How to install Kodi on Raspberry Pi – step-by-step guide

Raspberry Pi is an incredibly useful and creative platform that seems perfect for tech enthusiasts. You can assemble your own computer and install custom software, including Kodi. Thanks to this application, you can create your home entertainment center – and learn numerous useful things along the way.

First of all, you need to know that installing Kodi on Raspberry Pi is an incredibly simple process. You need to assemble the hardware first, and then breathe life into it via Kodi. The best thing is – we’re sure you’ll feel incredibly proud at the end of this process.

So, without any further ado, let’s talk about what you really want to know. Here’s our in-depth guide on how to install Kodi on Raspberry Pi.

Step #1: Gathering the Required Components

We’re sure that you want to know what kinds of components you need for this project. So, here’s a handy overview of different hardware components to help you dive into assembling your computer.

• Raspberry Pi Board: First and foremost, you need a Raspberry Pi board. There are numerous variations, but they all have one thing in common – all of them are quite affordable. To get the most out of this project, we recommend getting a Raspberry Pi 3 Model.
• Raspberry Pi Case: Depending on which Raspberry Pi model you’ll use, you need a case. Your setup will work even without a case, but you surely want everything to look nice and polished. If you need some ideas, we recommend the official Kodi-branded case.
• Ethernet & HDMI Cables: You’ll need to use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the Internet. An HDMI cable is also necessary to connect your Raspberry Pi to your TV.
• MicroSD Memory Card: As you can expect, you need some storage as well. Lucky for you, microSD cards are quite affordable – you just need to know which one to use.
• Power Adapter: Lastly, you need to power your Raspberry Pi setup, and this is done via a micro-USB power adapter. If you want to dive into the world of advanced Raspberry Pi users, we recommend getting an adapter that features an ON/OFF switch so you can shut down your Raspberry Pi when you’re not using it.

Step #2: Assemble Your Brand-New Computer

Once you have all the components prepared, you need to assemble them. This process depends on the Raspberry Pi model that you pick – so you need to follow a guide that you’ll receive in the box. However, we’ll give you a general idea of how the assembly process should look like.

• First, place your Raspberry Pi into the case by carefully positioning it. You must make sure that all ports are easily accessible. Be gentle and make sure the board clicks into its place.
• Some more advanced cases come with a heatsink. This feature allows your Raspberry Pi to cool down more easily. However, this isn’t always needed, especially if you use a low-powered board. If there’s a heat sink, you’ll need to apply the thermal paste to make sure everything gets connected nicely.
• Now, insert all of the cables. This means that you’ll need to insert the micro-USB cable to supply power and connect your Raspberry Pi to your router via the Ethernet port. And connect your new setup to your TV via the HDMI cable.

That would be all. As you can see, we still haven’t talked about the microSD card mentioned in the previous step. So, let put it to good use.

Step #3: Install Kodi on Your Raspberry Pi

Finally, the time has come to install Kodi and turn your Raspberry Pi into something great. So, here’s how to install Kodi on Raspberry Pi 3 and lower-powered models.

• First, insert the micro USB card into your computer. We recommend you use an SD Formatter to format the card and make it readable. Launch the application, go with ‘Quick Format’ and click on the ‘Format’ button in the bottom-right corner.
• Next, you need to install LibreELEC’s USB-SD creator. It comes compatible with all major desktop platforms, so download and open the application.
• You should see a straightforward interface. First, select your Raspberry Pi version. Then, click on ‘Download’ and the application will prepare the OS. Next, select your SD card below, and finally – click on ‘Write.’
• After a few minutes, the process will be done. You can go ahead and click on ‘Close.’
• Remove the memory card and insert it into your Raspberry Pi setup. Power it on, and you should see a Welcome Screen. It can take a few minutes until LibreELEC fully loads, so sit back and relax.
• Before you get to use Kodi, you need to go through a setup process. You will get to pick from several options – but you won’t make a mistake if you leave their default values.
• Finally, you’ll get to see Kodi’s home screen. Now, you can install add-ons and enjoy!

In case you want to make this process as affordable as possible, we recommend you get a Raspberry Pi 2, which should provide just enough power to run Kodi seamlessly. So, how to install Kodi on Raspberry Pi 2? Well, this article provides information for all currently available Raspberry Pi models.

Final Advice: Always Use a VPN for Kodi!

Finally, we have one more piece of advice. To fully unblock all of Kodi’s content (especially if you have a bunch of add-ons installed), you need to use a VPN. These applications connect you to secure servers, encrypt your Web connection, and unblock any type of content.

Check out our list of Best VPN Services

VPNs come as subscription services, so make sure to do your research. You need a VPN with servers optimized for media streaming – which means that you’ll get to use Kodi without any buffering. And also, a reliable VPN will make sure that malware stays away from your device.