Kodi for Windows
Kodi is a media center that allows you to convert your Windows PC into a home theater system that takes up the whole screen. It can play your videos, music, and photos that are stored locally, and it is also capable of fetching content from network drives and streaming add-ons.
One of the most common uses of Kodi is to replace the cluttered media folders with a single clean and easy-to-access interface. It works as a regular Windows app, so you can always go back to the desktop if you want.
What Kodi feels like on a Windows PC
Rather than opening a typical windowed layout, Kodi will open directly into a media-focused screen. The menus remain large and extremely easy to read, which is a perfect solution for both monitors and TVs.
Mouse and keyboard support work quite well on Windows. There are a lot of people that also connect a remote or game controller to use Kodi as a living-room entertainment.
Turning folders into a library
When you finally give Kodi the location of your favorite movies and TV shows, it will not only scan for them but also create a beautiful library for you. Depending on how well the files are named, the system may even fetch posters, episode lists, and summaries to give you a complete experience.
This library would let you browse your collection in a flash instead of struggling through Windows Explorer. Searching for the genre you want, filtering the collection by year, even marking the watched titles is just a few clicks away.
Add-ons that extend what you can watch
Kodi is compatible with add-ons that integrate online video, live TV streams, and other services to the system. These are basically small apps running inside Kodi, which have their own user interfaces and content sources.
Not all add-ons are equal in terms of quality or legality. People tend to go for the most popular and trusted names in order to avoid the issues of broken links or unstable streams.
How Kodi handles playback
Kodi is able to play on Windows videos and audio in most common formats without requiring additional software. HD and even 4K content is no problem for the right hardware and will play without any stuttering.
You have control over the subtitles, audio track switching, and playback speed while watching the movie. Moreover, you can start watching from where you stopped, which is a great feature for long episodes or movies.
Custom skins and layouts
The default skin doesn’t look complicated but clean; however, Kodi can be deeply visually customized through skins. A skin is able to change the menus, colors, and even the way content is presented on the screen.
Some skins prefer minimalism while others replicate the atmosphere of the streaming apps. Your media or add-ons won’t be affected by switching between them.
Where Kodi fits in everyday use
If you are a person who has a lot of media stored on their Windows computer or a home network, then Kodi is just the right thing for you. Moreover, if you are looking for one place to combine and manage local files and online streams, this is the platform that will do the trick.
On the other hand, those that are used to getting their streaming services working straight out of the box may find that Kodi requires a bit of involvement on their part. It does, however, give back a more personalized media experience after you have put in some effort in the beginning.
Limits to keep in mind
Kodi itself does not offer its users built-in access to the biggest paid streaming platforms. These usually have to be accessed via separate apps or browsers.
Due to the fact that add-ons come from different repositories, their stability is something that varies. There could be times when you will have to do some quick fixes after a Windows update or add-on change.
Getting Kodi on Windows
Kodi is offered as a free download for Windows on the official project. Once installed, it will function like any other PC program and help you organize all your media in one place.
If you like the idea of having and managing a huge media library all by yourself, then Kodi is the tool that will give you the freedom and the flexibility of doing so right on your Windows PC.