Kodi’s range of Linux applications provides users with a powerful way to store and play media files, but many may not know how to install it on Linux. Fortunately, the process is relatively straightforward and can be completed quickly. With Kodi as part of your Linux arsenal, you have a great tool at your disposal, allowing you to enjoy all of your favorite media files.
If you’re looking to install Kodi on your Linux machine, our experts are ready with a helpful guide. Prior to installation, make sure you consider which version of the application best suits your needs – our team is here to provide more information and address any questions you may have.
What is Kodi?
Kodi is an open-source media player software that provides a user-friendly interface to easily access and play digital media files from local and network storage media as well as the internet. Kodi is highly customizable with add-ons and skins and supports multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, IOS, Smart TV, Apple TV, MI Tv, Fire Sticks, Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, And Android TV Box making it a widely accessible multimedia platform.
Requirements for Running Kodi on Linux
The majority of Linux users can expect to successfully run Kodi. The application is known for its small system requirements, ensuring a smooth user experience even on less powerful hardware. To guarantee anyone has all the information they need, the following are the official requirements for running Kodi on Linux:
- CPU: Any x86 and x64 processor that supports SSE2.
- RAM: You need to have 1GB of RAM to run Kodi. However, it is recommended to have at least 2GB of RAM to ensure smooth performance.
- Graphics: You can count on running Kodi if your computer has a GPU unit made in the last ten years. This includes graphics cards from AMD/ATI, Nvidia, and Intel. The basic requirement is that your GPU supports OpenGL 2.0 or later. However, it’s advisable to have a newer GPU if you plan on playing Full HD movies or 4K video files.
- Drive Space: Kodi’s installation file takes around 200MB of drive space. Note that you’ll need to have plenty of free space if you plan on importing movies and other files locally. If you plan on streaming movies, you don’t need more than 1GB of free space to ensure proper performance.
- Operating System: The latest version of Kodi requires Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak, 16.04 Xenial, 14.04 Trusty, or Linux Mint 17.
How to Install Kodi on Your Linux Computer
Kodi is an application that requires minimal hardware and software configurations for Linux users. To ensure the system specifications needed to properly run Kodi on a Linux device, these are the official requirements from the Kodi development team:
Method #1: Install Kodi on Linux Mint & Ubuntu
The initial step required is to open a Terminal window.
- The most convenient way to do this is by utilizing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.
- After the Terminal window appears, simply copy and paste ‘sudo apt-get install software-properties-common’ followed by entering your password after which type in ‘sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa.’
- Once this has been done, hit ‘Enter’ again.
- In a couple of seconds, please input the following command into your terminal: `sudo apt-get update` and hit the ‘Enter’ button.
- The installation process is now complete. Input the following code to finish: ‘sudo apt-get install kodi.‘ Then, press ‘Enter’ on the keyboard.
- Kodi is now available for downloading from the Web, so users are able to install it on their local devices.
- Once the setup is successfully finished, you can close the Terminal window. Kodi will now be located among the rest of your locally installed applications.
If you want to install Kodi on Linux, the commands below can help make that process easier. After entering each command, press ‘Enter‘ and wait until it is fully executed before proceeding to the next one. Here are the instructions:
- sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
- sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa
- sudo apt-get update
- sudo apt-get install kodi
Method #2: Install Kodi on Linux Debian
It’s important to remember that there are several Linux distributions available. This tutorial will provide guidance on how to install Kodi on Debian.
- It is prudent to create a backup of the ‘sources.list’ file before making any changes. To do this, open the Terminal (with Ctrl + Alt + T) and enter the command ‘sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.bak.’ Press ‘Enter,’ then provide your password when prompted and press Enter once again once it is entered.
- In order to execute the next step, you’ll need to enter ‘gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list’ in the command window. Press ‘Enter’ and provide your credentials to access the file.
- Add the line ‘deb http://http.debian.net/debian jessie-backports main.’ to the file and save it. Subsequently, in order to install Kodi on Linux, execute the commands to update the local package index and finally execute installation of Kodi.
- To install Kodi, open your terminal and type ‘sudo apt-get update’ followed by ‘Enter’. Then, enter your command ‘sudo apt-get install kodi’ and press ‘Enter’ to confirm.
- Install the Suggested Addons and Codecs: ‘sudo apt-get install -–install-suggests kodi.’
- Update PVR clients: ‘sudo apt-get install kodi-pvr-mythtv.’
- Add IPTV Simple: ‘sudo apt-get install kodi-pvr-iptvsimple.’
- Add AirPlay functionality: ‘sudo apt-install shairplay.’
Conclusion
Installing Kodi on Linux is a straightforward process. To get started, you will just need to add the Kodi repository and install it. Afterward, you’ll be able to enjoy the various features of Kodi, such as organizing and playing media files from different sources as well as extending its functionality with add-ons. We hope this guide helps you successfully install Kodi on your Linux device and take full advantage of it.
FAQs
- Is Kodi legal?
- While Kodi itself is not illegal, some Add-Ons may be.
- Can I install Kodi on Linux?
- Kodi is compatible with Firestick and can be downloaded and installed on it.
- What is the difference between Kodi and Netflix?
- While Netflix is a paid service that allows users to watch movies and TV shows whenever they want, Kodi is simply a media player.
- How do I update Kodi on Linux?
- The Android version of Kodi can be kept up-to-date through the app itself or by downloading the most recent version from the official website. or read our detailed guide on it.
- Do I need a VPN to use Kodi on Linux?
- A virtual private network (VPN) isn’t required to use Kodi, but it can improve security and privacy.