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How to Download and Install Zip Files for Kodi to a Firestick. First you will need to know the address of the zip file you wish to install. In guides on this site and others you will see links that say download and save the zip file to install this add-on/repo. HOW-TO:Install add-ons from zip files. From Official Kodi Wiki. How to install an add-on that is not in the Kodi.tv repository using an add-on zip file. Kodi is available for multiple operating-systems and hardware platforms, featuring a 10-foot user interface for use with televisions and remote controls. It allows users to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media and the internet.
This method is aimed at people who don't have computers. I do get some people who don't have computer access so this method is something that can be done without a computer. I will add a guide for using adbLink too.
If you have a 2nd gen Fire Stick or a 1st or 2nd gen Fire TV and a VPN account you can now install their VPN client on your Fire Stick/Fire TV using this guide (The guide has shows how to install IPVanish or PIA but if you know what you are doing you should be able to do it with any other VPN as long as you know a url to access the Android apk of your VPN provider)
I know a lot of people who visit this site use Firesticks and some of the posts I do involve installing a zip file rather than adding source URLs to the Kodi File Manager. So I thought a guide for installing zip files using ES File Explorer would be good.
Installing ES File Explorer is necessary but once installed you will not need to do it again so the guide is in 2 sections: Installing ES; Downloading and Installing zips.
To Install ES File Explorer on FireStick
- Select Settings
- Select System
- Select Developer Options
- Select Apps from Unknown Sources and turn ON
- You will now see a warning message regarding unknown sources. Select OK you can turn off unknown sources later but we need it on to install Kodi
- Go back to your FireStick Home Screen
- Select Search & start typing ES File Explorer
- Select ES File Explorer when the application appears
- Select Free
ES File Explorer will now install. That is the 1st step complete. We can now move on to downloading and installing zip files to your Firestick
Before we start you need to know the url of the zip you wish to download. For this example I am going to use the TKNorris Beta Testing repo zip. The URL for is pretty long and would be a pain putting into the Firestick so what I have done is used the URL shortener website bit.ly which made the url http://bit.ly/1lOcMRs which I recommend if you don't want to have to add long URLs
- Open ES File Explorer
- Select Favourite when ES File Explorer opens
- Select Add
- Select Path
- Type in the url of the zip file you are trying to install. I will use the bit.ly address I created for the TKNorris repo & select Next
- Add a name for the zip file & select Next. I will use tkrepo for this example
- Select Add
- You should now have a bookmark in your Favourites with the name you chose. Select it
- The zip will now download and tell you the location of the download (which will always be the Download directory on your Firestick)
- DO NOT select Open Folder or Open File just press the Home button on your Firestick and launch Kodi (which can now be found under - Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications) and select SYSTEM
- Select Add-Ons
- Select Install from zip file
- Select External Storage
- Select Download
- Select the zip file you just downloaded
- Wait for Add-on enabled notification
The file is now installed on your Firestick.
You can delete the bookmark from ES File Explorer Favourites by long pressing on it with the middle button on your Firestick remote and selecting remove or keep it there if it is a zip file you may want to download again.
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If you are using an older Kodi version (latest as on date is 18.3 Leia) on your Fire TV / Stick, this guide is for you. I will show you how to update Kodi on FireStick or Fire TV without using a computer. The process is quite simple, however, you need to follow the steps carefully as mentioned in the guide so that you do not encounter errors at a later stage.
If you are a new user and haven’t installed Kodi yet, let me tell you it is one of the best Amazon Fire Stick apps that you can install on your device. Follow this guide to learn how to install Kodi on FireStick.
With the method covered in this article, you will learn how to update Kodi on Fire TV without losing any existing Add-ons or Builds. We will use the ES File Explorer app to update the Kodi app. ES file explorer is a free app and is easily available via the Amazon App Store. You can download and install it using the FireStick search option. If you have downloader app on your FireStick, you can use that too.
Note: If you are facing buffering problems on your Kodi, there are chances that it will be fixed with the new update. However, you can also check out our guide on Kodi buffering issues.
In this guide, I will use Amazon FireStick with Alexa voice Remote to show the update steps. Before you proceed for updating Kodi on your Fire TV / Stick, read the important instructions below.
