What Is Kodi?

Recently, you might have seen Kodi pop up online and wondered what it was all about. You can use Kodi to manage your local collection of movies, TV shows, music, and photos. Perhaps you even remember it as the old Xbox Media Center (XBMC).

Because Kodi relies exclusively on your existing media, it will not save you from the need to subscribe to video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, or music streaming apps like Spotify or Pandora. Kodi's utility comes instead from its support for many file types and compatibility with a variety of devices. This article will explain everything you need to know about the popular media manager and its legality.

What Devices Does Kodi Support?

Kodi is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even Raspberry Pi (RPi) devices, so you most likely own a device that can run it. Find out more about Kodi by checking out our article on how to install, update, and use it. Kodi can be installed by downloading the installer package on some platforms, such as macOS and Windows. Kodi is a bit trickier to install on an iOS or Raspberry Pi device.

Kodi allows you to sync your media libraries across multiple devices using supported add-ons or a local network. The installation of a dedicated media player with a Kodi library in each of your rooms is not prohibited.

XBMC Foundation developed Kodi, so many of its features and add-ons are driven by the community. As a result, Kodi is frequently updated. On the official Kodi blog, you can read more about each new release. The absolute latest Kodi builds are available for developers, but most users will want to use the stable releases. You can download the development builds of Kodi 19 (Matrix), which is the latest stable version.

How Does Kodi Work?

Its ability to put content front and center makes Kodi an ideal interface for home theater PCs (HTPCs) or other devices connected to projectors or speakers. You can also find a surprising number of personalization and configuration options within its menus, though you don't have to delve deeply into the settings to use it to its full potential. Kodi is the best option for HTPCs now that Plex has ceased to support them. Plex is a popular media server with cord-cutters and is simple to install and use.

Your content is listed in a vertical menu on the left-hand side of the interface, including Movies, TV shows, Music, Radio, and Photos. As it is set up similarly to any other file manager, learning all of its organizational tricks shouldn't be difficult. In addition, a search bar allows you to find local media files, add-ons, or videos from YouTube and TheMovieDB (via add-ons).

You might appreciate the easily accessible power settings within Kodi's main interface if you intend to use it with an HTPC setup. Other information about the system is available in the settings, such as battery levels, connectivity information, and an overview of resource usage. During movie marathons, the system clock in the upper-right corner will keep you on track.

Kodi's interface is simple, and its dark gradients and persistent menus make it easy to organize and consume content. The best way to navigate is with a remote rather than a keyboard and mouse. As well as remote controls and game controllers, Kodi supports smartphones and tablets as well.

What Content Can I Use With Kodi?

Kodi prominently states on its homepage that it does not provide content directly, nor does it condone the use of pirated media or illegal streams with its software, including those provided by third-party add-ons. The software does not distinguish between legal and illegal files, but you are responsible for any illicit content you obtain. Kodi can be legitimately used for organizing collections of DRM-free media or for playing DVDs. Kodi is comparable in terms of flexibility to VLC.

You can easily add local content to your library. You must click on a specific content type on the left-hand menu, such as movies or music, select Files, and then add a source (the file location). Kodi will need to know the name of the source, as well as the type of content you want it to search for in that folder. When importing certain types of content, such as music, make sure your library is well-organized before you start importing. You should see your discs in the menu when you insert them.

The majority of mainstream streaming services don't offer Kodi add-ons, so you won't be able to import or enhance content from major players such as Netflix, HBO, Amazon, or Hulu. Dazn, Pluto TV, PS Vue, and Fox Sports work with Kodi, but you still need to pay for the services themselves. Generally, the video add-ons provide short clips or a selection of episodes from channels such as DIY, ESPN, or ABC Family.

Is Kodi Legal?

Definitely. It is legal to download and use Kodi to manage and play media files you own if you download and use it as intended. As safe as any other program installed on your device, the software is free and open-source. It is also perfectly fine to use the add-ons found in the Official Kodi Add-on Repository (the ones native to the Kodi App). Kodi takes a hard line against piracy, too.

However, Kodi can be used to illegally access copyright-protected content via add-ons curated by external organizations. The TV Addons group, for example, hosts an unofficial collection of Kodi apps, some of which provide access to copyright-infringing streams. However, Kodi itself is not illegal even if some people use it for illegal purposes.

