Install Kodi from the Amazon Appstore
Kodi is not in the Amazon Appstore by default, so you need to sideload it — that means installing an app from outside Amazon's official store. The fastest route is to use Downloader, a free app that lets you paste a web address and install what you find there.
Open the Firestick home screen, go to the search icon at the top, and type "Downloader". Install it from the results. Once it opens, you will see a text field. Paste this address: https://kodi.tv/read. Downloader will show you the Android version. Select the latest stable release (the one without "beta" in the name), and it will read and install Kodi to your Firestick.
The whole process takes about five minutes. After installation finishes, Kodi will appear in your Firestick apps list and on the home screen.
Key Takeaways
- Kodi installs via Downloader, a free sideloading app, because Amazon does not carry Kodi in its official store.
- First-time setup requires you to choose a language, theme, and whether to enable remote access — all optional and changeable later.
- Adding media sources (folders where your videos, music, or photos live) is the step that makes Kodi useful; without sources, the app shows nothing to play.
- Firestick remotes work with Kodi, but a wireless keyboard or mouse makes navigation and text entry much faster.
- Kodi runs best on Firestick 4K or Fire TV Cube; older models may lag during playback or menu scrolling.
Complete the Initial Setup Wizard
When you open Kodi for the first time, a setup wizard appears. It walks you through language selection, skin (the visual theme), and a few basic settings. You do not have to finish it — you can skip any step and configure everything later from the Settings menu.
The most important choice is whether to enable remote access. If you plan to control Kodi from your phone or another device on your home network, enable it here. If you only use the Firestick remote, you can leave it off.
After the wizard, Kodi opens to an empty home screen. This is normal. Kodi shows nothing until you tell it where your media files are stored.
Add Your Media Sources
A media source is a folder or network location where Kodi looks for videos, music, or photos. Without sources, Kodi has nothing to display. You add sources through the Settings menu, and the path depends on where your files actually live.
If your files are on a USB drive plugged into the Firestick, go to Settings > Media > Videos > Add Videos. Select "Browse" and navigate to the USB drive. Kodi will remember this path and scan it for video files every time you open the app. Repeat this step for Music or Photos if you have those files too.
If your files are on a computer or network drive, you will need the network address (usually something like smb://192.168.1.100/Movies). Go to the same Settings menu, choose "Add Videos", select "Browse", and at the bottom of the folder list, choose "Add Network Location". Paste the address, and Kodi will connect to it. This requires your computer or network drive to have file sharing enabled — a setting you turn on in Windows, Mac, or your router.
After you add a source, Kodi scans it in the background. Depending on how many files you have, this can take a few minutes to an hour. Once the scan finishes, your videos, music, or photos appear in the Kodi library, organized by title, genre, or artist.
Configure Video Playback Settings
Kodi's default video settings work for most files, but you may need to adjust them if videos stutter, freeze, or play with wrong colors. These settings live in Settings > Player > Videos.
The most common adjustment is hardware acceleration. Firestick has a processor that can decode video faster than software alone. Enable it in Settings > System > Display > Video Output. This reduces stuttering on older Firestick models and 4K files.
If a video plays in the wrong aspect ratio (too stretched or too narrow), go to Settings > Player > Videos > Adjust Display Refresh Rate and set it to "On Start/Stop". This tells Kodi to match the video's frame rate, which fixes playback on some files.
For subtitles, go to Settings > Player > Subtitles and choose a font size and color. Kodi will use these defaults for any subtitle file it finds alongside your video.
Set Up Remote Control and Navigation
The Firestick remote works with Kodi out of the box, but text entry is slow — you have to press the remote buttons multiple times to spell out a word, like an old phone keypad. A wireless keyboard or wireless mouse makes navigation much faster and is worth buying if you plan to use Kodi regularly.
Most wireless keyboards and mice work with Firestick without extra setup. Plug the USB receiver into the Firestick's USB port (on Fire TV Cube) or into a powered USB hub connected to the power adapter. Kodi will recognize it when ready.
If you want to control Kodi from your phone, read the official Kodi Remote app (available for iPhone and Android). Go to Settings > Services > Control > Allow Remote Control and make sure it is enabled. The phone app will find your Firestick on the network automatically.
Manage Add-ons and Repositories
Kodi's core app plays local files, but add-ons extend it — they let you stream from online sources, play music from services, or customize the interface. Add-ons come from repositories, which are collections of add-ons that Kodi checks for updates.
To browse add-ons, go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from Repository. Kodi comes with the official Kodi Repository pre-installed. Select it, then choose a category (Video Add-ons, Music Add-ons, etc.). Browse the list, select an add-on, and choose "Install". Kodi downloads and installs it, and it appears in your home screen menu.
Be cautious with third-party repositories. Some contain add-ons that stream copyrighted content illegally. Stick to the official Kodi Repository or well-known repositories like the Kodi Add-on Repository if you are unsure.
After you install an add-on, you can customize its settings by going to Settings > Add-ons > My Add-ons, selecting the add-on, and choosing "Configure". Most add-ons let you set login credentials, video quality, or playback defaults.
Troubleshoot Common Problems
If Kodi crashes when you open it, the most common cause is a corrupted add-on. Go to Settings > Add-ons > My Add-ons, select the add-on you think is causing the problem, and choose "Uninstall". Restart Kodi. If it opens without crashing, you found the culprit.
If videos stutter or freeze, enable hardware acceleration (Settings > System > Display > Video Output) and reduce the number of background processes. Close other Firestick apps before playing video. Older Firestick models (Fire TV Stick 2nd Gen) struggle with 4K or high-bitrate files — if this is your model, lower the video quality in your media player settings or use a newer Firestick.
If Kodi cannot find your network drive, check that file sharing is enabled on the computer or device hosting the files. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Shared Experiences > Nearby Sharing and turn it on. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Sharing and enable File Sharing. Then restart Kodi and try adding the source again.
If the Firestick remote does not respond in Kodi, go to Settings > System > Input Devices > Remotes and make sure your remote is listed. If it is not, unplug the Firestick for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and try pairing the remote again by holding the Home button for 10 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid subscription to use Kodi?
No. Kodi itself is free and has no subscription. Some add-ons (like streaming services) may require you to log in with your own account, but Kodi does not charge you. The app is open-source and maintained by volunteers.
Can I watch live TV on Kodi with a Firestick?
Yes, if you have a TV tuner device connected to your network or a subscription to a live TV service. Kodi has a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) feature that works with compatible tuners. You can also install add-ons that stream live TV from online sources, though the legality varies by region and source.
What is the difference between Kodi skins?
Skins change how Kodi looks and how you navigate it. Some are straightforward and fast; others are visually detailed but slower on older hardware. You can switch skins anytime in Settings > Interface > Skin. Try a few to see which one you prefer — changing skins does not affect your media or settings.
Why does Kodi take a long time to scan my media?
Kodi reads every file in your source folder and extracts information like title, genre, and artwork. If you have thousands of files or they are on a slow network drive, this can take hours. You can speed it up by organizing files into subfolders by type (Movies, TV Shows, Music) so Kodi scans less at once.
Can I use Kodi on multiple Firesticks in my house?
Yes. Install Kodi on each Firestick separately using Downloader. If they all point to the same media source (a shared network drive), they will all see the same library. Kodi keeps watch history and settings separate on each device, so you can pause a show on one Firestick and resume it on another if you enable the MySQL database feature in Settings > Services > MySQL.