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3 Methods to Install Kodi 18.9 on Android TV Boxes: Step-by-step Guide

Author by Oswald

Updated on July 11, 2023

On this post, you'll learn from the step-by-step guide on three methods to install Kodi on Android TV boxes, to enjoy unlimited media streams brought to you by Kodi on your smart TV.

We aim to help users enjoy Kodi safely and legally. This guide only provides the installation for the official version of Kodi from the only trusted source: Kodi.tv official website.

To demonstrate, I'll install the stable release of Kodi: Leia 18.9. We suggest you use the latest version of Kodi to avoid potential issues.

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Important Update

Kodi 19 Matrix stable release is fianally here! However, there's only a handful addons compatible with Kodi Matrix thus we suggest users stick with Kodi Leia 18.9 for now. Learn how to downgrade Kodi 19 to 18.9. If you still want to install/update to Kodi 19, see our Kodi 19 Matrix Release guide.

More Kodi Guides: Kodi on Windows | Kodi on Fire Stick | How to Implement Uptobox Streams Authorization | How to Download Movies and TV Shows from Kodi Addons | 18 Best Fighting Sports Addons

Requirements for Android Boxes to Install Kodi

The award-winning media center app Kodi Media Player is a must-have for any cord cutter with a streaming device. As for Android, the most prevalent operating system for streaming devices, is more than compatible with Kodi, but being the best Kodi platform.

As Android boxes vary in their compatibilities with Kodi and approaches in downloading files and installing apps, we've rounded up the most reliable routes to install Kodi on Android boxes.

In the following guide, I'll show you how to install Kodi on the Android boxes that meet at least one of the following requirements:

1. Your box supports, or has already installed with Google Play store.

2. Your box supports, or has already integrated with a web browser app. And the box can download from web pages and access downloads from its local storage.

3. Your Android box has a USB port and is competent to read data from a plugged-in USB drive.

Again, the implementation of Kodi installation lies on at least one support of the three aforementioned requirements.

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Method 1. Install Kodi from Google Play Store

If your device conveniently supports Google Play Store, you have it easy. That's the simplest way of installing Kodi on Android box.

· You can click on any steps that you find hard to follow to show the demonstration snapshot.

• Go to Google Play Store from the apps library on your TV box.

Go to Google Play Store

• Search for app Kodi on Google Play Store, select from the search result Kodi from XBMC Foundation.

Search for Kodi

• Click Install button to install Kodi.

Click Install button

• Click Open to run Kodi and Allow Kodi to access photos, media and files on your device for proper usage later.

Allow Kodi access

Prior to the following two methods, check the bit version of your Android box from Settings > System.

Most Android boxes these days are ARMV7A (32BIT) version while few are ARMV8A(64BIT) version.

Method 2. Install Kodi from the Web Browser on Android Box

If your device doesn't support Google Play Store, we can still install Kodi from official Kodi website using the web browser app on your device. This is known as sideloading and it requires you to go to Settings > Secruity > enable Unknown Sources installation on your device.

· You can click on any steps that you find hard to follow to show the demonstration snapshot.

• Open up the web browser app on your Android box.

Open web browser on Android box

• Copy & paste or type the following URL exactly into the address bar: https://kodi.tv/download to visit the official Kodi website. Scroll down and choose your weapon as Android.

Visit Kodi download page

• Download Kodi release version according to the bit version of your Android box. If a dialog pops up, click Download to start the download. There should be a downward arrow on the upper-left side of the interface suggesting the download is in process.

Download Kodi to Android box

• When the download is complete, move the cursor to the lower-right side and click on Install.

Install Kodi

• When the installation process complete, you can locate Kodi from your apps library. Click Open to run Kodi, Allow Kodi to access photos, media and files on your device for proper usage later.

Allow Kodi access

Method 3. Install Kodi on Android Box via USB Drive

If your device neither supports Google Play Store nor has any decent web browser installed, we can still install Kodi on it by sideloading Kodi from a USB flash drive.

• Use your computer to visit https://kodi.tv/download. Scroll down and choose your weapon as Android.

• Download Kodi release version according to the bit version of your Android box.

• Copy the downloaded Kodi installation APK file to a USB drive with enough capacity.

• Plug the USB drive into the USB port on your Android box.

• Browse file storage from your box. Install a file management app for this job if your device doesn't support doing so.

• Locate the Kodi installation package with the naming starts with Kodi, click to run the APK file to install Kodi.

• Kodi will be installed in a bit. Likewise, Allow Kodi to access photos, media and files on your device for proper usage later.

Wrap-up.

It's time to enjoy Kodi. Since Kodi doesn't do much without Kodi addons, you should learn How to add addon to Kodi to get started.

