How to Set Up Kodi on Apple TV: A Detailed Guide

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How to install Kodi on Apple TV

Setting up Kodi on Apple TV isn’t easy, but it can be worth the effort if you want to enjoy tons of content that’s otherwise unavailable on the App Store. Here’s how you can install Kodi on an Apple TV 4K:

1. Connect your Apple TV 4k to your Mac.
2. Create an app with the help of Xcode.
3. Use that app to install Kodi on your TV.

If you have an older type of Apple TV, it’s much easier to install Kodi. Would you like to know how you can do that? Or do you need some more specific instructions for installing Kodi on Apple TV 4K? Keep reading our article to find out the details.

Kodi is an open-source media player that can help you enjoy tons of movies, TV shows, and other content. It’s compatible with a lot of devices, like Windows, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and Apple TV.

However, installing Kodi on Apple TV isn’t as simple as installing it on any other device, because Apple doesn’t offer support for it. On top of that, Apple products are known for having a hermetic software environment. This article will explain how you can install Kodi on Apple TV, and how you can make the most of it.

Installing Kodi on an Apple TV 4 K

The newest iteration of the Apple TV (Apple TV 4 K) doesn’t have a USB port anymore, which in turn makes it harder to add third-party software to it. Using a Kodi on an Apple TV is still possible, but it requires more work than it would usually take to install Kodi.

The easiest and fastest method to install Kodi is to use a Mac and Xcode, Apple’s integrated development environment for macOS.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Download Kodi on your Mac.
2. Connect your Apple TV 4K to the Mac.
3. Launch Xcode on your Mac.
4. Create a new Xcode project. You will be asked to provide your Apple ID. If you have an Apple developer account, submit your Developer ID.
5. In the “Templates” tab, click on “tvOS” and then on “Single View Application“.
6. Set a name and a unique identifier.
7. Open the iOS App “Signer“.
8. In the “Input File” field, browse for the location of Kodi.
9. In the “App Display Name” type “Kodi” and press “Start“.
10. Go back to the main Xcode interface.
11. Click on “Window” and then “Device“.
12. Browse for your Apple TV and click on the plus sign next to it.

Once you do that, Xcode should install Kodi on your Apple TV. You’ll now see Kodi whenever you log into the Apple TV 4K interface.

When creating the project, you will be prompted to enter your Apple ID in the Xcode window. There are two types of these IDs: the regular one that anyone can get, and the Developer ID, which only software creators for the App Store can get from their Apple developer account. If you don’t have a Developer ID, you will need to go through this process again every week, as Xcode use is limited to regular Apple users.

Another important thing to note: Kodi 18 Leia, the previous iteration of Kodi, doesn’t seem to work with Apple TV 4K. You can read more about the problem in this Kodi forum thread, but if you want to stay on the safe side, just go through this process with Kodi 19 Matrix.

Installing Kodi On A Fourth Generation Apple TV

Not everyone has the Apple TV 4 K. In this case, having an older generation Apple TV actually works to your advantage. The process of installing Kodi will be simpler, since your TV has USB ports. The tutorial you’re about to read is made for a fourth generation Apple TV, since most people own that type of device. However, it should work for older Apple TVs as well.

The first thing you’ll need to do when installing Kodi on Apple TVs is get a USB C cable, so you can connect your Apple TV to any computer. Then you’ll simply have to follow these steps:

1. Connect your Apple TV to your computer. We recommend using a Windows PC, as it works better with the software you’ll need in this tutorial. If you use a Mac, remember to have iTunes installed and connected, as it’s a requirement for the tools to work.
2. Download Kodi on your PC or Mac.
3. Download the Cydia Impactor on your PC or Mac. This is a tool used to circumvent Apple restrictions on devices communicating with each other.
4. Transfer the “impactor.zip” file on your PC.
5. Open Cydia Impactor and make sure it detects your Apple TV.
6. Open the “Kodi.zip” file with the Cydia impactor.
7. Input your Apple ID when prompted.
8. Wait for the installation to complete.

Once that’s done, you should see a Kodi app on your Apple TV interface, which you can then open to enjoy all the content Kodi offers.

