How to Install Kodi on Firestick Using Windows

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How to install Kodi on Firestick and Amazon Fire TV

The Amazon Firestick is one of the most popular devices for Kodi users. You can easily install Kodi on Firestick devices using one of three quick installation methods.

@pabischoff UPDATED: August 2, 2021

install Kodi on Firestick and Amazon Fire TV

The Amazon Firestick and Fire TV Cube are popular devices for Kodi fans to take advantage of. Not only do you get all the channels and functionality of Fire TV, Kodi opens up a whole new range of add-ons and streaming channels. You can install Kodi on Firestick and Fire TV devices and enjoy the same streaming experience without the hassle of a larger device.

Note: If you want to install a Kodi build on Firestick, we recommend you choose one that's designed for lower-powered devices.

Warning: Kodi should only be used for content to which you have the legal right to access. Neither the Kodi Foundation nor Comparitech advocates the use of Kodi for piracy.

Do not buy fully-loaded Firesticks!

While some YouTubers and eBay merchants sell Amazon Firesticks and Fire TVs with Kodi pre-installed, we recommend you steer clear of these and install Kodi yourself. Those pre-configured "piracy boxes" often contain malware and malicious add-ons that steal your data, inject advertisements, or use your device as part of a larger botnet, among other nefarious activities.

Warning: Use a VPN with a Kodi Firestick

Kodi is an excellent streaming device but can come with some notable risks. Kodi add-ons are often created and maintained by third-party developers who are not accountable to either the Kodi XBMC foundation or Amazon. That means they could go rogue and infect add-ons with malware. Streaming sources on Kodi can also be tampered with.

On top of that, anytime you stream content online through Kodi or otherwise, you risk exposing your personal streaming data to your ISP and others who may be sharing your network.

A virtual private network, or VPN, can help mask your streaming activity and prevent attacks from malicious add-ons. You can prevent your ISP from seeing what sites you're accessing and stop any ISP throttling or reporting activities. You can also prevent anyone else sharing your network from seeing your streaming and browsing activities.

2nd-generation Firesticks and later can use VPN apps directly from Amazon's built-in app store. We recommend IPVanish, which works great for Kodi and unblocks several popular streaming services from abroad.

DEAL ALERT: Our readers can save over 60% on an IPVanish annual subscription here.

Learn how to install a VPN on an Amazon Fire Stick or Fire TV in this tutorial.

How to install Kodi on Firestick

Before we begin, we need to allow the Fire TV to install apps from unknown sources.

Boot up your Fire TV and go to Settings > System
Scroll down to Developer Options
Toggle on Apps from unknown sources and confirm

You can now use apps from outside Amazon's app ecosystem, including Kodi.

Amazon Firesticks run on Fire OS, which is really just Amazon's version of Android. That means you can install the Android version of Kodi onto a Firestick. We'll show you how.

There are a few different methods you can use to install Kodi on your Amazon Firestick, which we've laid out for you below.

Method #1: Download and install Kodi on Firestick and Fire TV with the Downloader App

While there are several ways to install Kodi on a Firestick this is by far the easiest. It doesn't require a second device or a file explorer app. Instead, we'll use the Downloader app to get Kodi directly from the official website. It works will all versions of the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, including first-generation models. (Note: first-generation Firesticks do not support VPN apps.)

1. Boot up your Fire TV and use the Search box to find the Downloader app. As of time of writing it has an orange and white logo. You can also find it underCategories > Utilities
2. Select the app with your remote and click the Get or Download button
3. Downloader should automatically install, after which the Get or Download button will turn into an Open button. Click it
4. In the URL field on the Downloader app, enter the direct download URL for Kodi. For a stock, stable ARM release of Kodi, copy and paste the download URL (ends in ".apk") from the official Kodi site.
5. Double-check the URL is exactly correct and hit the download button
6. Kodi will download and you'll be prompted with an app installation menu. Select Install (note: the screenshot below depicts an update, not a fresh install, but the process is the same)
Kodi is now installed. Select Done and back out to the main menu
You can launch Kodi from the Apps section of the main Fire TV menu. Make sure to turn on your VPN first!

Method #2: Download and install Kodi on Firestick with ES File Explorer

If for some reason the Downloader app in method #1 doesn't suit you, ES File Explorer is a tried-and-tested download that works in a similar manner.

