How To Install Kodi On Windows 7

How to install and employ Kodi on Windows

Your go-to guide for all things Kodi on Windows

Kodi has go a popular media tool in recent years due to all the features it provides. At its highest level, Kodi is an all-purpose software media player that lets users access and store content in one place. Information technology's basically a one-stop shop for all things media. Best of all, information technology'southward entirely free.

Every bit one of the near popular software centers available, it's a prophylactic and athletic cablevision replacement with tons of features to boot. Ready to cut the string? Here's how to download Kodi for Windows.

What is Kodi?

As we've mentioned, Kodi is an all-purpose media center that lets users access, shop, and download content. Considering it's open source, Kodi is highly customizable and comes with a ton of congenital-in features. From the hundreds of downloadable add together-ons to the unlike background screens and even the various skins, users tin substantially change every aspect of Kodi to best run into their needs.

While Kodi'due south primarily known for its sheer amount of customizable options and abilities, information technology was originally called the Xbox Media Heart (XBMC), and it was an integral function of Microsoft's get-go Xbox gaming panel. In 2014, information technology was rebranded and renamed Kodi, where information technology at present lives in its current class.

It'southward worth noting that afterward a long hiatus, the latest version of Kodi (v17.6 Krypton) is finally available on Xbox again, as well as every other Windows device.

Is Kodi legal?

As open up source software, Kodi is perfectly legal. Notwithstanding, in that location have been cases of people using Kodi to download and stream copyrighted material or stream broadcasts. Naturally, we at TechRadar practise not condone such actions, and therefore will non link to any illegal or potentially illegal add-ons.

How to download Kodi for Windows

For all the features it comes packed with, Kodi is surprisingly easy to ready upwards on Windows. There are 2 ways to download Kodi, although the easier method is going directly through the Microsoft Store.

Download Kodi from the Microsoft Store

To start, caput to the Microsoft Shop and search for the Kodi app. Once you've opened the main page, click the 'Go the app' link at the lesser to download Kodi. (Don't worry: information technology's bachelor for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.)

From there, double-click to download the installer. Every bit soon as the installer has finished downloading, the Setup Wizard should automatically popular up. Follow the steps to install Kodi for Windows.

Download Kodi from the official site

If the Microsoft Shop isn't available in your area, you tin can download Kodi directly from the official Kodi.tv (opens in new tab) site.

From the main website, click the download icon in the top right-mitt corner and coil down to the 'Choose your weapon' department. From there, click on the Windows icon.

You'll exist given the option to download from the Microsoft Store (see above) or download the 32-fleck installer. If you cull to download the installer, a popup will automatically launch as soon as y'all've finished downloading the app.

Once setup is complete, yous're able to launch the latest version of Kodi for Windows.

Note: While both download options are the same, Kodi will automatically update if you lot go through the Microsoft Store. If you go through the Kodi website and use the installer to download, you'll demand to perform various updates manually.

How to set up Kodi for Windows

Setting upward Kodi is fairly uncomplicated, every bit the service itself has a host of different features that developers are constantly updating.

By default, your Kodi screen will be entirely blank, and while it may seem daunting at first, the interface is extremely straightforward. Because it's open up source, virtually everything hither is customizable. From predefined themes to customized backgrounds, you can alter every attribute as yous see fit.

Fortunately, popular add-ons like YouTube and Twitch are readily available on the official Kodi repository, equally well as hundreds of other apps. In fact, you can instantly go in and start pulling in music, photos, and your other streaming services directly into Kodi.

Have reward of popular Kodi add-ons

Once you've become familiar with the interface, you can start customizing Kodi past launching the app and heading to the Add-ons section. In that location are hundreds of apps readily bachelor, and while information technology may take some time to look up and find each ane, the process is more or less the same for each app.

To download popular streaming apps similar BBC iPlayer, start by opening the Add-ons tab and clicking on the bundle icon in the pinnacle left-manus corner.

Next, curl down and click 'Install from repository' and so open the Video add-ons section.

From there, you'll meet dozens of costless apps. Scroll downwardly and click on iPlayer WWW and click Install.

Of course, yous won't be able to access iPlayer unless yous're in the UK – or if you lot have a VPN (virtual private network) – and legally you should own a TV license to do so. By allowing users to connect to a virtual location, VPNs make information technology possible to scout iPlayer from anywhere in the globe if you already accept an account.

That'southward because a VPN lets you anonymize your IP address while you take on another IP in the location of your selection. This is a great characteristic for Kodi users who are looking to admission content that may not be available in their expanse.

More that, VPNs provide an extra layer of security by encrypting your entire online network. That means no one tin can see what y'all're doing – giving you an extra layer of anonymity. With all the risks involved with streaming these days, it's meliorate to be safe than sorry.

VPN for Kodi: How information technology works

Adding a VPN to Kodi essentially enhances your overall experience. You're able to browse, stream, and listen as you normally would, only now you can exercise and then with added privacy and with more than streaming options.

Fortunately, it's incredibly easy for Windows users to employ a VPN with Kodi. Apps like ExpressVPN are 100% Kodi-uniform (opens in new tab), significant all y'all have to do is download the VPN, connect to a secure location, and then open Kodi and use information technology as you lot normally would.

Unfortunately, not every VPN is created equal, and it's worth looking for VPN services that provide a truly anonymous and secure experience. You lot can see the guide below for the best-rated VPN services of 2018.

Bank check out our list of best VPN service providers

Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled in website builders and web hosting when DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating virtually the touch of engineering on society just earlier the start of the Y2K hysteria at the plow of the last millennium.