreaking. (Jailbreaking means bypassing the security locks that Apple installs on its devices to keep unauthorized apps off. It can be a risky process, so, if in doubt, play it safe.)

kodi website home page

Are You Ready for an Adventure?

Would you like to get in on this media revolution? Do you want a simple, powerful, and ultimately customizable media organizer and media player? Would you like to join a friendly, innovative community of users and developers? Or perhaps even try your hand at creating something for others to use? Then check out Kodi, and get started today.

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