Kodi’s Entertainment Options

As an open-source streaming platform, Kodi has a lot of entertainment options. For example, you can use it to stream content from your favorite platforms like Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max with ease.

You can also use it to enjoy subscription-free entertainment platforms, like YouTube and Twitch. All of these platforms and apps are already available on your Apple TV without Kodi, however, so you might be wondering why you’d go through the trouble of installing this extra app in the first place.

Some people use Kodi because it offers add-ons that allow you to stream TV shows and movies for free. However, most of these add-ons don’t respect copyright laws and essentially allow users illegal access. That’s why we highly advise against this use of Kodi.

That doesn’t mean Kodi’s all bad, however. You can also use Kodi to access completely legal platforms that would otherwise be harder to enjoy on an Apple TV, such as:

• 9GAG
• Soundcloud
• USTVNow

Combine this with the fact that the app will allow you to gather all of your streaming services neatly in one place, and there’s a pretty strong case for anyone to want to add Kodi to their Apple TV.

How do I install add-ons on Kodi?

The easiest way to get add-ons on Kodi is to access Kodi’s own repository of apps. This repository is readily available from Kodi’s interface and features most of the popular add-ons we mentioned before. Here’s how you can install apps from that repository:

1. Click on add-ons in the left sidebar:
   
2. Select “Install from repository“.
3. Choose the category you want to install that add-on from (PVR, Audio, Games, etc.).
4. Browse to find the add-on you want and press install.

However, that’s not the only way you can add new apps to your Kodi. You can also browse third party repositories, like the SuperRepo. The bottom line is that Kodi is flexible, since it’s completely open-source. This means that you get access to a ton of independently developed content and apps that wouldn’t otherwise be available on Apple TV.

If you’re looking for any kind of platform to access through your Apple TV, you can always try Googling its Kodi app. Chances are, someone has made one. Before you download anything, however, always make sure the app is safe. Only download add-ons from reputable sources (like GitHub for example), and check the reviews before installing, to make sure you don’t accidentally download any malware.

Making the Most of Kodi

If you want to access even more content on Kodi, you’ll need a VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) will change your IP address, unblocking regionally restricted content on all sorts of streaming platforms.

In practice, this means that you’ll be able to watch your favorite show on HULU with a VPN, even if it’s not available in your country. You’ll be able to access Peacock, even if the platform hasn’t been released in your region yet. A VPN allows you to enjoy more content with Kodi on your Apple TV. Moreover, this encrypted connection offers enhanced security when browsing the internet. This is extremely important for your (online) safety, especially if you plan on downloading a lot of Kodi add-ons.

We recommend subscribing to ExpressVPN before installing Kodi on your Apple TV. It’s a reliable VPN, with dedicated features for streaming, high-grade encryption, and a lot of servers so you can change your virtual location to whatever country you want.

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If ExpressVPN isn’t right for you, make sure to read our article on the best VPNs for Kodi for some excellent alternatives.

Apple and Kodi: a Word of Caution

Apple is pretty strict when it comes to the content they allow on their platforms, and Kodi isn’t their favorite app. In fact, although having been extremely popular for years now, Kodi has never been available on the App Store. That’s because some people use Kodi to access copyrighted content without the creator’s approval. Of course, it makes sense for Apple to try and keep the amount of piracy on their devices to a minimum.

However, Kodi can be used for countless legitimate entertainment purposes as well. There’s nothing wrong with installing Kodi on Apple TV.  You can use it to browse memes on 9GAG or catch up on the latest news on platforms that aren’t available in the App Store, for example. Moreover, Kodi is an excellent and perfectly legal way to improve your home entertainment experience with its well-made video player. In short, Kodi has many uses. We strongly urge you to only use Kodi to access content legally.

Final Thoughts

Kodi is a wonderful app that lets you enjoy terabytes of content from a lot of sources. If you install Kodi on Apple TV, you’ll also be able to gather all of your favorite streaming platforms in one place. Would you like to find out more about using Kodi or Apple TVs? Check our streaming section. There, you’ll also find other articles to enhance your home entertainment, such as:

• How to Watch Peacock TV
• Roku vs Amazon Fire Stick
• Flixtor: Is it Safe and Should You Use it?
• Netflix Streaming on Kodi