/ How to

How to Install and Set Up Kodi Media Center on Amazon Fire TV Stick

As a long-time Kodi user and Fire TV owner, I often get asked how to install Kodi on the Fire TV Stick. The good news is it’s easy to set up Kodi to turn your Fire TV device into a full-featured media center.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of installing the latest version of Kodi on your Fire TV Stick and setting it up with the best video and music add-ons.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, here are a few things you’ll need:

  • Amazon Fire TV Stick
  • Amazon account
  • Stable internet connection
  • Micro USB cable to connect the Fire TV Stick
  • Mouse or trackpad (optional but recommended)

I also recommend using the 2nd generation Fire TV Stick 4K for the best Kodi experience. The extra RAM and faster processor compared to the 1st gen model make a big difference in performance.

Download and Install Downloader App

The first step is to download and install the Downloader app on your Fire TV Stick:

  1. From the main Fire TV menu, select the “Search” option and type in Downloader.
  2. Select the Downloader app from the list of results and click to download it.
  3. Once downloaded, open the Downloader app.
  4. Grant the necessary permissions when prompted.

The Downloader app allows you to enter URLs to download files and apps directly to your Fire TV device. We’ll use it to install Kodi next.

Download and Install Latest Kodi APK

Here are the steps to use the Downloader app to install Kodi:

  1. Open the Downloader app on your Fire TV Stick.
  2. Enter the URL of the latest Kodi APK: https://www.kodi.tv/download/.
  3. Find and select the Android ARM package to download.
  4. Select Install when prompted.
  5. Select Delete after the installation finishes to remove the APK installer.

This will install the latest stable release of Kodi optimized for the Fire TV platform.

Once installed, you can access Kodi from the Fire TV apps menu – it uses the default Kodi icon.

Configure Kodi on First Run

The first time you open Kodi, it will guide you through some basic configuration settings:

  • Select your preferred language.
  • Choose the default video and music sources for the media library.
  • Configure any relevant regional settings.

I recommend enabling the following options for the best experience:

  • Set media sources to search local network and connected drives to add media from a NAS.
  • Enable both music and video sources.
  • Adjust date and time formats based on your region.

Connect Kodi to Your Media Library

Next, you need to connect Kodi to your existing media library of movies, TV shows, music, and photos.

Here are some options to link your media folders:

  • SMB/CIFS shares – Access files stored on NAS devices or Windows PCs.
  • NFS – Access media stored on Linux/UNIX NAS devices.
  • External USB drive – Directly connect a USB drive to add more storage.

In Kodi, go to Settings > Media > Videos/Music/Pictures and select the Add videos/music/pictures option. Then browse and select the folders containing your media.

Kodi will scan the folders and automatically import files into its library to create a centralized media center.

Install Video and Music Add-ons

One of the best features of Kodi is the vast array of community-created add-ons that unlock tons of free media.

Here are some of the best video and music add-ons I recommend installing:

Video Streaming Add-ons

  • The Crew – Movies, TV shows, live sports
  • The Oath – Movies, TV shows
  • Seren – Movies, TV shows

Music Add-ons

  • Spotify
  • YouTube Music
  • Radio Player

To install any add-on:

  1. Go to the Add-ons browser in Kodi.
  2. Select Install from repository.
  3. Find the add-on and select Install.

Take some time to explore all the add-ons available to customize your Kodi setup.

Customize the Interface and Appearance

You can customize nearly everything in Kodi’s interface to match your preferences – from skins to tweak the look and layout, to custom keyboard shortcuts.

Here are some customizations you should try:

  • Install new skins like Arctic Zephyr 2
  • Increase/reduce font sizes
  • Change default views for the video and music libraries
  • Set up custom keywords to quickly jump to media
  • Rearrange menu items

Don’t be afraid to experiment with all of the options – you can always reset Kodi back to the defaults.

Conclusion

Installing Kodi on your Amazon Fire TV Stick helps unlock its full potential as a complete media center and entertainment hub.

In less than an hour, you can set up the latest version of Kodi, connect it to your personal media library, install helpful add-ons, and customize the interface to your liking.

With Kodi running smoothly on your Fire TV Stick, you’ll enjoy a far superior streaming experience. From watching movies and TV shows, listening to music, viewing photos, and more – Kodi makes it easy to consolidate all your media in one place.

Related Posts