Want to turn a PC into a living-room media center for your films, music and photos? Kodi brings these media types together, with a library view for browsing and playback controls that work with keyboard shortcuts.
Organizing Kodi libraries
Add folders containing movies, TV shows, or music to Kodi’s library so those files can be browsed from its media interface. Movie entries can display artwork, cast, and genres; TV shows are arranged for finding episodes. Music collections include playlist features and party mixes.
Kodi also handles photos, with slideshow playback for viewing a collection on a larger screen. The library approach brings these media types into one place without changing the files themselves.
How does Kodi handle live TV?
Kodi’s PVR features provide an interface for watching and recording live television through supported backends. Examples include MediaPortal, MythTV, NextPVR, and Tvheadend.
Add-ons can extend Kodi with additional services and functions, while skins change the interface’s appearance and layout.
Playback and customization
Use keyboard shortcuts to control playback on the PC. Kodi also supports music and video in a broad range of formats, and its media features extend to games through emulators, standalone titles, and game-controller support.
For music beyond files in a library, Kodi can stream internet radio. Playback and the interface can also be controlled through a web browser or mobile phone.
Pros
- Movie libraries can show artwork, cast, and genre details
- Music playback includes playlists and party mixes
- Photo slideshows are designed for sharing on a large screen
- PVR can watch and record live TV through supported backends
Cons
- PVR live TV depends on a compatible backend, such as Tvheadend or NextPVR
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 32-bit and 64-bit · Minimum: x86 or x86-64 processor with SSE2 · Recommended: 1 GB RAM (dedicated HTPC); 2 GB RAM (multipurpose computer) · Minimum: 4–8 GB drive space
Can Kodi organize movie and TV collections?
Yes. Add media folders to the library to browse movies and TV shows; movie entries can include artwork, cast, and genre details.
Can Kodi record live TV?
Yes. Its PVR features support watching and recording live TV through compatible backends such as NextPVR or Tvheadend.
Can the Kodi interface be changed?
Yes. Install a skin to change the interface’s appearance, or add community extensions for additional features.