Note: If you want to install a Kodi build on Firestick, we recommend you choose one that’s designed for lower-powered devices.
Warning: Kodi should only be used for content to which you have the legal right to access. Neither the Kodi Foundation nor Comparitech advocates the use of Kodi for piracy.
Do not buy fully-loaded Firesticks!
Warning: Use a VPN with a Kodi Firestick
On top of that, anytime you stream content online through Kodi or otherwise, you risk exposing your personal streaming data to your ISP and others who may be sharing your network. You could even see your speeds reduced if your ISP decides you’re streaming too much.
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, can help mask your streaming activity and keep your personal information hidden from malicious Kodi addons. Additionally, thanks to a VPN’s encryption, your service provider won’t be able to tell if you’re streaming, torrenting, or just browsing the web, and will be less likely to throttle your connection.
How to install Kodi on Firestick
Before we begin, we need to allow the Fire TV to install apps from unknown sources.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
- Boot up your Fire TV and go to Settings > System
- Scroll down to Developer Options
- Toggle on Apps from unknown sources and confirm
Method #1: Download and install Kodi on Firestick and Fire TV with the Downloader App
While there are several ways to install Kodi on a Firestick this is by far the easiest. It doesn’t require a second device or a file explorer app. Instead, we’ll use the Downloader app to get Kodi directly from the official website. It works will all versions of the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, including first-generation models. (Note: first-generation Firesticks do not support VPN apps.)
- Boot up your Fire TV and use the Search box to find the Downloader app. As of time of writing it has an orange and white logo. You can also find it under Categories > Utilities
- Select the app with your remote and click the Get or Download button
- Downloader should automatically install, after which the Get or Download button will turn into an Open button. Click it
- In the URL field on the Downloader app, enter the direct download URL for Kodi. For a stock, stable ARM release of Kodi, copy and paste the download URL (it ends in “.apk”) from the official Kodi site.
- Double-check the URL is exactly correct and hit the download button
- Kodi will download and you’ll be prompted with an app installation menu. Select Install (note: the screenshot below depicts an update, not a fresh install, but the process is the same)
- Kodi is now installed. Select Done and back out to the main menu
- You can launch Kodi from the Apps section of the main Fire TV menu. Make sure to turn on your VPN first!
Method #2: Download and install Kodi on Firestick with ES File Explorer
If for some reason the Downloader app in method #1 doesn’t suit you, ES File Explorer is a tried-and-tested download that works in a similar manner.
Boot up your Fire TV and use the Search box to find the Downloader app. As of time of writing it has an orange and white logo. You can also find it under Categories > Utilities
Select the app with your remote and click the Get or Download button
Downloader should automatically install, after which the Get or Download button will turn into an Open button. Click it
In the URL field on the Downloader app, enter the direct download URL for Kodi. For a stock, stable ARM release of Kodi, copy and paste the download URL (it ends in “.apk”) from the official Kodi site.
Double-check the URL is exactly correct and hit the download button
Kodi will download and you’ll be prompted with an app installation menu. Select Install (note: the screenshot below depicts an update, not a fresh install, but the process is the same)
Boot up your Fire TV and use the search bar to find the ES File Explorer app. Make sure you are in the Apps and Games category
Select the app with your remote and click the Get or Download button
The app will automatically download and install. Click the Open button once it’s finished to launch ES File Explorer
Navigate to the Tools > Download Manager in the left sidebar of ES Explorer
Select the + New tab at the bottom of the screen
Input the direct download URL for Kodi into ES File Explorer. As of this time of writing, the latest stable ARM Android release of Kodi.
Double-check the URL is exactly correct. Name the file whatever you like, such as “Kodi”, and click the Download Now button
Once downloaded, you’ll see a prompt with two open options. Choose Open file and then Install on the following prompt
Kodi will download and you’ll be prompted with an app installation menu. Select Install
Kodi is now installed. Select Done and back out to the main menu
You can launch Kodi from the Apps section of the main Fire TV menu. Remember to turn on your VPN first!
If you prefer to get the latest version of Kodi from Google Play instead of a direct download APK, and you have another Android device with access to Google Play lying around, you can use Apps2Fire to install Kodi on your Fire TV.
- Boot up your Fire TV and from the home menu go to Settings > System > About > Network
- Jot down the IP address of your Fire TV device
- On your second Android device, download and install Apps2Fire from Google Play
- On the same Android device, download and install the latest version of Kodi from Google Play
- Launch the app and tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner
- Tap Setup
- Under IP address of your Fire TV, enter the IP address
- Tap Save
- Select the menu icon (three dots) again and select “Upload Apps”
- Tap Kodi under Local apps to upload it to your Fire TV
- The app should automatically install on your Fire TV
- You can launch Kodi from the Apps section of the main Fire TV menu. Make sure to turn on your VPN first!
How to update Kodi on Fire TV Stick
Updating to the latest version of Kodi on Fire TV Stick uses the exact same process as a fresh install with method #1 above. Just change the download URL to the latest version from the official Kodi website. When you are prompted to install the update, you’ll be shown any new permissions that Kodi asks for.
That being said, there are a couple of prerequisites to make sure everything goes smoothly.
- If you’re upgrading from an older major version of Kodi and not just an older minor version build, such as from Leia 18 to Matrix 19, we recommend a clean install. That means uninstalling the existing Kodi app before installing the new one. More on how to uninstall below.
- If you have a skin other than the original, we recommend switching back to the original skin first. Not all skins are compatible between different versions of Kodi, and updating with one in use could cause issues such as a black screen. The original skin is called “Confluence”.
How to install new Kodi addons
Now that Kodi is up and running on your device, you can use it to access content. Most content comes through addons, which you can download either directly from the official Kodi repository or third-party repositories. For example, you can get addons to watch BBC iPlayer, NFL Network, and Paramount+, among many others.
How you install an addon depends on whether the addon is from the official Kodi repository, a third-party repository, or a direct download. You can access and install all of them from the Add-ons menu in the left sidebar.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our list of the best legal Kodi addons.
How to uninstall Kodi on Fire TV Stick
If something goes wrong when installing or updating Kodi, or you want to perform a clean install, here’s how to uninstall Kodi on a Fire TV Stick:
- From the home screen, go to Settings > Applications > Manage installed applications
- Scroll down to and select Kodi
- Select Uninstall, and then Uninstall again to confirm
We preface all Firestick Kodi builds with this warning: While you will get some good, legal content and addons with a build, you may also download and install blacklisted addons as well. Kodi builds often come with a large number of addons pre-installed, and you cannot select which ones you receive. If the build has been around for a long time, it’s likely that some of the addons it contains will be broken too, so you’ll want to remove these.
A build can be useful by providing new and interesting features to Kodi, but you will need to do your due diligence to ensure you delete the unwanted piracy addons before you use it.
If you’ve already got Kodi for Firestick installed and want to try a new build, make sure you perform a fresh install first. Fire TV Sticks aren’t exactly powerful pieces of hardware, so you’ll want lightweight builds that won’t drag down performance. With that in mind, here are a few builds to consider.
