Technology

How to Switch iPhones (5-10 Minute Read)

Last updated on August 29, 2019

Looking for how to switch iPhones? Once you learn about it, the process is really easy. And just in case it wasn’t clear when we say “switching” iPhones, we’re talking about the process of moving over your previous data like contacts and media from the old iPhone to the new one.

So, if that’s what you’re looking for, then keep on reading!

How to Switch iPhones

Setting Up

When it comes to ease of use in the mobile world, Apple is without a doubt one of the best. Moving from your old iPhone to a new one is remarkably easy. However, there are a few things that must do before moving on with the process.

If you’ve got an Apple Watch, now is the time to unpair it from your smartphone. The watch will automatically backup everything after unpairing, which means that reconnecting it with your new phone will restore everything as it was.

After that, you also want to make sure that you have backups from your last iPhone. This can be done in a number of ways, but the easiest and most effective one is using either the iCloud or iTunes.

Backups are useful not only for moving our files to a new phone but also for security. For example, if something bad happens to the phone, all of your photos, documents, contacts, videos, and anything else will be safely stored on the cloud.

If you haven’t made your backups yet, we’ll explain how further down below in this article. You also want to have your password and Apple ID ready at hand. That’s assuming that you don’t remember them, of course.

And last, but not least, check out the SIM card slot of your new iPhone. It may be using a different format (Mini-SIM, Micro-SIM, e-SIM, etc). In which case, you’ll want to head over to your carrier and replace your SIM card with the appropriate size for your new phone.

Most carriers will do that for free. But, some of them may charge you a few bucks for the service. So, do keep that in mind.

Now that this is out of the way, let us move on with the guide.

1: How to Switch iPhones With iCloud

This is by far one of the easiest and quickest ways of switching iPhones. The only thing to remember is that you need to do this while setting up your new phone for the first time.

If your new phone is already logged in and you haven’t gone through this process, then you may have to wipe it and start from zero again. In any case, just keep on reading and we’ll figure it out.

The Whole Backup and Restore Process

The first thing you wanna do is backup everything to the iCloud with your old phone. If you’ve already done it, then feel free to skip these steps. If not, now is your chance:

Make sure you’re connected to the Wi-Fi
Go to your settings
Tap on your name (iCloud for those who are running an older version of iOS)
Select “iCloud”
Enable “iCloud backup”
If the phone doesn’t start backing up automatically at that point, select “Backup now”

After the old phone finishes backing up, you need to log in with the new one, log in to your account, and then restore everything that was backed up with the old iPhone. To do that:

Power up the phone and erase it if you went through the setup before without bringing your old data to it
Keep on going through the on-screen instruction texts until you reach the “Set up your iPhone screen”
Once there, select “Restore from iCloud Backup”
Now is the time to bring up your Apple ID and password. Again, no need to do that if you remember everything
Choose the backup that you previously made
Wait for the download to finish

Now, do keep in mind that the loading times will greatly vary depending on how you much stuff you backed up and also your internet connection. You may have to wait anywhere from a few minutes to even hours.

So, if you notice that the restore process is taking a while, consider leaving the phone plugged in and connected to the Internet. It’s not uncommon for those with slow Internet to leave the phone downloading through the night.

2: How to Switch iPhones With Quick Start

Quick Start is a little bit easier to use, but it also requires you to have at least iOS 11 for a simple setup and at least iOS 12.4 if you wish to transfer files as well. For those who can’t transfer their files due to outdated software, relying on iCloud is pretty much necessary.

Now, do keep in mind that this process may end up taking a while and it will keep both of your phones busy. So, don’t do it until you’re sure that you won’t need the phones for a while; just to be safe.

Now that this is out of the way, here is how to use Quick Start:

Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices
Put your new phone right next to the old one and Quick Start should appear (Both phones need to be running at least iOS 11)
Insert your Apple ID
Use your camera to authenticate or do it manually if, for any reason, you can’t rely on the camera
Follow the on-screen instructions
Select anything that you want to keep/restore

If you wish to restore anything that was backed up over to iCloud, then an Internet connection is required. Wi-Fi is recommended; otherwise; data charges may apply.

3: How to Switch iPhones With iTunes

This is a very good solution for those who own a computer and are using a very slow internet connection. That’s because you’ll essentially be backing up everything from your phone to the computer and then back to the new phone. The only thing that you’ll need is an iTunes account/Apple ID.

