Kodi is an extremely popular, free, open-source entertainment center app that is highly customizable and easy to use. Kodi prides itself on running on just about anything, but if you have a Samsung Smart TV, you’re likely having trouble downloading it directly onto your TV. This is because Samsung doesn’t run on an Android OS.
Unlike many other Smart TVs on the market, Samsung runs on Tizen OS, which isn’t compatible with Kodi. Hence, it’s impossible to download Kodi onto your Samsung Smart TV directly.
Thankfully, there are simple ways around this. You can use various casting devices and TV boxes like Chromecast, Roku, Android TV Box, and Amazon Fire Stick, or gaming devices—like Xbox and PlayStation—to run Kodi on your Samsung Smart TV.
In this article, we’ll walk you through 4 different methods using 4 devices so you can run Kodi on your Samsung Smart TV.
Method #1: Chromecast
Our first solution is using a Google Chromecast device. Chromecast is a small device that you plug into your TV’s HDMI port and is probably the most popular device of its kind. It works by allowing you to mirror other devices onto your TV. Once you’ve set the device up, you can stream Kodi to your TV through another device, like a phone, tablet, or computer.
Follow these simple steps to set up Chromecast on your Samsung TV and stream Kodi.
- Plug the device into your TV and connect it to another device, like a phone, tablet, or computer. For tablets and phones, you’ll have to download and install the Google Home app onto the device and follow the steps to connect the devices. For computers, you can enable casting on Google Chrome in the settings menu.
- Install Kodi on your device. For tablets and phones, you can download the Kodi app in the Google Play Store or most other app stores. For computers, you can download the app directly on Kodi’s website.
- Open the Kodi app on your device and cast your screen.
Method #2: Roku
If you’d rather not use Chromecast, another great option is Roku. Roku offers a wide range of models to fit different budgets and needs and can be a more accessible option. Roku is also strong in free content and has its own channel, The Roku Channel. Like Chromecast, it allows you to mirror other devices onto your TV.
Follow these steps to set up Roku and use it to stream Kodi on your Samsung Smart TV.
- Download Kodi on your device. For tablets and phones, you can find Kodi on the Google Play Store. For computers, go to the Kodi website and download the app.
- Enable screen mirroring on your Roku device. Go to Settings > “System” menu, and enable the “Screen Mirroring” tab.
- Download a screen mirroring app onto your device.
- Open Kodi the Kodi app on your device and cast your screen.
Method #3: Android TV Box
There are many different Android TV boxes on the market from different manufacturers, but they are generally more expensive than Chromecast and similar casting devices.
Unlike Chromecast or Roku, an Android TV Box doesn’t work by mirroring content onto the TV. It is a set-top device (and comes with a physical remote), has its own user interface, and runs on an Android OS.
This makes Android TV Boxes the most accessible method on this list. All you have to do is set up the Android TV Box on your Samsung Smart TV and find the Kodi app on the Android app store. Once you’ve installed the Kodi app, you’re all set to watch your chosen media.
Method #4: Xbox One and Later Versions
You’re in luck if you’re a gamer and use Xbox One or any later versions. Many people use their video game consoles not only as gaming devices but also as a way to make their TVs smart, as you can download all sorts of different apps through their app stores. Kodi, thankfully, is available on the Windows App Store, which Xbox uses.
So, it’s simple: download the Kodi app through the Windows App Store and start streaming.
Note that this is a good option for people who already own and use Xbox. If you want to buy a device specifically to stream Kodi on your Samsung Smart TV, Xbox is probably the most expensive on this list.
What About Amazon Fire Stick and PlayStation?
Though it’s possible to run Kodi on your Samsung Smart TV using Amazon Fire Stick and PlayStation, the process is slightly more complicated than the other methods covered in this article because neither Amazon nor PlayStation has the Kodi app in their respective app stores.
Kodi offers a step-by-step how-to for installing the app on Fire TV at https://kodi.wiki/view/HOW-TO:Install_Kodi_on_Fire_TV.
For PlayStation, you have to go through a third-party app called “Plex“, another media streamer you can use to install Kodi on PS4. Kodi offers further instructions at https://kodi.onl/ps4/.
Conclusion
Although Samsung Smart TV doesn’t offer an app for Kodi in its app store, we’ve shown in this article that there are several ways around this inconvenience. By using either casting devices, tv boxes, or gaming devices, you can run Kodi on your Samsung Smart TV.
