How to Install Kodi on Firestick: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Kodi is one of the most powerful open-source media players available, and the Amazon Firestick is one of the most affordable ways to get it running on your TV. The combination is popular — but installing Kodi on a Firestick isn't as straightforward as downloading an app from the Amazon Appstore. It requires sideloading, a process that involves enabling settings Amazon keeps turned off by default.
Here's exactly how that works, what to expect at each stage, and what factors determine how smooth — or complicated — your experience will be.
What Is Sideloading and Why Is It Required?
Kodi isn't listed in the Amazon Appstore. Amazon curates its store, and Kodi — because it can play virtually any media file or stream from almost any source — falls outside what Amazon officially distributes. That doesn't make Kodi illegal. It's free, open-source software maintained by the XBMC Foundation.
Sideloading means installing an app from outside the official store. Android devices (and Firestick runs a modified version of Android) allow this when you enable the right settings. Amazon includes this capability, but it requires a few deliberate steps to unlock.
Step 1: Enable Apps from Unknown Sources
Before installing anything, you need to tell your Firestick that you're aware you're installing software from outside the Amazon ecosystem.
- Go to Settings from the Firestick home screen
- Select My Fire TV (or Device on older models)
- Choose Developer Options
- Toggle Apps from Unknown Sources to ON
You'll see a warning message. This is standard — Amazon wants users to make an informed choice. Confirm that you understand the risk and proceed.
On Fire TV OS 7 and later, the setting may also appear as Install Unknown Apps, which applies permissions on a per-app basis rather than system-wide. If you see this version, you'll need to enable it specifically for whichever app you use to download Kodi.
Step 2: Install the Downloader App
The Firestick doesn't have a built-in browser capable of downloading and installing APK files easily. The standard method is to use Downloader — a free app available directly in the Amazon Appstore that acts as a simple browser and file manager.
Search "Downloader" in the Appstore, install it, and open it. The first time you launch it, it may ask for permission to install APKs — allow this.
If you're on a newer Fire TV OS where unknown app permissions are per-app, go back to Settings > Developer Options > Install Unknown Apps and make sure Downloader is set to ON.
Step 3: Download the Kodi APK
Inside the Downloader app, use the URL bar to navigate directly to Kodi's official download page:
kodi.tv/download
From there:
- Select Android as the platform
- Choose the correct architecture for your device — most Firestick models use ARM (32-bit) or ARM64 (64-bit) 🔍
- Download the APK file
Getting the architecture right matters. Installing the wrong version may cause Kodi to crash on launch or refuse to install entirely.
| Firestick Model | Recommended Architecture |
|---|---|
| Firestick 4K / 4K Max | ARM64 (64-bit) |
| Firestick HD (3rd gen+) | ARM64 (64-bit) |
| Older Firestick / Fire TV Stick (1st/2nd gen) | ARM (32-bit) |
If you're unsure, check your Firestick model under Settings > My Fire TV > About.
Step 4: Install Kodi
Once the APK downloads, Downloader will prompt you to install it automatically. Tap Install and wait — the process usually takes under a minute.
After installation, you can either open Kodi directly or return to the Downloader app and delete the APK file to free up storage. Keeping the APK has no benefit once Kodi is installed.
Step 5: Find Kodi on Your Firestick
Kodi won't appear on the main home screen by default. To access it easily:
- Go to Your Apps & Channels
- Find Kodi in the list
- Hold the select button and choose Move to Front or pin it to your home screen
Alternatively, use Alexa voice search — just say "Open Kodi" and it should launch once installed.
Variables That Affect Your Experience
Installation is generally consistent across devices, but what happens after installation varies significantly based on a few key factors:
Storage space. Firestick models ship with 8GB of internal storage, and Kodi plus its add-ons, databases, and thumbnails can consume a meaningful portion of that. Devices already crowded with apps may struggle. 💾
Fire TV OS version. Amazon updates the Firestick OS periodically, and these updates occasionally change where developer settings live or how unknown app permissions work. If a step doesn't match exactly, the setting likely exists under a slightly different menu path.
Kodi version compatibility. Kodi releases major versions (like Kodi 20 "Nexus" or Kodi 21 "Omega") that sometimes drop support for older Android versions. If your Firestick is running an older Fire OS, the latest Kodi version may not install correctly — an older stable Kodi release would be the better option.
Add-ons and builds. Kodi itself is just a media player framework. What you do with it — which add-ons you install, whether you use a custom build, what media sources you connect — determines the actual performance and reliability you experience. A clean install with well-maintained add-ons behaves very differently from a heavily customized build.
Network speed. If you're planning to stream media through Kodi rather than play local files, your home network's speed and your router's distance from the Firestick will shape the experience considerably more than the installation process itself.
The installation steps are standard — but whether Kodi becomes a genuinely useful part of your setup depends almost entirely on how you configure it and what your specific media needs actually are.