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How to Conveniently Install Kodi on Chromebook Devices

Kodi is an incredibly popular and versatile media center application that allows you to organize, manage, and play your digital media collection. With support for videos, music, podcasts, and more, it’s an ideal way to access all your entertainment in one place.

In recent years, Chromebooks have also grown in popularity thanks to their affordability, portability, and ease of use. As Chrome OS continues to expand its capabilities, many users are now wanting to install Kodi on their Chromebook devices.

The good news is that it is perfectly possible to get Kodi running on a Chromebook! This guide will walk you through the different methods, from the simplest to more advanced options.

What is Kodi and What Can It Do?

For those new to Kodi, here’s a quick rundown of its key capabilities:

  • Media playback: Kodi supports playback of videos, music, podcasts, and images from local, network or cloud storage. It handles numerous media formats and codecs.
  • Add-ons and plugins: There is a huge selection of add-ons that allow you to expand Kodi’s functionality, from streaming apps to live TV and PVR integration.
  • Library integration: Kodi scrapes metadata for your media library and downloads artwork, summaries, posters etc. This allows you to browse your collection similar to Netflix or other streaming services.
  • Customizable interface: Choose from various skins and layouts to customize the look and feel of Kodi to your preferences.

So in summary, Kodi turns any device into a feature-packed media center for all your entertainment needs!

Method 1: Install via the Google Play Store

If your Chromebook supports the Google Play Store, this is by far the easiest way to install Kodi:

  1. Open the Play Store app
  2. Search for “Kodi”
  3. Select the official Kodi app by the Kodi Foundation and click Install

That’s it! The app will download and you’ll find Kodi available in your Chromebook’s app launcher.

Which Chromebooks Support the Play Store?

Most Chromebooks launched from 2017 onwards support Android apps from the Google Play Store. Popular models that can install Kodi this way include:

  • Google Pixelbook
  • ASUS Chromebook Flip C302
  • Acer Chromebook 15
  • Lenovo Chromebook C330

You can refer to Google’s list for the full range of Chromebooks supporting Android apps.

If your device is not on the list, don’t worry! You can still install Kodi using the methods below.

Method 2: Install as a Linux Application

Many modern Chromebooks also let you install Linux applications alongside Chrome OS. This allows you to install Kodi directly from the Linux repositories.

Here is how to install Kodi as a Linux app:

  1. Enable Linux support if you haven’t already (find this in Settings > Linux)
  2. Open the Terminal app and enter the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install kodi
  1. Kodi will now be available to launch from the Chrome OS app launcher!

To add media libraries and configure Kodi fully, refer to the official Linux installation guide.

Which Chromebooks Support Linux Apps?

Most Chromebooks launched from 2020 onwards support Linux applications. Many older models also have this capability – check Google’s list of supported devices for specifics.

If your Chromebook is not supported, use the sideloading method below.

Method 3: Sideload the Kodi Android APK

If the above two methods are not suitable for your model, you can manually install Kodi by sideloading the Android APK package.

This approach will work on any Chromebook, but involves a few more steps:

  1. Enable Developer Mode on your Chromebook
    • This allows installation of Android APKs. Press Ctrl + D on boot then confirm.
  2. Download the Kodi APK
    • Get it from the official Kodi site. Select the “Android” tab and download the ARM or ARM64 APK depending on your Chromebook’s processor.
  3. Open the Files app on your Chromebook
  4. Browse to the APK file in the Downloads folder
  5. Click on the Kodi APK. This will trigger the installation
  6. A Kodi app icon will now appear in your Chromebook’s app launcher!

While a little more involved, this method lets you run the Kodi Android app on any Chromebook model.

Setting Up Kodi on Your Chromebook

Once you have Kodi installed via any of the above methods, you’ll need to add your media libraries and configure settings to your preferences.

Here are some tips:

  • Add media sources from local storage, networked devices, cloud drives or USB drives attached to your Chromebook
  • Install add-ons like Netflix, Plex, YouTube and others to expand functionality
  • Change the interface skin if desired
  • Tweak scrapers to fetch metadata and artwork
  • Set up a remote control app on your phone or tablet

Refer to the First Steps Guide for a full Kodi configuration tutorial.

And that’s it! With Kodi now ready on your Chromebook, you’ll be able to conveniently access and play all your personal media content.

Troubleshooting Kodi on Chromebook Issues

Here are some common problems and fixes if you run into any issues setting up Kodi:

Kodi crashes or runs slowly

  • This can happen if your Chromebook lacks sufficient hardware capabilities. Try a lighter skin, disable unnecessary plugins, or use the standard Estuary skin.

Can’t find Kodi on Google Play Store

  • As mentioned earlier, only newer Chromebook models support the Play Store. For older devices, use the Linux or sideloading methods instead.

No sound when playing media

  • Go to Kodi Settings > Audio and change the audio output device to “2 Channel PCM” or another compatible option.

Metadata and artwork not downloading

  • Ensure scrapers are enabled under Add-ons > Get More. Also confirm your Chromebook has an active internet connection.

Videos stuttering or buffering

  • This normally indicates a network bandwidth issue. Try lowering the default cache settings or adjust advanced caching options.

For any other problems, refer to the Official Kodi Wiki which contains detailed troubleshooting advice on all setup, configuration and playback topics. The Kodi forums are also a great resource.

Conclusion

Installing the versatile Kodi media center on a Chromebook is easy once you know which method works for your model. With Kodi ready to go, you’ll be able to play media from all sources, customize the interface to your liking, and access streaming apps and add-ons.

Follow the step-by-step instructions in this guide to get Kodi running smoothly on your Chrome OS device. And be sure to check out the troubleshooting tips if any issues do pop up during setup.

So go ahead, unleash your Chromebook’s media playing potential with Kodi!

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