In order to backup your old data to the computer:

Open iTunes on the PC
Select the phone
On the summary tab, go to where it says “Automatically Back Up” and select “Back up Now”
Select the “Encrypt iPhone Backup” box if you want to backup passwords and health-related data as well
Hit apply
And wait for the process to finish

Now that we finished backing up your data to the computer, it’s time to restore them on the new iPhone. To do that :

Grab your new iPhone
If you’ve set it up before without restoring your data then you need to erase it
Follow the instructions until you reach the part where you select what to do with the new device
Select “Restore from iTunes Backup”
Connect the phone to the PC
Launch iTunes
On the phone summary tab, click on the “Restore Backup” button to the right
Enter the password if you are asked to

And that’s about it. Now you just wait and everything should be good to go after the last few steps. Just follow the on-screen instructions until the end.

How Long Do Computers Last? + Tips

Last updated on May 24, 2019

So, you just got that brand new PC; or maybe your old one is getting a little bit old and you can’t help but ask yourself: “How long do computers last really and what can we do to improve their overall lifespan?”. We’ve got the answers to that and they may be a bit more complicated than you may think. But, no need to worry. We’ll make it as simple to understand as possible – even if you’re not a tech-savvy person.

With all of that being said, let’so move on with the article!

How Long Do Computers Last? The Short Answer

If you just want a quick answer without getting into technical details, well, you can expect your average PC to last about 3-5 years with laptops being closer to the 3-year mark. There are lots of factors that will determine the lifespan of your PC. But, even without touching anything, you can expect at least 3 years – assuming that nothing goes horribly wrong, like a local lightning strike or whatever.

With that being said, most of the time, computers don’t just completely die. Chances are that you’ll be able to have someone repair your PC and it’ll keep on working after the 5-year mark like nothing ever happened. Assuming, of course, that your hardware isn’t getting too old for new software. But, that’s an entirely different matter.

Laptops will generally die sooner and repairing them is both harder and more expensive. That’s due to the fact that most of them overheat way too easily and are not meant to be upgraded.

So, there you have it. If you don’t want any technical details, that’s your answer. 3-5 years is the average lifespan that you should get out of a PC. That lifespan can greatly vary depending on various factors including how well you’re taking care of the computer. If you care about such things, then keep on reading!

How Long Do Computers Last? The Long Answer

The real answer is a bit more complicated. You see, a computer isn’t a single unit – it is working with numerous individual parts which are operating together in order to make one full unit.

So, when your PC finally decides to give up on you, it’s not actually the whole PC that gives up on you, but only one part – HDDs are usually dying before anything else. If you replace that broken part, your computer will be back and working in no time. That is unless your power supply died and took everything with it. But, more on that later.

At the end of the day, depending on how much you know about computers (Or how much you’re willing to learn), how well you take care of your unit, and how lucky you are, a desktop build may as well last forever.

Laptops, on the other hand, are a different story. Not only they run much hotter, which shortens the lifespan of your components, but they often hard or impossible to fix and/or upgrade in case that something goes wrong.

For example, if your motherboard decides to give up on you on a laptop, then you may as well throw it out the window and get a new one. While on a desktop, all you need to do is get a new one and put your old components into it.

So, generally speaking, laptops don’t last as long as desktops. Chances are that you will be able to replace a faulty drive or RAM module. But, even then, it’s not going to be easy.

And with all of that being said, what can we do to improve the lifespan of our computers? Well, let’s find out!

1: Do NOT Cheap Out On Your PSU

Your power supply is one of the most important parts, if not the most important. Because if you’ve got a bad quality PSU and it decides to give up on you, then there is a small chance that it will also destroy the rest of your components.

So, by cheaping out on your PSU, you’re essentially putting at risk hundreds or even thousands of dollars just to save 30-50 bucks. I don’t know about you, but that sounds insane and unreasonable to me.

That being said, if you have a crappy power supply, do seriously consider upgrading. It may save the life of your whole build. And while we’re at it, don’t forget that power supplies wear out with time. It’s kind of good practice to replace your PSU every few years – just to be safe.

