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To show Kodi’s full interface on your smart TV, connect the PC to the TV with HDMI, select that input, and run Kodi on the PC. To play only the PC’s Kodi library over your home network, enable Kodi’s UPnP/DLNA sharing and open the server in a compatible TV or player app. These methods do different things: network sharing plays media through the client’s interface; it does not turn the TV into a full Kodi installation.
Choose how you want to use Kodi on the TV
| Your goal | What to do | What appears on the TV | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use Kodi’s full interface | Connect the PC to the TV by HDMI | The PC display, including Kodi | A suitable PC video output and TV HDMI input |
| Play the PC’s Kodi library over the network | Enable UPnP/DLNA sharing on the PC, then browse the Kodi server from a compatible TV or player | Media played through the client’s browsing and playback interface | A compatible UPnP/DLNA client and local-network discovery |
| Start playback from Kodi on the PC | Enable remote UPnP players and use “Play with…” | The selected item on the chosen network player | A discoverable, compatible UPnP player |
| Use Kodi’s interface at the TV while media stays on the PC | Run Kodi on a device connected to the TV and access the PC’s shared files or library | Kodi running on the TV-attached device | A compatible Kodi device and network access to the PC’s files |
Show the full Kodi screen with HDMI
Kodi is designed for hardware connected directly to a TV or AV receiver, preferably over HDMI. This is the most direct option if you want to navigate Kodi on the TV just as you do on the PC. The TV is displaying the computer’s screen, rather than receiving a separate Kodi installation.
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- Check the PC’s available display outputs and the TV’s HDMI inputs. Use a cable only if the ports match, or an adapter whose compatibility you have verified. Kodi’s documentation does not specify a required cable version, length, or adapter.
- Connect the PC and TV, then use the TV’s input or source control to select the HDMI port you connected.
- Start Kodi on the PC. Adjust display arrangement or resolution in the PC’s operating system if needed; the exact settings depend on the operating system and device.
Kodi’s Windows documentation describes video playback using either software decoding or hardware acceleration. Actual playback depends on the PC’s capabilities and the media being played; the documentation does not guarantee that every computer, file, or display combination will work.
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Play the PC’s Kodi library using UPnP/DLNA
UPnP/DLNA lets Kodi share library media with network players. Kodi’s server must have the library scanned before you share it, and UPnP is disabled by default. The TV or player needs a UPnP/DLNA browsing function; being described as a “smart TV” alone does not establish that it has one.
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- Scan the library on the PC. The Kodi installation that contains the library you want to share should act as the server.
- Enable sharing in Kodi. Open Settings → Services → UPnP / DLNA, enable UPnP support, and turn on Share my libraries. Kodi’s settings guide identifies this as the server feature for streaming library media to network clients.
- Find the server on the TV or player. Open the device’s UPnP/DLNA media browser and look for the Kodi server. The exact menu label and location vary by manufacturer; check the TV’s manual or app details if you cannot find it.
- Browse and play a file. The client browses the server’s media tree and plays the selected item.
This does not create a local Kodi library on the TV or provide Kodi’s library features there. The TV or player uses its own browsing and playback interface.
If the Kodi server does not appear
- Confirm UPnP support and Share my libraries are enabled in Kodi.
- Check that the PC and TV or player can communicate on the same local network.
- Confirm that the PC’s Kodi library has been scanned and that the TV or player has a UPnP/DLNA browser.
- Do not assume that enabling UPnP on the router is required. Kodi’s guide warns that router UPnP can pose security risks and says local-network UPnP use may still work when router UPnP is disabled. Consult the router’s own instructions before changing its settings.
Send playback from Kodi to a network player
If you want to browse from Kodi on the PC but play a selected item on another network device, enable Look for remote UPnP players in the PC’s Settings → Services → UPnP / DLNA settings. Then browse to the media item, open its context menu, choose Play with…, and select a discovered player. The destination must be discoverable and compatible. To control another Kodi installation this way, Kodi’s UPnP guide says that client must also allow control via UPnP.
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Check compatibility before choosing a method
- TV apps and model: Kodi’s platform list does not establish that Kodi is available on every smart-TV model. Check the exact TV model’s apps and manual. If the TV cannot run Kodi, a compatible device connected to it can run Kodi instead.
- Network playback: The TV or player must support UPnP/DLNA browsing, and its supported media formats and network conditions affect playback. Kodi’s documentation does not establish compatibility for a particular TV, file, or home network.
- PC playback: Kodi on Windows can use software decoding or hardware acceleration, but performance depends on the PC. The 1080p and 4K references in Kodi’s Windows documentation describe playback capability, not a guarantee for every setup.
- Your media: Kodi provides the software, not the content. Its official download page says users supply their own media, and Kodi does not endorse pirated content.
Use Kodi’s official download page to check current platform options and stable releases. For details on supported approaches, see Kodi’s TV connection FAQ, UPnP server guide, UPnP/DLNA settings guide, and Windows guide.
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