How to Download and Set Up Kodi on Windows

To download and set up Kodi on Windows, visit the official Kodi download page, select the recommended Windows installer, run the setup wizard, and launch the app. You can also install Kodi through the Microsoft Store. Once it opens, add your own media folders to build a library; you do not need a streaming add-on to play files you already have.

Kodi is a free, open-source media center for watching videos, listening to music, and organizing pictures. This walkthrough focuses on Windows PCs, with both official installation methods and the first settings worth changing.

Before you download Kodi

Get Kodi from the official Windows download page or its Microsoft Store link, rather than from an unofficial installer site. The Kodi download page currently identifies Kodi 21.3 Omega as its recommended stable Windows release; prerelease and development builds are intended for users who specifically want to try newer software.

Kodi’s current supported-hardware guidance lists Windows 10 as the minimum and Windows 11 as recommended. Playback quality also depends on your graphics hardware, drivers, and the video formats you use.

Step 1: Check whether Windows is 64-bit

Open Windows Settings > System > About and find System type. Most modern PCs use 64-bit Windows, but checking avoids downloading the wrong installer. You can skip this check if you plan to install Kodi through Microsoft Store.

Method 1: Install Kodi from the official website

Step 2: Open the Windows download page

Go directly to Kodi’s Windows downloads. Keep the Recommended release selected unless you intentionally need a test version. If you start from Kodi’s main site, choose Download, then Windows.

Step 3: Download the correct installer

Select Installer (64BIT) for 64-bit Windows or Installer (32BIT) for 32-bit Windows. Save the executable file to your Downloads folder. If the site displays a different stable version when you visit, use the current recommended release shown there.

Step 4: Run the setup wizard

Open the downloaded .exe file. Review the publisher and Windows security prompt, then follow the installer’s on-screen instructions. Accept the license terms if you agree, keep the default destination unless you have a reason to change it, and finish installation. Launch Kodi from the Start menu.

If Windows SmartScreen warns about the installer, first verify that you downloaded it from kodi.tv. Do not disable Windows security protections just to get around an unexpected warning. For more details, see Kodi’s official Windows installation guide.

Method 2: Install Kodi from Microsoft Store

Step 5: Find and install the official app

Open Microsoft Store, search for Kodi, and check that the app is published by XBMC Foundation. Select Get or Install, depending on what the Store displays. When installation finishes, choose Open or launch Kodi from Start.

The Store version receives automatic updates through Microsoft Store. The downloadable installer is better if you prefer to decide when Kodi gets updated. You do not need to install both versions.

Set up Kodi for the first time

Step 6: Open the media section

Kodi normally starts with an empty library. That is expected: Kodi does not include movies, TV shows, or live channels. On the home screen, select Videos > Files, or use Enter files section when it appears on an empty movie library screen.

Step 7: Add a folder and scan your media

1. In Videos > Files, choose Add videos... and then Browse.
2. Select a folder containing media you have permission to use, then confirm the path and give the source a recognizable name.
3. In Set content, choose Movies or TV shows under This directory contains. Check any scraper options, confirm, and allow Kodi to scan the source.

For reliable matching, organize titles into clearly named folders. If you only want to play a file without adding artwork or metadata, navigate through Videos > Files instead. Kodi documents the exact source and library workflow in Adding video sources.

Step 8: Add optional features safely

To browse supported add-ons, open Add-ons, select the package/box icon if necessary, and choose Install from repository. Then choose the official Kodi repository, an add-on category, and the add-on you want. This can add features such as subtitles, information providers, or connections to legitimate online services.

Read Kodi’s add-on manager guide before installing unfamiliar extensions. Kodi itself is legal software, but an add-on does not automatically make copyrighted content free to watch. A VPN is not required to install Kodi and does not grant streaming rights.

Quick fixes and useful settings

• No videos appear: Confirm the folder path, media type, and filename organization. Try scanning the source again.
• Kodi will not open: Check Windows compatibility and update your graphics driver. Avoid unstable builds for ordinary use.
• Wrong language or date format: Open Settings > Interface > Regional to adjust the interface language and regional display preferences.
• Want different audio or subtitles: Review Settings > Player > Language; available tracks still depend on the media file or service.

Once Kodi is installed and your media source is configured, you can browse and play your collection from the home screen. Keep Kodi and any installed add-ons updated, and use only content and services you are authorized to access.