Important #1 If you want to upgrade your Kodi version from Jarvis to Krypton or Krypton to Leia, you might want to consider a clean install instead of an update. Several users have reported that they are encountering issues after updating Kodi 16.X to Kodi 17.X. Obviously, an upgrade from Jarvis to Krypton or Krypton to Leia is a major one and some files might not be installed properly in the update process. In this case, I would suggest you follow the below steps.
Important #2 If you are upgrading any version of Kodi 17 Krypton to Kodi 17.6 Krypton, or Kodi 18.1/18.2 to Kodi 18.3, the update guide will work fine for you. For example, you can update Kodi 17.4 to Kodi 17.6 Krypton on your Fire TV without facing any errors. Also, you will not lose any data such as Add-ons/Builds or Skins that you are currently using.
After clicking on the zip file, the user finds the DNA Kodi named choice. They have to click on it. They have to click on it. You have to choose repo folder from the available options. Kodi dna zip file download.
Important #3 If you are upgrading from Kodi 16 / 17 to Kodi 18.3 Leia, I strongly suggest switching your skin to default Kodi skin that is “Estuary.” If the skin you are currently using doesn’t support Kodi 17, you will see only a Black Screen and will have no fixes except a complete reinstall of Kodi app.
To switch to default Kodi skin, go to Settings > Interface Settings > Skin. Here you will see all your Kodi skins. Simply switch to Estuary. You can also select “Confluence” or “Estouchy” as they also support Kodi 17.6 and 18.3.
How to Update Kodi on FireStick / Fire TV
Now that you know all the important points to keep in mind before updating Kodi on your FireStick with Alexa voice remote, let’s proceed with the steps. Don’t worry, no computer required ?
Attention FireStick Users: Read before you continue
Governments and ISPs across the world monitor their users' online activities. If found streaming copyrighted content on your Fire TV Stick, you could get into serious trouble. Currently, your IP is visible to everyone. I strongly recommend you to get the best FireStick VPN and hide your identity so that your movie viewing experience doesn’t take a bad turn.
I use ExpressVPN which is the fastest and most secure VPN in the industry. It is very easy to install on any device including Amazon Fire TV Stick. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't like their service, you can always ask for a refund. ExpressVPN also has a special deal where you can get 3 months free and save 49% on annual plan.
Read: How to Install and Use Best VPN for FireStick
Step 1: Prepare FireStick for Kodi Update
#1. Go to Fire Stick “Settings > Device > Developer Options. There you should see “Unknown Sources.” Make sure that this option in Turned ON.
#2. Go back to Settings > Preferences > Privacy Settings > Collect App Usage Data. Now turn OFF “Collect App Usage Data.”
Step 2: Download Kodi Update on Fire TV Stick
The latest update available on the date is Kodi 18.3 Leia. So, we will download the updated app on your Amazon Fire Stick device.
#1. Go to Fire Stick Search menu and type “ES File Explorer” and click on the name when it appears in the search suggestions.
#2. Follow the onscreen instructions to download & install “ES File Explorer.” Once it is installed, open it.
#3. On the right side, you will see some icons. Scroll down and open ‘Downloader’.
after clicking the Downloader icon above, click ‘+New’
#4. A pop-up box will open. Enter “Path” URL as https://www.firesticktricks.com/kapk and type “kodi18” in the “Name” box. Now click “Download Now”
Step 3: Update Kodi 18.3 Leia on FireStick / Fire TV
Now that we have downloaded latest Kodi 18.3 update file on your FireStick. Let’s start with the final step of installing new Kodi update on FireStick.
#1. Once the update file is downloaded, click “Open File”
#2. Select “Install”
#3. You should see the installation screen with a message “Do you want to install an update to this existing application? Your data will not be lost”. Click “Install”
#4. Congratulations! The Kodi app on Fire TV Stick has been updated to the latest version 18.3. To verify the new update, launch Kodi, go to Settings > System Info and see the Kodi version on the right bottom of your display.
How to Use Kodi on Fire Stick Safely
If you are not using a FireStick VPN, I would like to warn you that everything you stream on Kodi is visible to your ISP and Government. This means, streaming copyrighted content (free movies, TV shows, Sports) might get you into legal trouble.
I always connect ExpressVPN on my FireStick, which is the fastest VPN for streaming. I suggest you do the same. A good VPN for Fire Stick helps you bypass Online Surveillance, ISP throttling, and content geo-restrictions.
We do not encourage the violation of the copyright laws. But, what if you end up streaming content from an illegitimate source unintentionally? It is not always easy to tell the difference between a legit and illegal source.
