Elementum Kodi Add-on: How to Stream and Download Movies or TV Shows

Elementum is a Kodi add-on that streams video through BitTorrent and can save a local copy when its storage settings allow it. To download movies or TV shows with Elementum, install the add-on from its project site, configure storage, and use only torrents you have permission to access and share. It is not part of Kodi’s official add-on repository, and its providers do not guarantee access to any particular title.

What Elementum does—and what it does not

Elementum is descended from Quasar. Instead of hosting movies, it connects to separately installed provider add-ons, such as Burst, to discover torrent sources. Playback uses peer-to-peer transfers, which may upload data to other peers while you watch. Its movie and TV browsing screens are discovery tools, not proof that a title is licensed for free distribution.

The Elementum project says its add-on and Burst receive limited support. Check the Elementum project download page before installing and use a supported Kodi release. Avoid ZIP files from unfamiliar repositories.

How to install the Elementum Kodi add-on

The following eight steps cover the key decisions. Menu labels may differ with your Kodi skin, device, and Elementum build.

1. Download the official package. Open the Elementum downloads page on your device. The project recommends its universal “all-in-one” ZIP, which includes platform builds; architecture-specific ZIPs are also listed. Download the ZIP itself, not the GitHub source-code archive. The project page reviewed for this update lists universal version 0.1.114.

   

2. Allow installation from a ZIP. In Kodi, open Settings → System → Add-ons and enable Unknown sources. Read the warning: third-party add-ons may access information on your device. Only proceed with a package whose source you trust.

   

3. Enable Elementum’s application control prerequisites. Go to Settings → Services → Control (sometimes labeled Service settings). Elementum’s documentation asks you to enable remote control from applications on this system and from other systems. The second setting can expose Kodi control to devices on your network, so use it only on a trusted network and review it after setup. Restart Kodi if these settings were changed.

   

4. Open the ZIP installer. Return to Add-ons, open the package-box icon (Add-on browser), and choose Install from zip file. If Kodi displays another third-party installation warning, verify the source before continuing.

   

5. Select the Elementum archive. Browse to the downloaded plugin.video.elementum-…zip file and select it. Allow Kodi to install the add-on and required dependencies; then confirm Elementum appears among your video add-ons. As an alternative, install the official Elementum repository ZIP and install Elementum from that repository.

   

6. Choose whether to retain downloads. Open Elementum’s add-on settings. Select its file-based storage option and a writable Download path if you want files on disk, and review the keep/delete-after-playback preference. Do not assume a streamed torrent is permanently saved. On Android, the project specifies a location inside Kodi’s app data directory, such as Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/downloads. Ensure there is enough free space.

   

7. Install or check Burst. Elementum may offer to install its companion provider add-on. If it does not, obtain Burst through Elementum’s own repository or its official download page. Check that both Elementum and Burst are enabled; provider availability, accuracy, and legal status vary. Do not assume an enabled provider makes a torrent lawful.

   

8. Open Elementum. Go to Add-ons → Video add-ons → Elementum. Depending on the build, you can browse Movies or TV Shows, search, view torrents, or add a torrent yourself. For a file you own or have explicit permission to download and share, choose the corresponding legitimate source and check the playback and saving options before starting.

   

How to download a movie or TV episode for offline viewing

To keep a lawfully distributed video, select file-based storage and a permanent download folder before playback. If your build offers a keep-files option, enable it. Then add a legally shared torrent or select an authorized source, start playback, and let the download finish. Check the destination folder afterward; any automatic cleanup or space-management option can remove the cached copy.

Do not confuse a title appearing under Movies, TV Shows, or Search with permission to download it. Public-domain or explicitly licensed videos are better candidates for testing. For non-torrent videos already on your computer, Kodi’s regular local-library playback is simpler and avoids peer-to-peer sharing.

Common problems and fixes

• Elementum will not start: Recheck the add-on’s supported platform and architecture, its daemon permissions, and Kodi’s application-control settings. Restart Kodi after changing control settings; check the official update instructions before reinstalling.
• “Download path not set” or no saved file: Switch to file storage, use a writable directory, verify free space, and inspect retention settings. Android storage locations need special care.
• No search results or buffering: Check whether the provider add-on is enabled and whether the source is permitted and available. Torrent performance depends on peers, connection quality, and file availability; a result is not guaranteed. The Elementum FAQ covers storage, library synchronization, and download-speed issues.

Security and copyright considerations

BitTorrent participants can generally see peers’ IP addresses, and sharing copyrighted material without permission can violate applicable law. A VPN can change the IP address visible to peers and encrypt traffic between your device and the VPN provider, but it does not make unauthorized downloads legal or eliminate all security and privacy risks. Kodi also warns that unreviewed third-party add-ons may pose security risks; see Kodi’s explanation of add-on legality. Obtain add-ons from their project sources, limit network exposure, and use only content you have rights to access and redistribute.