If you don’t know which power supply to get, you can find a list of reliable power supplies on the Linus tech tips forum. Based on that and numerous positive Amazon reviews, we can safely recommend the Corsair TXM 650. It’s one of the best mid-range PSUs and it should serve the vast majority of users out there without any issues.

In case that you have a very beefy PC, you may want to consider something with a higher wattage. But, most of us don’t need more than 300 to 500 watts – never mind 650.

Bonus tip: head to the local store and ask for a UPS. They can supply your PC with power in case of a power outage which can be a lifesaver for your drives or even your PSU and build.

Laptop users don’t really have to worry about that. After all, most laptops, if not all, come with their own proprietary power supplies and using 3rd party choices isn’t really recommended. Not to mention with their own battery.

Get the Corsair TXM 650 from Amazon

2: Stay Cool

Computers really don’t like heat. It’s not like a hot running PC will instantly die once it gets hot. But, heat is definitely something that will shorten your CPU, GPU, or even motherboard and PSU lifespan over the course of time.

One of the easiest ways to cool down your computer is by having a case with lots of intake and exhaust fans as that increases the overall airflow which brings down the temperatures. If your case doesn’t have room for fans, get something like the Thermaltake V200. It comes with 4 pre-installed fans and has room for 2 more on the top. Not to mention that it’s relatively cheap. So, when it comes to cooling? Hard to go wrong with it.

That being said, don’t forget about your CPU cooler as well. That can make a huge difference in cooling and stock coolers will usually leave a lot to be desired – especially if you’re into overclocking. Now, there are various choices out there for each individual CPU. So, you’ll have to make your own research on that one.

However, that’s not to say that there aren’t universal solutions. The Deepcool Gammaxx is a CPU cooler that works with most mainstream sockets and provides adequate cooling. So, do check it out.

While we’re at it, you can also try replacing your CPU’s thermal paste every few years. Sometimes it kinda dries out which brings the temperatures up.

We haven’t forgotten about you, laptop users. An easy way to ensure that your laptop isn’t overheating more often than you’d like to is to place it on solid surfaces for increased airflow and/or using a cooling pad.

If that’s not enough for you, then you can go all out and get an external cooler which sucks, quite literally, air directly out of your CPU pipe. This is definitely a bit more inconvenient and often noisy but it can make a huge difference in temperatures. Or at least it did for us.

3: Keep it Clean

Accumulated dust can completely ruin your airflow and it makes it easier for your components to overheat. So, it’s highly recommended to use a case with good dust filtering and to clean your PC every now and then.

Using compressed air cans is a very cheap and easy way to get rid of accumulated dust. You should be able to find plenty of options at your local store. Amazon doesn’t seem to give any valid options. So, heading out seems to be your only choice for this one.

There is no set frequency to cleaning your PC. But, why don’t you take a look every month or so? Taking off the side panel is a breeze with most cases. So, it’s not like you have much to lose.

This is much tougher on laptops since you can’t really put a different case to it and getting access to the innards of a laptop is several times tougher and riskier than simply taking the side panel off a desktop. So, before opening up your laptop, check out a YouTube tutorial for your specific model just to make sure that you’re not going to rip-off a cable or something.

Pro tip for laptops: if you’ve got an HDD in your laptop, do NOT move it while it’s powered on. Like, not even from couch to couch or shaking it.

Put it to sleep or turn it off, and then go on your way. The reason being that HDDs have mechanical parts that are moving at very high speeds and there is a small chance that you’ll damage them if you move while they are powered on.

How Long Do Computers Last? Conclusion

So, to summarize, desktops can last about 3-5 years with little to no maintenance while most laptops are flirting with the 3-year mark before having to ask for repairs.

If you take good care of your computer, then there is a good chance that it’ll last forever with minor upgrades and repairs that need to be made every few years. Laptops are a little bit more prone to dying. But, again, do take good care of your machine and it’ll last you so long that you’ll have to upgrade to a faster model before it comes close to dying.

Don’t get me wrong here. I’m well aware that some computers have managed to live for more than a decade. In fact, I’ve got a Pentium 4 desktop which is probably half my age and it still works. Still, we’re only talking about the average user here along with the odds of something going wrong. And the truth is that most HDDs and PSUs won’t live for more than 5 years before starting to show signs of wear and/or completely giving up on you.