So, before you stream any content on FireStick with Kodi, let’s see how to use ExpressVPN to keep your streaming activities hidden from prying eyes.
Step 1: Get ExpressVPN HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Meaning, you can use it freely for the first 30-days and if you are not satisfied with the performance (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for the full refund.
Step 2: On your Fire TV / Stick, go to the “Search” option on the extreme left. Type “Expressvpn” (without quotes) in the search bar and select ExpressVPN when it shows up in the search results
Step 3: Click the “Download” button to install the ExpressVPN app for Fire TV / Stick.
Step 4: Open the app and enter your login credentials which you created while buying the ExpressVPN subscription. Click “Sign in”
Step 5: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That’s all. Your connection is now secure with the fastest and best VPN for FireStick.
You can also read more about using ExpressVPN with Fire TV / Stick.
Mp3 streams kodi download music. MP3 Streams is a Kodi Music addon with a lots of available feeds. Need a good VPN to use with Kodi that has no logs, unlimited bandwidth, and worldwide servers, it has multiple worldwide high speed servers with no throttling or logs. Sections can be searched for by artist, top albums, new albums, compilations, billboard charts, and much more.
Video Guide: How to Update Kodi on FireStick
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Update Kodi 17.6 Krypton on Fire Stick
Even though it has been a while since Kodi 18 Leia stable version was released, some users like to continue using Kodi 17.6 Krypton. The current stable version of Kodi is Kodi 18.3 Leia. However, if you wish to use Kodi 17.6 instead, here are the installation instructions for you.
Update Kodi 17.6 Using ES File Explorer
The first thing you want to do is install ES File Explorer on FireStick. Here is how you can do that:
- From the Kodi home-screen, select the search function on the top left (it is the search icon)
- Now, type in ES File Explorer
- Click ES File Explorer in the search results below
- Click the ES File Explorer icon on the next screen
- Now, click the ‘Download’ button to download and install the app
Now that you have ES File Explorer, follow the steps below to get Kodi 17.6 Krypton on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
1. Once the app is installed, run ES File Explorer and go to the right part of the window. Select and open the ‘Downloader’ icon. Next, click ‘+New’
How To Delete Kodi Files
2. In the ‘Path’ field enter the URL https://www.firesticktricks.com/old and enter Kodi17.6 (or any name you like) in the ‘Name’ field. Now, click ‘Download Now’
3. When the file has downloaded, click ‘Open file’
4. When you see the following prompt, click the ‘Install’ button to proceed
5. You will see another prompt on which you need to click ‘Install’ button one more time.
6. Wait for the app installed notification to appear
7. Now, go to your ‘Apps & Channels’ section and run Kodi 17.6 Krypton.
How to Update Kodi 18.3 Using Downloader App
You may also sideload and update Kodi Leia 18.3 on FireStick using the Downloader App.
Simply install the Downloader app and follow these quick steps below:
- Launch Downloader app
- Make sure the ‘Home’ option on the left panel is selected
- Enter this URL firesticktricks.com/kapk in the URL field on the right
- Click the ‘Go’ button to proceed
- Wait for Kodi APK file to download
- Select “Install”
- Wait for a few seconds while Kodi installs on your device
- Click “Open”
- That’s all. You have the latest Kodi update on your Fire Stick / Fire TV.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions as shown in the ES File Explorer method above and install Kodi Leia on FireStick.
Kodi Update Failed on FireStick?
If the above method to update your Kodi app isn’t working or if you are upgrading Kodi version 16/17 to version 18.3 (Leia), follow the steps below. In this method, we will go for a clean install and your existing data will be lost.
Step 1:Uninstall Kodi from Fire TV Stick
First of all, we need to uninstall the current version of Kodi from your Fire TV Stick. Follow the steps below.
#1. Go to Fire Stick Settings and open “Applications”
#2. Open “Manage Installed Applications”
#3. Navigate “Kodi” and click it.
#4. Click “Force Stop” to ensure that Kodi is not running in the background.
#5. Now click “Uninstall”
Step 2:Reinstall Kodi App on Fire TV Stick
Now that you have removed Kodi from your Fire TV/Stick. We will reinstall Kodi 18.3 Leia which is the latest stable release as on date. The steps are similar to the update method as shown above, however, you can also follow this link to check several other ways to install Kodi 18.3 Leia on Fire TV Stick.
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