Turn Any PC or TV Box Into a Media Center With Kodi

// Before you start

What you need

A Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or Raspberry Pi device
At least 2 GB of free disk space
An internet connection for the download
Your media files stored somewhere accessible (local drive, USB, or network share)

Step 1 of 6

Download the official Kodi installer for your platform

2 min

Kodi publishes ready-to-run installers on its official website. You do not need to compile anything. Go to the downloads page and pick your operating system. This guide uses Windows as the example, but the steps are nearly identical on macOS and Linux.

Terminal · mac

$ https://kodi.tv/download/

$ # Pick your OS, then click the installer link (e.g. 'Windows' → '64BIT INSTALLER').

What you should see

A file named something like Kodi-21.x.x-Omega-x64.exe (Windows) or Kodi-21.x.x-Omega.dmg (macOS) downloads to your computer.

This might happen

Browser warns the file is unsafe or blocks the download

This is a false positive. Kodi is signed software. On Windows click 'Keep anyway'; on macOS go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click 'Open Anyway'.

Step 2 of 6

Run the installer and launch Kodi

3 min

Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen prompts. Accept the defaults — there is nothing tricky to configure here. On macOS, drag the Kodi icon into your Applications folder. On Linux (Ubuntu/Debian), use the commands below instead of a GUI installer.

Terminal · mac

$ # Windows / macOS: double-click the downloaded file and click Next → Install → Finish.

$ # Ubuntu / Debian Linux only:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install kodi -y

What you should see

Kodi opens to its home screen showing a dark interface with menu items: Movies, TV Shows, Music, Pictures, and Settings.

This might happen

On Ubuntu the apt version may be older than the official release

Add the official PPA first: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa && sudo apt update, then run the install command above.

Step 3 of 6

Add your media folder as a source

3 min

Kodi needs to know where your files live before it can build a library. You point it at a folder and it does the rest. Start with your Movies folder as a test.

Terminal · mac

$ # No terminal needed — use the Kodi interface:

$ # 1. From the home screen select 'Movies'

$ # 2. Click 'Enter files section'

$ # 3. Click 'Add videos…'

$ # 4. Click 'Browse' and navigate to your movies folder

$ # 5. Click OK, then set 'This directory contains' to 'Movies'

$ # 6. Click OK again and choose 'Yes' when asked to refresh

What you should see

Kodi scans the folder. A progress bar appears in the top right. When finished, your movies appear as tiles with posters and descriptions pulled from the internet.

This might happen

Kodi finds no artwork or shows wrong titles

File names must roughly match the real title and year, e.g. 'Inception (2010).mkv'. Rename files to match and re-scan: go to Movies → right-click any item → 'Scan for new content'.

Step 4 of 6

Add TV shows and music the same way

3 min

Repeat the same 'Add videos' process for TV shows and use 'Add music' under the Music section for audio files. The content type you select (Movies, TV Shows, Music) tells Kodi which online database to query for artwork and metadata.

Terminal · mac

$ # For TV Shows:

$ # Home screen → TV Shows → Enter files section → Add videos…

$ # Browse to your TV folder → set 'This directory contains' to 'TV shows' → OK → Yes

$ # For Music:

$ # Home screen → Music → Files → Add music…

$ # Browse to your music folder → OK

What you should see

TV shows appear grouped by series with season artwork. Music appears with album covers.

This might happen

TV show episodes are not grouped correctly

Folders must follow the pattern ShowName/Season 01/ShowName.S01E01.mkv. Rename your folders to match this structure, then re-scan.

Step 5 of 6

Install a remote-control-friendly skin (optional)

2 min

Kodi's default skin (Estuary) works well, but if you want a different look — especially for a TV setup — you can install a new skin from inside Kodi without downloading anything manually.

Terminal · mac

$ # Inside Kodi:

$ # Settings (gear icon) → Interface → Skin → Get more…

$ # Browse the list, click a skin, then click Install

$ # Kodi will ask to switch to the new skin — click Yes

What you should see

The Kodi interface reloads with the new skin applied immediately.

This might happen

New skin looks broken or menus are missing

Go back to Settings → Interface → Skin and switch back to 'Estuary' (the default). Not all skins are maintained to the same quality.

Step 6 of 6

Control Kodi from your phone (optional)

2 min

Kodi has a built-in web server that lets free mobile apps control it over your home Wi-Fi. Enable it once and then use the official Kore app (Android/iOS) as a remote.

Terminal · mac

$ # Inside Kodi:

$ # Settings → Services → Control

$ # Toggle 'Allow remote control via HTTP' to ON

$ # Note the port number shown (default: 8080)

$ # On your phone:

$ # Install 'Kore, Official Remote for Kodi' from the App Store or Google Play

$ # Open Kore → Add Kodi → enter your computer's local IP address and port 8080

What you should see

The Kore app connects and shows playback controls, a library browser, and a keyboard for searching.

This might happen

Kore cannot find Kodi on the network

Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Find your computer's local IP in Settings → Network on your computer, then enter it manually in Kore.

// Status

cooked. baked. worked.

A fully working media center on your computer or TV box that displays your local movies, TV shows, and music in a polished, remote-friendly interface with automatically downloaded artwork and metadata.

// the honest bit

The honest part

Kodi only plays media you already own and have stored locally or on your network. It does not include any streaming services or built-in content. Third-party add-ons that promise free streaming of copyrighted content are not supported by the Kodi project and can expose you to legal and security risks — avoid them. Building Kodi from source (the GitHub repo) is a multi-hour process requiring developer tools and is not covered here; the official installer is the right path for almost everyone.