When it comes to building the ultimate home theater system, all the hardware in the world will not suffice unless it is accompanied by some excellent software. Kodi is the app to use if you want to watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and watch all of your favorite sports. In this article, we will define Kodi and explain everything you need to know about the app.

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What exactly is Kodi?
Kodi is a free, open-source home entertainment software that has been around for nearly two decades. Microsoft created the software for the original Xbox under the name Xbox Media Center (XBMC). After Microsoft dropped the program, it continued to evolve and expanded far beyond the Xbox platform. The non-Microsoft team behind what is now known as Kodi has created its own community of fans and developers.
Unlike other streaming software companies such as Android TV or Plex, the XBMC Foundation manages Kodi. The software is constantly modified and upgraded by tens of thousands of coders and developers all over the world. You can now customize Kodi by installing free add-ons or builds.
What Is the Purpose of Kodi?
With all that Kodi can do, it’s probably easier to describe what Kodi can’t do, which is provide you with any content. This means that you must provide all media (music, shows, movies, etc.).
Users frequently install Kodi on their devices in order to stream the content they desire. For example, suppose you want to stream content from a website but your Firestick doesn’t support it or isn’t compatible with it. Simply install Kodi on your Firestick, add the website, and stream through the Kodi app.
Not only websites, but also other digital services (referred to as add-ons) can be added! While Kodi does not provide its own content, it does allow you to stream your media from one location to nearly any device.
Kodi’s Advantages
Kodi isn’t just for computers; it’ll work on almost any device in your home, from a smartphone to an Amazon Fire TV Stick. By itself, the app is a valuable source of audio/video entertainment. NVIDIA Shield Android TV and pendoo (R) Android TV Boxes are two examples of Kodi boxes that are not dedicated to Kodi but run it well and often have precompiled add-ons for it.
You can also sideload Kodi on the Amazon Fire TV Cube, but it comes with no precompiled add-ons.
Because Kodi is a multimedia manager, you can listen to music, watch family videos, watch YouTube, get movie reviews and information, get sports scores, and watch some national news, among other things. Kodi also allows you to organize your media by type. Make favorites, playlists, and movie directories, among other things.
A word of warning:
Whatever you watch on Kodi is visible to both your ISP and the government, which could land you in legal trouble. The only sure way to avoid this is to use an excellent VPN service (such as ExpressVPN) whenever you use Kodi.
Key Features of Kodi
Kodi transforms any computer, smartphone, or tablet into a digital set-top box or streamer, allowing users to access files from the internet, a home network, or local storage. Unlike Apple TV, Chromecast 3rd Generation, and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Kodi isn’t limited by licensing or a curated app store. You can use the software to download a variety of community-created apps or add-ons and watch whatever you want.
The user interface (UI) of Kodi makes it easy to navigate through your content. The software has a “10-foot UI,” which means it can be read from a theoretical distance of up to 10 feet away. Users can quickly and easily browse videos, photos, and podcasts thanks to a variety of built-in codes. Kodi provides a similar experience on smaller devices, but it can be connected to a larger TV for big-screen viewing.
Is Kodi legal to use?
Kodi is not illegal when running official apps. Kodi apps, like third-party torrent sites, are not illegal, but what you do with them can be.
To become illegal, a device must be used to watch shows and other content without the permission of the copyright owner. This action can be performed using hardware, software, or by viewing the content at a friend’s house. Illicit streaming devices are boxes or USB sticks that plug into your TV and allow you to watch content that you haven’t paid for or been granted permission to watch. For digital safety, we always recommend using a VPN like ExpressVPN when streaming content online.
Check out the article on Kodi’s legality for more information.
Disclaimer
Many Kodi add-ons contain unlicensed content, and accessing such material may be illegal. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that all applicable laws in their country regarding use are followed. Alphr.com does not condone or accept responsibility for any infringement of intellectual property or other third-party rights, and shall have no liability to any such party as a result of any such content being made available.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Kodi empowers you by allowing you to install pre-installed and third-party applications that provide a wide range of streaming sources and content. There are numerous third-party apps that provide movies, TV shows, sports broadcasts, YouTube content, social media content, and other services.
For the most part, you can watch whatever you want. Keep in mind, however, the legalities of watching such content, as well as how you obtain it. If you have paid subscriptions to certain providers, an app that allows you to watch their content may be legal. It all depends on the subscription source’s terms and conditions, such as YouTube, Netflix, and CBS All Access, to name a few.
Kodi is compatible with almost every device. The media center software is simple to install and works with OS X, Linux, Windows, Android, and even the Raspberry Pi microcomputer series.
The process is slightly more complicated for iOS users because the Kodi app does not exist in the App Store. iPhone users have two options; unless they use Cydia Impactor, they must ensure their phone is jailbroken before downloading Kodi. This downloadable macOS app enables iOS users to install non-App Store apps. However, keep in mind the legal implications of using such apps on an Apple device.
More technically savvy users can install Kodi on their phones and iPads using Apple’s XCode. This article should get you started, and you can download XCode Developer from here.
As previously stated, Kodi does not provide any content, so technically, no. Because Kodi can house all of your favorite streaming services in one simple app for use on nearly any platform, it can be a great solution to finding your favorite shows and movies more easily than having to sift through several programming options.
This is probably one of the more common inquiries. Those of us who remember Napster and Limewire understand that there are risks to downloading content onto your devices. While Kodi itself is not dangerous, what you do with it can be. To stay safe while streaming, we recommend using a VPN such as ExpressVPN.
In terms of Kodi security, downloading add-ons from reputable developers is a good place to start. As with anything internet-related, your system is only safe from malware if you take the necessary precautions to avoid downloading malware.
Of course, Kodi has a comprehensive list of safe add-ons, as do the unofficial repositories listed here. Simply go to the Kodi Wiki to find an up-to-date list of all add-ons that the developers consider safe; however, keep in mind that these add-ons are not created by the XBMC Foundation.