What Kodi is and why you might use it
Kodi is free software that turns a computer, tablet, or streaming device into a media player. It organizes movies, TV shows, music, and photos you already own into one searchable library, then plays them on your TV or monitor. You install it once, point it at folders where your files live, and it handles the rest — no ads, no subscriptions, no licensing fees.
Kodi itself contains no content. It is a container. What you watch depends entirely on what files you provide: videos you have downloaded legally, DVDs you have ripped to your computer, home videos, or content from public sources. Many people use it alongside library streaming services — Kodi plays your personal collection while your library card handles the licensed material.
The installation process is straightforward and takes 15 to 30 minutes on most devices. The harder part is organizing your files so Kodi can find them, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and dedicated devices like Raspberry Pi, and the installation steps differ by platform.
- You read the installer from kodi.tv, run it, and point Kodi to the folders where your video and music files are stored.
- Kodi works best when your files follow a standard naming pattern — for example, "MovieName (Year).mkv" for films and "ShowName/Season 1/Episode 1.mkv" for TV.
- Once installed, Kodi scans your folders, builds a searchable library with cover art and descriptions, and remembers where you stopped watching.
Installing Kodi on Windows or Mac
Go to kodi.tv and click the read button. Choose your operating system — Windows or macOS — and select the latest stable version (not a beta or nightly build). The file will be an installer (.exe for Windows, .dmg for Mac).
On Windows, run the installer and follow the prompts. Choose a location to install Kodi (the default is fine), and let it create a Start Menu shortcut. On Mac, open the .dmg file and drag the Kodi icon into your Applications folder. Launch Kodi from Applications or Spotlight search.
The first time you open Kodi, it will ask you to choose a skin (the visual layout) and configure basic settings. The default skin works well. You can change it later if you prefer a different look. Kodi will then show you an empty library because it does not yet know where your files are.
Installing Kodi on Android tablets and phones
Open the Google Play Store, search for "Kodi", and install the official app published by the Kodi Foundation. The app is free and works on Android 5.0 and newer. Installation takes a few minutes.
Android phones have small screens, so Kodi on a phone is mainly useful for remote control — you can browse your library and send videos to play on a TV or computer. If you want to watch on the phone itself, a tablet is much more practical. Either way, Kodi on Android still needs to connect to your files, which usually means they are stored on a computer or network drive elsewhere in your home.
Installing Kodi on a Raspberry Pi or dedicated device
A Raspberry Pi is a small, cheap computer ($35–$75) that runs Kodi very efficiently. If you want a dedicated media player that sits by your TV and uses almost no electricity, this is the most common choice. The process is more technical than installing on Windows or Mac.
read LibreELEC (a lightweight operating system built around Kodi) from libreelec.tv. You will need a microSD card (at least 8 GB), a card reader, and software like Balena Etcher to write the image to the card. Insert the card into your Raspberry Pi, plug in power and an HDMI cable to your TV, and it boots directly into Kodi. The Kodi Foundation's wiki has step-by-step guides for this process if you choose to go this route.
Organizing your files so Kodi can find them
Kodi scans your folders and builds a library automatically, but it works best when files follow a standard naming pattern. For movies, use the format: Movie Title (Year).mkv or Movie Title (Year).mp4. For example: "Casablanca (1942).mkv" or "The Matrix (1999).mp4". Kodi will then fetch cover art, plot summaries, and ratings from online databases.
For TV shows, create a folder for each series, then subfolders for each season. Name episodes like this: ShowName/Season 1/ShowName S01E01.mkv. For example: "Breaking Bad/Season 1/Breaking Bad S01E01.mkv". Kodi will recognize the season and episode numbers and organize them correctly.
Store all your movies in one folder (or a few folders, it does not matter) and all your TV shows in another. You will tell Kodi where these folders are in the next step. File format does not matter much — Kodi plays .mkv, .mp4, .avi, and most other video formats. The naming pattern is what matters.
Adding your file folders to Kodi's library
Open Kodi and go to Settings (the gear icon). Navigate to Media > Libraries > Videos. Click "Add Videos" and browse to the folder where your movies or TV shows are stored. Kodi will ask what type of content is in that folder — choose "Movies" or "TV Shows" accordingly. Repeat this for each folder you want to add.
Once you have added your folders, Kodi will scan them in the background. This can take a few minutes if you have hundreds of files. You will see a progress bar in the lower right corner. When it finishes, go to the Videos section of the main menu and you should see your library organized by title, with cover art and descriptions pulled from online databases.
If Kodi does not recognize a file — for example, if a movie title is misspelled or in an unusual format — you can manually match it. Right-click the title in your library, select "Information", and search for the correct match. Kodi will then fetch the right artwork and details.
Connecting to files on another computer or network drive
You do not have to store your files on the same device where Kodi runs. Many people keep their video library on a desktop computer or a network-attached storage (NAS) device, then run Kodi on a cheaper device like a Raspberry Pi or Android tablet.
To do this, you need to share the folder over your home network using SMB (Server Message Block), which is built into Windows, Mac, and Linux. On Windows, right-click the folder, select "Properties", go to the "Sharing" tab, and click "Share". On Mac, go to System Preferences > Sharing > File Sharing and add the folder. Once the folder is shared, open Kodi, go to Settings > Media > Libraries > Videos, click "Add Videos", and choose "Browse" to find the shared folder on your network. It will appear as a network location you can select.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kodi work without an internet connection?
Yes. Kodi plays files stored on your device or local network without needing the internet. However, it will not fetch cover art, descriptions, or ratings if you are offline. You can still watch everything — the metadata just will not appear until you reconnect.
Can I use Kodi with a VPN?
Yes, Kodi itself has no restrictions on VPN use. A VPN encrypts your traffic and can be useful if you are on a public network. However, a VPN will not change what content you can access through Kodi — it only affects what files you already have stored locally or on your home network.
What if Kodi will not recognize my video files?
Kodi supports most common formats (.mp4, .mkv, .avi, .mov), but some older or unusual formats may not play. Try converting the file using free software like HandBrake to .mp4 or .mkv format. Also check that your filename follows the standard pattern — if Kodi cannot parse the title and year, it will not add the file to your library automatically.
Can I watch Kodi on multiple TVs at the same time?
Yes, if you install Kodi on multiple devices. Each device maintains its own library and playback position, so you can watch different things on different TVs. If your files are stored on a shared network drive, all devices can access the same library.
Is Kodi safe to use?
Kodi itself is safe — it is open-source software maintained by volunteers and widely audited. The risk comes from add-ons (plugins) that third parties create. Stick to add-ons from the official Kodi repository, which are reviewed before inclusion. Avoid add-ons from unknown sources, as they may contain malware or connect you to unauthorized streaming services.