Boot up your Fire TV and use the search bar to find the ES File Explorer app. Make sure you are in the Apps and Games category
Select the app with your remote and click the Get or Download button
The app will automatically download and install. Click the Open button once it's finished to launch ES File Explorer
Navigate to the Tools > Download Manager in the left sidebar of ES Explorer
Select the + New tab at the bottom of the screen
Input the direct download URL for Kodi into ES File Explorer. As of this time of writing, the latest stable ARM Android release of Kodi.
Double-check the URL is exactly correct. Name the file whatever you like, such as "Kodi", and click the Download Now button
Once downloaded, you'll see a prompt with two open options. Choose Open file and then Install on the following prompt
Kodi will download and you'll be prompted with an app installation menu. Select Install
Kodi is now installed. Select Done and back out to the main menu
You can launch Kodi from the Apps section of the main Fire TV menu. Make sure to turn on your VPN first!

Method #3: Sideload Kodi onto Amazon Fire TV from another Android device using Apps2Fire

If you prefer to get the latest version of Kodi from Google Play instead of a direct download APK, and you have another Android device with access to Google Play lying around, you can use Apps2Fire to install Kodi on your Fire TV.

Boot up your Fire TV and from the home menu go to Settings > System > About > Network
Jot down the IP address of your Fire TV device
On your second Android device, download and install Apps2Fire from Google Play
On the same Android device, download and install the latest version of Kodi from Google Play
Launch the app and tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner
Tap Setup
Under IP address of your Fire TV , enter the IP address
Tap Save
Select the menu icon (three dots) again and select "Upload Apps"
Tap Kodi under Local apps to upload it to your Fire TV
The app should automatically install on your Fire TV
You can launch Kodi from the Apps section of the main Fire TV menu. Make sure to turn on your VPN first!

Best Kodi builds for Amazon Firestick

While many users will get along fine with stock Kodi on Fire TV, others might prefer to get a specialized version of Kodi with a unique skin and menu options. An easy way to hit the ground running is with a Kodi build that enhances your Kodi experience.

We preface all Firestick Kodi builds with this warning: While you will get some good, legal content and add-ons with a build, you may also download and install blacklisted add-ons as well. Kodi builds come with a large number of add-ons pre-installed, and you cannot select which ones you receive.

A build can be useful by providing new and interesting features to Kodi, but you will need to do your due diligence to ensure you delete the unwanted piracy addons before you use it.

If you've already got Kodi for Firestick installed and want to try a new build, make sure you perform a fresh install first.

Fire TV Sticks aren't exactly powerful pieces of hardware, so you'll want lightweight builds that won't drag down performance. With that in mind, here are a few builds to consider.

How to update Kodi on Fire TV Stick

Updating to the latest version of Kodi on Fire TV Stick uses the exact same process as a fresh install with method #1 above. Just change the download URL to the latest version from the official Kodi website. When you are prompted to install the update, you'll be shown any new permissions that Kodi asks for.

That being said, there are a couple of prerequisites to make sure everything goes smoothly.

If you're upgrading from an older major version of Kodi and not just an older minor version build, such as from Leia 18 to Matrix 19, we recommend a clean install. That means uninstalling the existing Kodi app before installing the new one. More on how to uninstall below.
If you have a skin other than the original, we recommend switching back to the original skin first. Not all skins are compatible between different versions of Kodi, and updating with one in use could cause issues such as a black screen. The original skin is called "Confluence".

How to install and use add-ons with Kodi

Now that Kodi is up and running on your device, you can use it to access content. Most content comes through add-ons, which you can download either directly from the official Kodi repository or third-party repositories. For example, you can get add-ons to watch BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and Paramount+, among many others.

How you install an add-on depends on whether the add-on is from the official Kodi repository, a third-party repository, or a direct download. You can access and install all of them from the Add-ons menu in the left sidebar.

If you're not sure where to start, check out our list of the best legal Kodi add-ons. The article explains how to find and install each of them.

How to uninstall Kodi on Fire TV Stick

If something goes wrong when installing or updating Kodi, or you want to perform a clean install, here's how to uninstall Kodi on a Fire TV Stick:

From the home screen, go to Settings > Applications > Manage installed applications
Scroll down to and select Kodi
Select Uninstall, and then Uninstall again to confirm

How to Install Kodi on Firestick Using Windows

Source: https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/install-kodi-on-amazon-firestick/

Baillieu Stionowl