How to Install Kodi on a Samsung TV: Easiest Methods in 2025 by Raven Wu
Raven Wu
Updated on: March 6, 2025
Fact-checked by Kate Davidson
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Install Kodi on a Samsung TV:
- Install Kodi on your streaming device. The installation process will vary depending on your streaming device.
- Set up your streaming device. Connect your streaming device to an HDMI port on your Samsung TV.
- Launch Kodi, configure it, & start streaming. That’s it! You can now stream and organize your media through Kodi on your Samsung TV.
You can’t install Kodi directly onto Samsung TVs because they run on Tizen OS, which isn’t compatible with Kodi. But don’t worry — there are some simple workarounds for this.
This article covers 3 alternative methods to use Kodi on a Samsung TV, including using a streaming device, casting or mirroring from another device, and using an HDMI connection. Each option comes with step-by-step guides to make the setup process quick and easy.
Pro Tip: I recommend getting a good VPN (like ExpressVPN) to use with Kodi. A VPN encrypts your Kodi traffic, so nobody can see what you’re watching. This also prevents your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from throttling your speeds when you stream.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Install Kodi on a Samsung TV
Below are step-by-step guides for the 3 main ways to install Kodi on a Samsung TV. I recommend installing Kodi on an external streaming device, like a Fire Stick or an Android TV Box, and then connecting it to your Samsung TV, as this offers the best performance and is a simple, set-it-and-forget-it solution.
Another option is casting or mirroring from a Kodi-compatible device such as Chromecast or Roku. Casting sends a video stream from your phone, tablet, or PC to your TV, and mirroring duplicates your device’s entire screen on the TV. The downside of this method is that the stream quality will depend heavily on your connection. It also means the device you’re using to cast or mirror isn’t available for any other use.
Finally, you can install Kodi on a laptop or PC and connect it to your Samsung TV via an HDMI cable. This method can be a hassle to manage though, unless you have a spare laptop that you can dedicate to the task.
Using a Streaming Device
- Choose a compatible streaming device. Kodi can be installed on various streaming devices, including an Amazon Fire TV Stick or an Android TV Box. Using a Raspberry Pi with LibreELEC is also an option if you have the technical knowledge.
- Install Kodi on the device. The installation process will differ depending on the streaming device. For example, on an Android TV Box, all you have to do is go to the Google Play Store and search for Kodi. But installing Kodi on a Fire TV Stick requires you to use the Downloader app in the Amazon App Store.
- Plug in the streaming device. Connect your streaming device to an HDMI port on your Samsung TV, change the Source/Input on your TV to the HDMI port where your device is connected, and that’s it! You can now launch Kodi, configure its settings, and install add-ons for streaming.
Casting or Mirroring from Another Device
- Set up Kodi. Install Kodi on the device you want to cast or mirror from.
- Ensure your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi. The device with Kodi that you want to cast or mirror from should be connected to the same network as your Samsung TV.
- Enable casting or screen mirroring. This step may not be necessary if you’re using a Chromecast device or a Samsung TV with Chromecast built in. If you’re using something like Roku, though, you’ll need to go into its settings menu and allow screen mirroring.
- Cast or mirror your device’s screen. The process will vary depending on the device you’re using. For example, on a Windows PC using Google Chrome, you’ll need to select the three-dot menu in the top right corner of your browser, select Cast, and then choose Cast Desktop.
- Start watching Kodi on your Samsung TV. That’s it! You can now control Kodi on your phone, tablet, or PC, and it will show up on your Samsung TV.
Use an HDMI Connection
- Set up Kodi. Install Kodi onto your PC or laptop.
- Connect your PC or laptop to your Samsung TV. Use an HDMI cable to connect your computer’s HDMI output to your TV’s HDMI input.
- Select the correct input on your Samsung TV. Turn on your Samsung TV and switch to the correct HDMI input using the TV remote.
- Launch Kodi & start streaming. That’s it! You can now control Kodi and play your media on the connected PC or laptop, and it will appear on your Samsung TV.
Is It Safe to Install Kodi on a Samsung TV?
Kodi itself is legal and safe and is completely fine to install on your Samsung TV. But some third-party add-ons can be dangerous. They might contain malware or provide illegal access to copyrighted content. Some add-ons on Kodi also source their content through torrents. When you stream something from a torrent-based add-on, your IP address is visible to other users who are uploading or downloading parts of the file, which exposes you to bad actors.
To stay safe when using Kodi on your Samsung TV, install add-ons only from trusted sources, such as Kodi’s official repository or reputable third-party developers with a good track record. I also highly recommend getting a good VPN (like ExpressVPN). A VPN encrypts your data, which makes your Kodi activity unreadable to others, so nobody can see what you’re streaming.
This also prevents your ISP from throttling your speeds since they won’t be able to tell when you’re streaming. Additionally, a VPN hides your IP address behind an IP address belonging to the provider, so you can remain anonymous when using torrent-based add-ons.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to install Kodi on a Samsung TV?
You can’t install Kodi on a Samsung TV directly because its operating system (Tizen OS) isn’t compatible with Kodi, but there are some easy workarounds. You can install Kodi on a streaming device, like an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Android TV Box, and connect it to your Samsung TV, cast or mirror Kodi onto your TV from a Kodi-compatible device, or install Kodi on a PC or laptop and connect it to your TV via an HDMI cable.
What’s the best way to get Kodi on a Samsung TV?
I recommend installing Kodi on a streaming device and plugging it into your Samsung TV. This method will offer you the best performance. You can also choose to cast or mirror Kodi onto your Samsung TV from another device, but your stream quality may not be as good. Finally, if you have a spare laptop and HDMI cable lying around, installing Kodi on the laptop and connecting it to your Samsung TV via the HDMI cable is a decent alternative.
Do I need a VPN for Kodi?
It’s not necessary, but I definitely recommend it. A VPN helps keep you safe and anonymous when watching Kodi by encrypting your traffic so that nobody else can see what you’re streaming or when you’re streaming. This may also improve your stream quality if your ISP has a habit of throttling your speeds. Additionally, some Kodi add-ons source their content from torrents, which can expose your IP address to bad actors. A VPN prevents this by hiding your IP address behind an IP address belonging to the provider.
Is Kodi legal?
Yes, Kodi is a legal app. After all, by itself, Kodi is just a media player and contains no content. However, some third-party add-ons on Kodi provide access to copyrighted content without authorization from the copyright holders. Streaming such content on Kodi violates copyright law and could get you into legal trouble.