If you liked this article then don’t forget to share it with your friends. Feel free to come back for more tech tips as we’re usually posting one new article every day.

In case we forgot something important, then don’t forget to let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section. Speaking of comments, feel free to ask any questions if you need anything and we’ll be happy to help.

What’s The Best Mechanical Keyboard That you can Grab in 2019?

Last updated on May 1, 2019

Mechanical keyboards are the bread and butter of not only gamers but also professionals and even casual users who are willing to reach deep into their pockets for a better typing experience. But, with that being said, choosing the right mechanical keyboard is no easy task. There are so many around. So, let us help you.

As per usual, we’ll be looking at some of the best choices so that you can pick whatever fits you best. Here we go!

Best Mechanical Keyboard for Everything: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum

The Corsair K70 Lux was called by many the best keyboard to ever come out. The K95 RGB Platinum came out a couple of years ago and to this day, it’s still one of the best mechanical keyboards that you can get, if not the best. It’s basically the improved version of the K70 in every single way.

If there’s one thing that’s a turn off for multiple people with this keyboard, then that would be its price. When it first came out, you were looking at more than 200 bucks. Now that you can grab it for 150, it’s definitely closer to the competition. Still expensive, though. But, if you consider that this is how much the K70 asks for as well, then there’s really no need (almost) to not go with this one instead.

You get:

Cherry MX speed switches
RGB lighting all around the keyboard (not just on the keycaps)
Dedicated media keys
A dedicated volume bar
Six macro keys that you can use for whatever you want
Sturdy build quality
Software which allows you to fully control the lighting
Corsair’s warranty
USB passthrough for easy USB access
Detachable wrist rest with two sides: textured and non-textured

Overall, the K95 is definitely one of the best choices around. The only downsides?

Very expensive
It’s rather huge
Only comes with Cherry MX speed switches
Non-removable cable

You can solve at least two of those downsides if you go with the K70 Lux Red LED version. It’s much cheaper at less than $100 and gives you numerous options for switches.

However, that’s not RGB, doesn’t come with macro keys, and the wrist rest is textured only. So, pick whatever fits you best.

Get the Corsair K95 From Amazon

Best Keyboard for Gaming: HyperX Alloy FPS

Kingston has offered numerous great gaming peripherals with their HyperX series and this keyboard is no different. Numerous pro gamers are using the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro as their main keyboard. S1mple and Shroud are two of the most popular pro gamers (even though Shroud has abandoned the pro scene) who are using this keyboard as their go-to choice when gaming. If it’s good enough for them, then it should be good enough for you.

The compact version with RED Led lighting costs less than half the price of the K95 while it also offers a detachable cable and an extremely small design. It just doesn’t get any better for FPS gamers who are looking for a good mechanical keyboard without too many bells and whistles. Not to mention without spending a fortune on it.

The pros of the HyperX Alloy include:

Great compact design and portability
Detachable cord
Solid build quality with an alloy frame
Very minimalistic – a great choice for those who want something that just works
The cable can be replaced in case that you end up destroying the old one somehow

As for the cons:

Lack of numpad can be a deal breaker for some people
Same thing goes for missing features like RGB, USB passthrough, media keys, etc
The full-sized version costs so much that you may as well pick up the K70 Lux or spend a bit more and go with the K95

Get the HyperX Alloy FPS From Amazon

Best Keyboard for Typing: Corsair K70 Lux

Wait, what? Two Corsair products in one list? Well, yeah. Corsair is known for kinda dominating the keyboard market. So, not that big of a surprise there.

Why the K70? Well, it’s simple. You get most of the features and benefits that the K95 gives you, except you can now choose between different switches. That makes all the difference in the world for typists.

Most writers will prefer Chery MX Blue switches. The clickiness and heavy tactile feedback lets you know when you pressed a key and that’s one of the most important reasons to go for a mechanical keyboard instead of a membrane one. Or at least that’s when typing is involved.

If you want a middle line between typing and gaming, then you can go with Cherry MX Browns. They are not as heavy as the Blues and they don’t offer the clicky sound but they still come with lighter tactile feedback.

The only downside of this keyboard is that it doesn’t come with RGB lighting (though, you can still get the RGB version for an extra 60 bucks if you want). Also, it doesn’t have the extra macro keys and the full body lighting that the K95 offers.