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has defended TV Addons, stating that they are merely hosting the apps online to facilitate In response, Kodi tweeted, "Well I hope TV Addons gets shut down for being so destructive." The Phoenix and ZemTV add-ons (formerly hosted by TV Addons) have recently been removed, allegedly because of copyright claims. As well as in the US, there are ongoing legal battles in Canada.

Kodi developers are distancing themselves from these illegal plug-ins. Kodi skin developers apparently bundle utilities that specifically search for these problematic extras with their installs, according to Trusted Reviews. This installation package, called KN Addon Caretaker, checks the user's add-ons against a database to ensure they are all legitimate.

Kodi boxes, which are preconfigured hardware devices loaded with Kodi software, are also potentially legal. As long as they use official Kodi add-ons or legitimate third-party ones, Kodi boxes are legal. If you don't want to set up the software on every device, you can purchase a Kodi box. Nevertheless, these boxes cross the line of legality if they are set up to work with third-party add-ons that allow access to illegal streams and content. Kodi boxes are not official.

Can Kodi Replace Cable?

Kodi allows you to watch live TV, but it is difficult to set up and not particularly intuitive. This project requires you to set up a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) back end, client, and front end, a process that is fully documented on the Kodi wiki.

Kodi provides two of the three things necessary to watch live television; the front-end interface (Kodi itself) and the PVR client (an integrated Kodi add-on). The PVR backend (hardware) remains. Companies such as SiliconDust sell CableCARD-compatible TV tuners that convert encrypted cable signals into recognizable formats, but they require an existing cable subscription. A technician from your cable provider will also need to configure your CableCARD. As an alternative, you can purchase a PCI tuner for your computer and receive local channels for free. Both methods are legal, though a CableCARD-compatible device is likely to cost you between $100 and $200.

Stream live channels for free over the internet with Pluto.TV, another add-on. Plex announced recently that it would be available through Kodi for free and without a subscription. A premium subscription unlocks live TV and DVR features.

How Do I Customize Kodi?

Switching to a new skin in Kodi's interface settings is one of the easiest ways to change how it looks. The two default skins look similar, but one is optimized for touch screens. The Kodi community creates the skins, but that doesn't mean they are half-baked; there is documentation and support for each of them on the forums.

Kodi add-ons, created by the community and approved by the company, are another way to get the most out of the software. Installed add-ons are sorted by content type in the main left-hand menu, and downloads are sorted by their purpose in the add-on browser. You can add add-ons to change the interface's look and feel, add subtitles and lyrics to your content, or add new options to context menus, for example.

In the profiles section, you can create one or more password-protected user accounts. The app doesn't have any specific parental control settings, but you can control the content sources and lock down the preferences for any of your accounts that you create. In Kodi's interface, you can also choose between Basic, Standard, Advanced, and Expert settings levels.

Do I Need to Use a VPN With Kodi?

How you plan to use Kodi will determine whether you need a virtual private network (VPN). Using Kodi to manage your local media libraries does not require a VPN. Using a VPN, however, can prevent your ISP (or anyone else) from spying on your traffic once you start using add-ons that use your network connection.

However, a VPN won't protect you from every security threat. VPNs do not prevent you from downloading malware that masquerades as a legitimate third-party add-on or from providing your credentials to phishing sites with realistic-looking login pages. Many Kodi add-ons aren't made by independent developers, which is a real concern.

Kodi's official collection of add-ons does not include any VPN apps, so your best bet is to run a VPN on the device that is running Kodi. There are plenty of VPNs that run on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. You will be able to protect all outgoing Internet traffic if you install a VPN on those devices. However, you may run into some problems with the few video streaming services that are available as Add-Ons, since video streaming services consistently block VPN traffic.

Do Cord Cutters Need Kodi?

Kodi isn't for cord cutters, but for those who want their local content organized in one interface and accessible from multiple devices. Likewise, people who subscribe to streaming services won't benefit from this as it doesn't offer new content and doesn't integrate with sites like Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, and HBO. When setting up a home theater PC, Kodi offers a multiplatform media experience that is free. When it comes to content, be sure to stay within the law!