How to Install Kodi on PC: Quick and Easy

Looking for a guide on how to install Kodi on PC? Then you’ve come to the right place. We’re gonna show you everything step by step. No need to worry. It’s easy. So, let’s check it out. Shall we?

What is Kodi?

So, if you’re new here, you’re probably wondering what Kodi is in the first place. Well, to put it simply, Kodi is a program/software that is used to play media like music, videos, etc.

Now, you can use it to either play local content on your computer or stream stuff from the net. You can even watch free movies or TV if you know how to use it. And speaking of which, we’ll guide you through that in the near future. Because first, you need to install it.

But, before that, you may also be wondering if that’s illegal. Kodi by itself isn’t illegal in any way. But, streaming certain kinds of unlicensed content may very well be depending on your country.

So, if you’re planning on streaming any type of content with Kodi, we’d recommend playing it safe and installing a VPN such as Express VPN to “hide” yourself. You can find that over here.

More answers seem to beg more questions. What is a VPN? Again, to put it simply, it’s software that is used to hide incoming and outcoming traffic.

Thanks to VPN programs, nobody except you and your VPN provider can know what you’re up to. That leaves your ISP out of the way and anyone else who may want to pry on your activities.

So, even if you end up doing something that’s considered illegal in your country, like streaming movies, nobody will be able to do anything about it. Now that’s all out of the way, let us proceed with the guide.

1. How to Install Kodi on PC

Kodi is available in multiple platforms, including Windows. Since this is a guide on how to install Kodi on PC, we’ll have to focus on Windows for now. Future guides for OSX and Linux will follow up as well. So, if you’re in one of these platforms, stay tuned! So, the first thing that you wanna do is:

1. Head over to Kodi’s official website
2. Scroll down a page and click on the Windows icon
3. Do the same thing on the next page
4. Download either the 32-bit or 64-bit version depending on your PC. Most computers nowaday’s are 64-bit but if you don’t know about yours you can play it safe with the 32-bit version. It should work on both 32-bit and 64-bit computers.

Now all you have to do is wait for the download to finish. After that, open the installer and follow the steps that it’ll provide you with. You’ll be prompted to agree to some terms as well. So, just do that. Nobody reads those anyway. Once you are finished with that, Kodi should be installed on your Windows PC. However, there are still a few basic steps to follow in order to get Kodi up and working.

2. Performing the Basic Setup

This is more or less how Kodi  looks when it’s all set up. All beautiful and tidy isn’t it? This part of the setup is about the local files. So, do keep that in mind. All you need to do to have your local files displayed like that on the menu, is go to:

1. Settings (Upper left corner of the screen)
2. Media
3. Select either Videos, Music, or Pictures
4. Go to “Add Music” or anything else that you want
5. Click OK and you should be set

If you don’t know where your local content is, then you need to refer to the app/shop where you bought it. For an example, if your music  is bought and downloaded from iTunes, then you need to go to:

1. iTunes
2. Edit
3. Preferences
4. Advanced

The first thing that you should see is the folder location where your downloaded songs are located. And you can use that location for Kodi later on. Now, if you downloaded your stuff online from a browser, simply head to your file manager and the “downloads” folder. Everything should be there. We won’t ask where you got it.

3. How to Setup Streaming Services

As we mentioned above, streaming such content is not permitted in a few countries. Especially in Germany, UK, and the USA. So, if you don’t want to end up paying any fees, you best launch your VPN before doing anything that involves streaming content. Now that this is out of the way, there are primarily two things that you can do to stream content using Kodi:

1. Use the included repositories with their add-ons
2. Look online for extra repositories

Kodi works with add-ons. An add-on can offer anything from pictures and videos to skins and mini apps. You can find all of that under repositories. As we mentioned above, Kodi comes with its own repositories by default. So, let’s start with that.

How to Install Kodi on PC: Handling the Included Add-ons

Now you’re probably wondering: “If Kodi comes with its own repositories by default, then why do we need do install the included add-ons manually?” And the answer is simple. If everything was installed by default, you would never be able to find what you like. Or at the very least, you would spend a lot of time searching.

There are just too many add-ons. Not a good idea to have all of them installed by default. So, if you want to install some of the default add-ons, you need to go to:

1. Add-ons
2. Install from repository
3. Kodi Add-on repository
4. Video Add-ons (if you want videos, movies, or anything related)
5. Select the Add-on of your choice.
6. Install

And after that you should be all set. Simply head back to your homepage, over to Add-ons, and you should find everything that you’ve installed there.

The good thing with the included Add-ons is that most of them are totally legal everywhere and they work effortlessly. The bad thing is that they often hide extra paywalls and despite being so many of them, there is a good chance that you still won’t find what you’re looking for.

How to Install External Add-ons

Installing Add-ons from around the internet is definitely a lot tougher and it often doesn’t work. However, this will multiply the amount of content that you can get a thousand times over. Chances are that you’ll be able to find anything that you want with this method. Just don’t be surprised if you encounter a lot of errors. It happens. The first thing that you wanna do is head over to:

1. System settings
2. Add-ons
3. Unknown sources

You want that to be enabled or you won’t be able to install any Add-ons from the Internet. This is disabled by default because there is a very small chance that you may end up installing malicious software in this way.

But, as long as you’re careful with which websites you choose, you should be fine. That brings us to the next step. Now you need to head over to Google and search for what you want.

For an example, if you wanna watch Anime on Kodi you can type something like “Best Anime Kodi Add-ons” and you should find plenty of websites which will show you the way. Then you’ll notice that those websites give you a link. A repository link. You need to:

1. Copy that link
2. Head over to Kodi
3. Go to settings
4. File manager
5. Add source
6. Paste the link that you got
7. Go back to the home page
8. Add-ons
9. Install from zip file
10. Head over to the location that you were given
11. Back to home page
12. Install from repository
13. Head over to your new repository
14. Install any Add-on that you want

It’s definitely a bit confusing at first. But once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to install anything that you want in a matter of seconds.

If you don’t have any types of content in mind, you may want to check out our best 30 Add-ons for Kodi. You’re sure to find something interesting. And if not, maybe at least some inspiration.

That’s it for now. If you were looking on how to Install Kodi on PC, then that’s the best that we can deliver for you right now. Hopefully, that helped you out. If we forgot anything important then make sure to let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below. Feel free to reach out for help as well. Till next time.

Now What?

Now that you have installed Kodi on Firestick.  You won’t have access to any content on Kodi in its basic installation.   To stream movies, TV Shows, or Sports, you will need to install different Kodi Addons  or leverage a Build which includes multiple Addons in a seamless user experience. 

Wondering how to get the best Kodi Addons or Builds on your Fire TV / Stick? Check out the links below which will help you install popular Addons and builds which are working fine and pulling quality streams.

Read our Guide to the best builds for Kodi

Read our Guide on  to the best Addons for Kodi

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George Kasiouras

Editor at Why The Lucky Stiff

George has been reading smartphone reviews since the days where single-core devices and Android 2.0 were a thing. And while he never expected to be the one to write them, here we are today. When he is not writing about tech, you'll find him writing novels, playing games, watching shows or anime, or maybe even soloing with his guitar.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-k-8246a1169/

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