Still, if you only need it for typing, then that shouldn’t be an issue. Overall, the K70 is a slightly nerfed K95 that asks for much less money and offers tactile feedback. Hard to go wrong with it.

Get the Corsair K70 Lux From Amazon

Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard: Redragon K552

In case you haven’t noticed till now, mechanical keyboards are freaking expensive. Even at the cheapest options with compact keyboards, you’re looking at more than 60 bucks. And once you start venturing lower, chances are that you’ll encounter numerous mechanical “feel” keyboards that are actually membrane keyboards.

Not in this case. The Redragon K552 is a real mechanical keyboard that asks for 35 bucks. That’s really how cheap you can go without completely butchering the build quality.

Now, with that being said, when you wanna get something that is so much cheaper than the competition, there are compromises that need to be made. For once, this doesn’t come with Cherry MX switches but with cheap knock-offs.

Let us clarify something, this is definitely not a bad keyboard. Is it as good as our other options? Obviously not. Is it a good keyboard regardless of that? Yes. While the switches aren’t anywhere near as consistent and high-quality as the Cherry MX counterparts, they are still mechanical switches.

The same thing goes for the build quality. It’s not as good as the other choices. But, still, not bad. Overall, if you want a mechanical keyboard that gets the job done for as cheap as possible, do definitely consider this one.

Of course, you don’t get anything that “normal” mechanicals offer. No dedicated media keys, no removable cable, no RGB (except if you wanna spend the extra money for it), no wrist rest, or anything for that matter.

Still, it’s a mechanical keyboard and it doesn’t ask for a lot of money.

Get the Redragon K552 From Amazon

If you feel like there’s another keyboard that’s worthy of being on this list, then do let us and everyone else know about it. Also, if you liked this article, then don’t forget to share it with your friends.

Best Wireless Chargers for Android and iPhone

Last updated on April 19, 2019

Looking for the best wireless chargers around? Cause that’s what we’ll be looking at today. Wireless charging is a great way to make your life easier by getting rid of cables – almost. Not to mention that it eliminates port degradation. After all, with wireless charging, you don’t need to plug-in and out cables all the time for charging.

With all of that being said, it’s no surprise that wireless charging is slowly, but surely becoming the new standard. So, here are some of the best wireless chargers that you can grab right now!

1: Yootech Pad

Starting at 13 bucks with more than 6,000 positive reviews, the Yootech is definitely one of the best wireless chargers that you can get right now. It’s affordable, gets the job done, and also Qi certified.

It can charge iPhones at 7.5 watts and Qi certified Android devices at 10 watts. That’s assuming, of course, that your phone is compatible. The LED light also comes in handy so that you’ll know if your phone is charging or not and when it’s charged.

While the description mentions that the charger stays adequately cooled, not a whole lot of information has been provided about it. So, take that with a grain of salt.

As for cases, it can charge your device with a case on, but only if it’s less than 4mm in terms of thickness. And even in that case, taking off the case is recommended for the best results.

Overall, it’s a solid choice for those who want to get into the world of wireless charging without spending too much.

The only small downside is that it doesn’t come with a charging adapter and that fast charging is pretty much non-existent. But, at this price point, we really can’t complain. Not to mention that you most likely already have a charging adapter. And even if you don’t, or if you want an extra one, most chargers are extremely cheap.

Get Yootech from Amazon

2: Anker PowerWave Stand

The Anker PowerWave is another great wireless charger. If there is one advantage that it has over the other wireless chargers, then that would be its ability to charge through the thickest of cases.

The official description mentions that about 5mm of thickness is the limit. However, most people haven’t complained about anything like that.

If there’s one problem that people had with this is charging near magnets or with cases that contained any kind of magnet. Still, as far as we know, that’s a common issue with any wireless charger out there. They generally don’t play well with any kind of metallic objects. The charger does have foreign object detection, but that’s about it. You’re better off keeping any other foreign objects away from it.

As is the standard with affordable wireless chargers, this one doesn’t come with a charging adapter either. We suppose that you can use your phone’s charger. But, if you want to play it safe, or if you need it as a secondary option, you can always grab the version that comes withthe charging adapter as well. Just do keep in mind that it costs almost 50 bucks.

