How to Install Kodi on a Chromecast: Stream Kodi on Google’s Dongle

Curtis Moldrich Read more April 2, 2023

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Smart TVs are great. They give you access to a range of apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more—all for a relatively low cost. Regardless, you can also install Kodi on a Chromecast, one of the best bits of streaming software you can get.

How to Install Kodi on a Chromecast: Stream Kodi on Google's Dongle

Many Kodi add-ons are not officially licensed, and accessing such content could be illegal. In short, if the content is free, but looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

What is Kodi?

Kodi is open-source software designed specifically with home entertainment in mind, and it is 100% free. Although it was initially created for the Microsoft Xbox and called Xbox Media Center (XBMC), the software has continued to evolve, spawning a community of its own.

Unlike services such as Chromecast or Plex, Kodi gets managed by the non-profit XBMC Foundation. Still, it is constantly being modified and upgraded by hundreds of coders around the world. Since its creation in 2003, Kodi has been shaped by more than 500 software developers and more than 200 translators.

Before going into the details, you should know that anything you stream on Kodi is visible to your ISP and the government. The only surefire way to protect your privacy is to connect to a good VPN service like ExpressVPN whenever you use Kodi.

How to Install Kodi on a Chromecast Using a Tablet or Android Phone

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Before we start, you can not stream Kodi content to Chromecast from an iOS device, so this method focuses on Android devices.

There are two ways you can stream content to Chromecast from your Kodi-connected Android device: the long yet power-friendly way; or the quick but battery-intensive route.

The long way:

Download “ES File Explorer,” “Kodi,” “LocalCast,” and the XML file “PlayerFactoryCore.”
Open “ES File Explorer,” then open “Settings > Display settings,” and make sure “Show hidden files” is ticked.
Next, ensure your Kodi or XBMC media center connects to the Kodi app.
Once done, go into “ES File Explorer” again and open the “Downloads” folder.
You should find the “PlayerFactoryCore.xml” file you downloaded earlier unless you have a different download location.
Copy the “PlayerFactoryCore.xml” file and navigate to “Android > Data” and look for either “org.xbmc.kodi” or “org.xbmc.xbmc” depending on which streamer you use. Kodi will be “org.xbmc.kodi.”
Once open, navigate to “Files > .kodi (or .xbmc) > userdata” and then paste the “PlayerFactoryCore.xml” file into this folder.
Open “Kodi” and navigate to the video file you want to watch.
Kodi will then automatically launch “LocalCast,” although Android will ask you which casting app you would like to use.
Once loaded, you will get prompted to press “Play,” and Kodi will ask which device you want for streaming.
You will then have to click “Play” one more time, and it should, finally, play on your Chromecast-connected TV.

The quick way:

Open the “Chromecast app” on your Android device.
Open the menu, select the “Cast screen/audio” option, and follow the instructions to connect to your Chromecast.
Open “Kodi.”
Find the video you want to watch and press “Play.” It will play out across both devices, but you can not turn your screen off or take calls.

How to Stream Kodi From a Chromecast Using a Computer

Streaming Kodi or XBMC content to a Chromecast from a PC is not as difficult as you may think, but like streaming Android content, it is far from an elegant solution to your problem.

Download and install “Chrome” on the Chromecast, and ensure you have Kodi or XBMC installed on your computer.
Open “Chrome,” click on the “three vertical dots” icon near the top-right corner of the screen, and select “Cast…” from the list of options in the menu.
A small screen called the “Cast tab” pops up and searches for devices. When it appears, click on the device you want to cast from and select “Cast entire screen (experimental).”
Once done, your entire computer desktop should be streaming to your TV.
Open Kodi or XBMC and fire up a video to watch.

Mirroring Kodi on Your Android Device

Because Kodi is available on the Google Play Store but not for a Chromecast device, you can follow these instructions to mirror content from your phone or tablet.

Ensure that your phone and Chromecast get connected to the same wifi network.
Open “Kodi” on your Android and sign in.
Configure the add-ons in Kodi so that you can stream your favorite content.
Leave the app open in the background and open your phone’s settings.
Under “Device Connections,” search for and tap on “Cast.”
Click on “Chromecast.”
Click on “Start Now.”

Please note that many add-ons contain content that isn’t officially licensed, and accessing such content could be illegal. It is the user’s responsibility to comply with all applicable laws in their country regarding use. Alphr.com and Box 20 LLC exclude all liability for such content. We do not condone and are not responsible for infringing any intellectual property or other third-party rights. We shall not be liable to any party due to any such content made available. In short, if the content is free, but looks too good to be true, then it probably is.