How to Install Kodi on Raspbian

If you’re looking for open-source media centre software that can transform your Raspberry Pi into a versatile streaming device, Kodi is a perfect choice.

In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through installing Kodi on Raspbian. Raspbian is a free operating system based on Debian optimized for Raspberry Pi hardware.

Before we dive into the installation process, there are a few things you need to prepare to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Prerequisites

• A Raspberry Pi board (preferably a Raspberry Pi 3 or newer)
• An SD card with Raspbian installed
• A stable internet connection
• A keyboard, mouse, and display (HDMI or composite video)
• Basic command line skills

If you have all these things, you can start installing Kodi on your Raspberry Pi running Raspbian.

Step 1: Update your system

Before we start installing Kodi, let’s make sure that your system is up-to-date. Open the Terminal by clicking on the Terminal icon in the taskbar or by pressing CTRL + ALT + T on your keyboard.

Once the Terminal is open, type the following command:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

This command will update your system packages and install any available upgrades. Wait for the process to complete before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Install Kodi

Now that your system is up-to-date, we can proceed with the installation of Kodi. Open the Terminal and type the following command:

sudo apt-get install kodi

This command will download and install Kodi along with all the required dependencies. The process may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Step 3: Configure Kodi

After Kodi is installed, you can launch it by typing the following command in the Terminal:

kodi

Alternatively, you can launch Kodi from the applications menu. Once launched, you will see the Kodi interface.

Before we start using Kodi, there are a few settings that we need to configure. First, we need to make sure that Kodi is set to start automatically when the Raspberry Pi is turned on. To do this, click on the Settings icon in the Kodi interface, then click on System settings, and then click on the System tab.

Under the Power saving section, toggle the option to “Turn off displays and go to sleep mode after” to “Never.” This ensures that Kodi remains running in the background even if you’re not actively using it.

Next, click on the Services tab and toggle the option to “Allow remote control via HTTP” to “On.” This allows you to control Kodi remotely using your web browser or a remote control app.

Step 4: Install add-ons

Kodi is a highly extensible media centre software, and one of the ways you can extend its functionality is by installing add-ons. There are thousands of Kodi add-ons available, ranging from video and music streaming services to weather forecasts and news.

To install add-ons, click on the Add-ons tab in the Kodi interface, then click on the box icon in the top-left corner. Here, you can browse the Kodi add-on repository and install the add-ons you need.

Conclusion

That’s it! You now have Kodi installed on your Raspberry Pi running Raspbian. You can now use Kodi to stream your favourite movies, TV shows, and music, as well as access a wide range of other content. Kodi is a versatile media centre software that can transform your Raspberry Pi into a powerful streaming device.