Get The Anker PowerWave from Amazon

3: Mophie Travel Kit

If you’re constantly on the road, then carrying around the average wireless charger will definitely be somewhat painful, to say the least. So, if you want the wireless charging experience while also traveling, do seriously consider picking up Mophie’s travel kit.

It’s one of the best wireless chargers when it comes to traveling, if not the best. After all, it offers pretty much everything you’ll need in one package.

Carrying bag
Charging adapter
Car adapter
And of course, the charging pad

The only downsides that it has is that it doesn’t charge as fast as the other chargers that we’ve seen till now. Other than that, the charging pad is also a bit too small, but that’s to be expected from a wireless charger that’s meant to be used for traveling.

One more downside is that it doesn’t play too well with phone cases. Anything more than 3mm of thickness will likely set you back. Or at least that’s according to Mophie.

Still, when everything is said and done, despite its numerous downsides, this still is the best wireless charger for those who are constantly traveling.

Get Mophie Travel Kit from Amazon

4: Samsung’s Wireless Charger

If you own a Samsung device from the S or the Note series, then Samsung’s wireless charger is definitely one of the best chargers that you can pick up at the moment.

It’s not that it won’t work with other phones. Any Qi-certified device should work with it. But, Samsung mentions that only the S and the Note series support wireless fast charging with it.

Now, we don’t know how much of this is true. But, still, we are only going to recommend it to those of you who own a Samsung device – just to be on the safe side.

As for features, it comes with everything that you would expect a wireless charger to have at this price point. LED indicators, support for wireless charging even through cases, a charging adapter, etc.

The price is definitely a bit high when the charger is not on sale. But, we’re talking about Samsung here. They’ve been making some very high-quality products for years now. However, do be very careful of counterfeits. If the seller has lots of negative reviews, then it’s probably for the best if you stay away from him/her.

Get Samsung’s Wireless Charger from Amazon

5: One of the Best Wireless Chargers on a Budget: Seneo

Seneo is without a doubt one of the best wireless chargers that you can get, regardless of if you’re a budget or not. Still, at less than 10 bucks, it’s one of the most affordable chargers out there at the moment.

Of course, at that price point, you can’t expect it to come with a charging adapter. However, the fact that it can offer anywhere from 5 to 10 watts of charging without asking for more than $10, is pretty darn amazing.

Furthermore, Seneo also claims that it can charge your phone even if you’re using a case with 5mm of thickness. Is that the highest that we’ve seen so far or what? Though, do keep in mind that 4mm is recommended for the best results.

Overall, no matter how you look at it, Seneo’s wireless charging pad is a great choice regardless of if you’re on a budget or not. So, do check it out!

Get Seneo’s Charging Pad from Amazon

Do you feel like there is another wireless charger that deserves being on this list? Why? Do let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!

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How to Install Kodi on PC: Quick and Easy

Last updated on April 12, 2019

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:

Head over to Kodi’s official website
Scroll down a page and click on the Windows icon
Do the same thing on the next page
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:

Settings (Upper left corner of the screen)
Media
Select either Videos, Music, or Pictures
Go to “Add Music” or anything else that you want
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:

iTunes
Edit
Preferences
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.

ATTENTION: USE A VPN TO PROTECT YOUR VIEWING BEHAVIOR

ATTENTION: ISPs and governments regularly track their users’ online behavior. If the users are found streaming copyrighted content on your PC, you could potentially get into a trouble. Your IP is visible to everyone unless you use a solid VPN service. I strongly recommend you to get the best VPN for computers and mask your identity/IP so that your streaming and viewing experience isn’t tracked by your ISP. Using a VPN is perfectly legal and safe. I use ExpressVPN which is the fastest and most secure VPN in the industry. It is very easy to install on any device including PC. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like their service, you can always ask for a refund. ExpressVPN also has a special deal where you can get 3 months free and save 49% on their annual plan.

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:

Use the included repositories with their add-ons
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:

Add-ons
Install from repository
Kodi Add-on repository
Video Add-ons (if you want videos, movies, or anything related)
Select the Add-on of your choice.
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:

System settings
Add-ons
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:

Copy that link
Head over to Kodi
Go to settings
File manager
Add source
Paste the link that you got
Go back to the home page
Add-ons
Install from zip file
Head over to the location that you were given
Back to home page
Install from repository
Head over to your new repository
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