We advise you to steer clear of “fully-loaded Kodi boxes”, “fully-loaded Fire Sticks” and similar products. Learn more: Why Buying a Fully Loaded Kodi Box is a Bad Idea

Since there could be untrusted-sourced ones from the pre-installed addons or repos that can pose threats to your other addons, device and even your home network. The more addons/repos there is, the higher the risk. Learn more: Why Shouldn't You Install All-in-one Repositories on Kodi

Pre-installed Kodi builds or ready-configured Kodi versions can be risky for the same reason.

Meanwhile, we suggest you find yourself reliable installation choices on Kodi on your own from out trusted lists below:

Best Kodi Add-ons

Best Kodi Repositories

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Additional Reading: Kodi FAQs

· What Is Kodi?

A: Kodi is a free and open-source media player software application developed by the XBMC Foundation. Kodi features a sleek option buttons layout, easy to navigate GUI (Graphical User Interface), wide scope of video format supported, and smooth video playback performance and the specialty in serving as a media library for Kodi users to manage their media collection. The best part of Kodi is that the numerous versatile Kodi addons that capture online media streams, to provide users with gorgeous audiovisual content without cost.

· Is Kodi Legal?

Kodi is legal, using Kodi is legal, and using Kodi addons is also legal. Certain contents on Kodi addons, however, could be illicit when you stream them. So that we suggest you stream contents under the public domains only.

· What Are Kodi Addons? Why Do I Need Addons for Kodi?

A: For those who don't know, the official Kodi version doesn't provide any content whatsoever. Unofficial Kodi versions, however, are not recommended to use since they might bring you malware and other risks. To explore the full potential of Kodi on the official version, installing addons for Kodi is an essential process. Kodi addons will pull media resources from network streams to create a free connection between Kodi and online media resources, thus we Kodi users get to enjoy free movies, live TV, live sports, TV shows, etc. without cost.

· What Are Kodi Repositories?

A: Kodi repositories, Kodi repos in abbreviation, are containers like addon bundles that contain a set of featured addons. By installing a Kodi repository instead of individual Addons, the Addons are automatically updated when a new version is released. Kodi repositories come in the form of ZIP files or a source URL, and adding addons to Kodi is often based on the repo's installation.

· Can't understand the language of Kodi interface, or prefer another language instead of the default English?

A: Here you can learn how to change language in Kodi so that you can understand.

· I have some private media folders and add-ons that I don't want to be accessible by others, is there any way that I can encrypt Kodi?

A: Yes, here you can learn how to set a password for Kodi to protect your privacy.<

· What is the best maintenance addon on Kodi and how to install it?

A: Ares wizard is our highly recommended tool for Kodi maintenance, backup, tweaks. And it's perfectly working right now. Here you can learn how to install Ares Wizard for Kodi maintenance.

· My Kodi buffers a LOT during video playback, any fixes?

A: If there's nothing wrong with your network connection and bandwidth, and you're in no reason to be throttled by your Internet service provider, then Kodi buffering can very likely be boiled down to heavy cache. For smooth viewing enjoyment, learn how to clear Kodi cache in the simplest way, and this is also a possible fix to Failed to Install a Dependency Kodi issue.

· I received a message saying: “Couldn't retrieve directory information. This could be due to the network not being connected. Would you like to add it anyway?” when adding media source to Kodi, what gives?

A: The cause of that issue varies, here you can learn about some possible fixes for “Kodi unable to connect” error.

· Some of my Kodi addons are not working, how to remove them to free up my storage space?

A: The original repository or media source of installed addons will get blocked or shut down - happens all the time. To slim your Kodi, you should learn how to remove unnecessary and invalid addons.

· I once lost everything in my Kodi, don't want that happen again, any suggestion?

A: During the use of Kodi, we will inevitably run into a system crash or hardware failure and need to reinstall the system or Kodi. To avoid the loss of previously installed Kodi add-ons, customized settings and configuration, here's a great post for you to learn how to backup and restore Kodi.

· I've found a great addon on Github but I don't have its media source URL, how can I install it on Kodi from Github directly?

A: There's a practical addon called Git Browser that was developed for that, learn how to install Git Browser on Kodi.

· Suffering from playback issues like video buffering/stuttering, video can't play, video no sound, weird color display, etc. on Kodi default video player.

A: Find Kodi default media player somewhat unsatisfactory? Kodi can perfectly support almost any video player program as its external player, and adopting an external player for Kodi won't lose the marks on videos like “watched”. Learn from this guide on how to adopt an external media player for Kodi.

· I've encountered an error message saying "Check the log for more information" and I have no idea what's going on, what should I do?

A: That error occurs all the time when we use Kodi. Kodi log file can be used to analyze and find the problem for experienced users; and can also be uploaded to the Kodi official forum for help as required for general users, so as to facilitate those people or experts to locate specific error information and offer the most practical and accurate solution. On this page you'll learn how to check Kodi error log file on any device.

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