Chrome Launcher for Kodi: Install It and Add Website Shortcuts

Chrome Launcher is a Kodi program add-on that saves website shortcuts and tries to open them in an installed copy of Google Chrome. It does not include a browser or install Chrome for you. Compatibility is the main catch: the upstream legacy add-on declares a Python 2 dependency, while Kodi 19 and later use Python 3, and its launch code has paths for Windows, macOS, and Linux but not Android. The old ZIP may not work on modern Kodi or Android-based devices; verify package compatibility first.

Check compatibility before installing

Chrome Launcher is not in Kodi’s official catalog. Forks may differ, so inspect the maintainer’s source: confirm its addon.xml requires Python 3 and its launcher supports your operating system. Kodi warns that add-ons can break between releases; Kodi 19 Matrix introduced Python 3. The upstream metadata still requires xbmc.python 2.1.0, and its code checks for Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• Kodi 19 or later: use a Python 3-compatible port. The upstream legacy package is not compatible as-is.
• Windows, macOS, or Linux: Chrome must be installed where the add-on can find it; some versions allow a custom browser path.
• Android TV or Fire TV: the upstream code has no Android launch path. Use a browser app supported by your device unless you verify an Android-specific fork.

Do not downgrade to an unsupported Kodi release just to run an old add-on. Kodi’s Android setup guidance also notes that browser availability and launching vary by device.

Install a compatible ZIP in Kodi

These are Kodi’s standard ZIP-install steps. Labels can vary by version or skin. Save the ZIP somewhere Kodi can browse, such as device storage or a network share.

1. Get a compatible ZIP from its maintainer. Use the project owner’s GitHub source or release page, not an unknown mirror. The upstream link below is for inspection, not a current-Kodi recommendation.
2. In Kodi, open Add-ons, select the open-box icon to open Add-on Browser, and choose Install from ZIP file.
3. If Kodi asks to enable Unknown sources, proceed only if you trust the package. Kodi warns that add-ons installed this way can access personal data on the device. To continue, enable it under Settings > System > Add-ons, accept the warning, then return to Install from ZIP file.
4. Browse to the ZIP, select it, and wait for Kodi’s installation notice. If Kodi reports a missing dependency or an incompatible add-on, stop; do not try random dependency ZIPs to force the install.

Open Chrome Launcher and add a website

If installation succeeds and the add-on is enabled, return to Kodi’s home screen and open Add-ons > Program add-ons > Chrome Launcher. Older builds may show YouTube Leanback and Vimeo Couchmode shortcuts; those legacy pages may have changed or stopped loading. A launcher menu is shown below as an illustration.

1. Select Add Website and enter a short title, such as “Example News,” that will be easy to recognize from the couch.
2. Enter the complete site address, including https://. Use the site’s home page rather than a private or one-time link.
3. For Stop Kodi playback?, choose No for a regular website so Kodi audio or video can keep playing. Choose Yes only when you want Kodi to stop playback before launching the page.
4. For Use kiosk mode?, leave Yes to open Chrome full-screen. Choose No if you need a normal browser window and controls. Confirm the prompts; the shortcut should appear in the list.

What to expect and how to troubleshoot

This add-on launches a separate browser; it does not turn Kodi into a full web browser with an address bar. Add URLs in Kodi first. A TV remote can be awkward for typing and navigating, so a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse may help. Some sites require newer browser features or restrict video playback, and Chrome Launcher cannot bypass those requirements.

• Kodi rejects the ZIP: check that it is an add-on ZIP, not GitHub’s “Source code” archive, and verify its Kodi/Python requirements.
• The add-on installs but Chrome does not open: check that Chrome is installed and that the package supports your operating system and browser path.
• The site opens but is hard to use: try kiosk mode off, connect a keyboard or mouse, or open the site in the device’s native browser.

Use only a source you have inspected, and remove the add-on if it behaves unexpectedly. For current guidance, read Kodi’s Add-on Manager instructions, Unknown sources settings, and Python 3 migration notes. Compare the legacy add-on’s GitHub project, metadata, and launcher code before relying on a fork. For Android devices, check Kodi’s Android setup guidance.