Setting up a Library

Downloading Kodi

Starting off, we're going to configure the default Kodi for you to use as you see fit. To do this you're going to need to download Kodi from here.

You should see a page similar to the one below. I will be working off of the Windows version, but you can use any of the provided operating systems, you should do some research to find the right operating system / device for you. 

File Sources

So by now, you should have Kodi installed, so run it and then we can get started. First off you're going to need to hover over videos, and then below that in the submenu you should see an item named "Files" like this:

Next we need to add a source for your videos, they should either be TV shows, or movies for this particular tutorial. You can find the naming file hierarchy conventions here.

To add a source, you need to click the "Add Videos" button seen below. 

You then need to find your source, to do this just navigate to the folder that contains your TV shows or Movies. Kodi supports many different means of accessing files over networks, this list can be found here.

Once you have located the folder that contains your media, hit the "OK" button on the right hand side of the screen. Give your source a name, like I have named mine below "Tv Shows", and then click the "OK" button at the bottom of the dialog box. 

Next you need to tell Kodi what is in your source, to do this you will need to navigate to either Tv Show or Movie, using the navigation bar located in the top right hand side of the dialog box. 

When you have selected the correct type of source, you can either change some settings for the source, or just click the "OK" button, most users will be able to just click "OK" though. 

You will be asked if you wish to update your library now, you should skip this for now, as I will show you how to update your library by yourself, whenever you want.

Now you have your first source completed, you can go through this process multiple times until all of your sources have been added.

The next post will be shorter, but will show you how to update your library manually, as well as going through smaller settings to help show off your library.