How to Update Kodi to Leia 18.9 on Fire TV Stick – Official Release Version, Easy Method

Updated on July 12, 2023

The stable version of Kodi, Leia 18.9 has been officially released. Updating Kodi to the latest version is a great idea to avoid potential issues/risks/bugs in previous versions. Follow the step-by-step guide, we'll get your Kodi updated to Leia 18.9 in no time.

Please note that any Kodi versions over Leia 18.9 are either unstable pre-release or come from third-party builds, which are not recommended to use for average users.

how-to-update-kodi-on-firestick

Content Table:

Part 1. Will Updates Reset Kodi?

Part 2. How to Update Kodi on Firestick

Part 3. How to Automatically Update Kodi on Firestick?

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. This list is still for Leia addons, if you're looking for Kodi 19 Matrix addons, see our Kodi 19 Matrix Release guide.

Part 1. Will Updates Reset Kodi?

You may wonder, will the update version keep your original settings?

Just like updating Kodi on Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox and other systems, overwriting the previous of version of Kodi from the same source will keep your add-ons, repos, builds, personal configuration and other settings perfectly intact, so you don't have to worry about any loss during the process.

I hope you pick up on that you've to make sure the installation package or APK file is from the same source.

For any existed or future version of Kodi, we advise you to opt to use the one and only trusted source, official Kodi website download page rather than some third-party file hosters, to download Kodi installation file.

If really worrying about data loss, here's a great post for you to learn about how to back up and restore Kodi.

Part 1. Step-by-step Guide on How to Install Kodi on Firestick

Image Credits to NO ISSUE from YouTube

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

Step 1. To update Kodi, first we need to set Firestick to allow app installation from outside of Amazon Appstore.

Go to Settings panel

Go to Settings panel

Click on My Fire TV

Click on My Fire TV

Click Developer options

Click Developer options

Switch on App from Unknown Sources
*For security issues, switch that back Off while not using this feature and only install apps from trusted sources.

Switch On App from Unknown Sources

Switch on ADB debugging
*For security issues, turn that back Off while not using Kodi.

Switch on ADB debugging

Step 2. Then we Install an app called Downloader from Amazon App store. It's a practical tool on Firestick that allows user to download files from the internet onto their devices. Skip that step if you already have it installed.

Click on the magnifying glass icon from the upper-left side of the interface

Click on the magnifying glass

Enter search string Downloader, and click on the one and only result

Search for Downloader

Click to enter Downloader app

Click to enter Downloader app

Click Download to download and install Downloader app

Install Downloader app on Firestick

Step 3. With Downloader app, we get to browse Kodi website from Firestick and properly download and update Kodi.

Click to launch Downloader app once installed

Launch Downloader app once installed

Click Allow to allow Downloader to access photos, media and files on your device when prompt

Allow Downloader's access when prompt

Click OK to skip the quick guide

Click OK to skip the guide

*We advise you use only the official source provided in the following to install & update Kodi.
Enter the URL exactly: http://www.kodi.tv/download and click Go.

Visit official Kodi website using Downloader app

Then you'll be led to the installation page on official Kodi website. Select Android icon and select ARMV7A (32BIT) Installation. ARMV8A (64BIT) version is not compatible on Fire TV devices.

Install Kodi on Firestick from official Kodi website

Wait for the download process

Click Install from the lower right side of the pop-up dialog to update Kodi

Click Install from the pop-up dialog

Kodi will be updated in a bit. Once installed, hit Open if you want to launch Kodi right away. Upon first run of the updated Kodi, we suggest you Allow Kodi to access photos, media and files on your device for the best performance. Time to check if your addons, builds and settings are nicely preserved!

Kodi media player installed

Part 3. How to Automatically Update Kodi on Firestick?

As a matter of fact, it is possible to automatically update Kodi on Firestick. It's doable, but implementing that requires the use of certain third-party addons and builds, which I rather not present here.

Why? These third-party addons and builds may not be reliable.

Users have suffered damages from the static update of add-ons (particularly the third-party ones) including add-on deletion, personal data loss and even home network security breach - that applies to Kodi version updates as well.

Any updates on Kodi come with new codes. Without knowing about the update which will potentially invite in malicious codes does no good but putting yourself at the mercy of third-party providers.

Always be crystal-clearly aware of what update is going on on your device, whether it's your addons, repos, builds or Kodi versions. And always manually update your Kodi.

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