The Complete Guide To Kodi

Is Kodi legal? How do you install it? And where can you find the good stuff when you do? We have all the answers.

- Barry Collins and Max Figgett

Kodi has become one of the sleeper hits of the past few years. The media player software, formerly known as XBMC (it started out as an Xbox Media Centre), is now one of the most downloaded pieces of software on the planet.

One reason for Kodi’s popularity is its sheer versatility: it can be installed on devices ranging from a £30 media streaming stick to smartphones, from tablets through to full-blown desktops. There are even workarounds for platforms that do their level best to keep the software at bay, such as iOS (see p34).

However, another undeniable reason for Kodi’s success has been the way third-party operators have used the Kodi software to distribute copyrighted movies, TV shows and live channels that you would otherwise have to pay for. Kodi isn’t happy about it, and the copyright holders certainly aren’t, but where do you stand legally when it comes to watching such content on a Kodi-based device? We have all the answers on p32.

Finally, we’ll show you where to find the best of the legitimate add-ons and skins for Kodi on p36, as well as how to eke the best performance out of the media player.

Is Kodi legal?