Install KODI 18 Beta 1 with DRM APPS working
KODI 18 Beta 1 Finally surfaces with full updates. KODI is very late on the offical release in 2018, as the previous releases had always been for KODI to officially release on Feburary or March that same year. However in 2018 KODI team broke that rule, at the time of writing this article it is still August 2018 and we still have not heard of the KODI 19 projects yet, so this even makes it a mystory that not even the KODI official site has mentioned the KODI BETA 1 release.
Updates so far
- DRM Support and Apps
- Gaming (Games interface and Game Clients)
- Live TV and PVR (Personal Video Recorder)
- BSD Specific
- Linux Specific
- iOS Specific
- OS X Specific
- Windows Specific
Digital rights management (DRM)
Digital rights management (DRM) is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media. The purpose of DRM is to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital media and restrict the ways consumers can copy content they’ve purchased. DRM products were developed in response to the rapid increase in online piracy of commercially marketed material, which proliferated through the widespread use of peer-to-peer file exchange programs. Typically DRM is implemented by embedding code that prevents copying, specifies a time period in which the content can be accessed or limits the number of devices the media can be installed on.
The use of digital rights management is not universally accepted. Proponents of DRM argue that it is necessary to prevent intellectual property from being copied freely, just as physical locks are needed to prevent personal property from being stolen,[3] that it can help the copyright holder maintain artistic control,[4] and that it can ensure continued revenue streams.[5] Those opposed to DRM contend there is no evidence that DRM helps prevent copyright infringement, arguing instead that it serves only to inconvenience legitimate customers, and that DRM helps big business stifle innovation and competition.[6] Furthermore, works can become permanently inaccessible if the DRM scheme changes or if the service is discontinued.[7] DRM can also restrict users from exercising their legal rights under the copyright law, such as backing up copies of CDs or DVDs (instead having to buy another copy, if it can still be purchased), lending materials out through a library, accessing works in the public domain, or using copyrighted materials for research and education under the fair use doctrine.[3] The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) consider the use of DRM systems to be an anti-competitive practice.[8][9]
DRM APPS Working so far are Netflix and Amazon Video
- Amazon Video in KODI 18 instructions BELOW
- Netflix in KODI 18 Instructions below
KODI 18 BETA 1 Download links
You can download KODI beta 1 from links below.
HOW TO INSTALL NETFLIX KODI 18 ADDON
Steps below is for users using the latest KODI 18 to install the Netflix ad-don.
Requirements
- A paid Netflix subscription
- Latest Kodi v18 Nightly
- Enable Inputstream addon
- Download widevine.dll and add it to the respective device folder
Download links
- Repo Download
github.com/kodinerds/repo/raw/ma…-1.0.1.zip - Github Source
github.com/asciidisco/plugin.video.netflix - Download widevine.dll for your respective device
- WINNT_32 redirector.gvt1.com/edgedl/widevine-cdm/970-win-ia32.zip
- WINNT_64 redirector.gvt1.com/edgedl/widevine-cdm/970-win-x64.zip
- Linux_x86 redirector.gvt1.com/edgedl/widevine-cdm/970-linux-x64.zip
- Darwin_x86 64 redirector.gvt1.com/edgedl/widevine-cdm/970-mac-x64.zip
- Linux_x86 redirector.gvt1.com/edgedl/widevine-cdm/970-linux-ia32.zip
Instructions
– Install the repository on your machine using Install from zip
– Enable Input Stream Add-on Add-ons >> Package icon >> My Add-ons >> Video Player Inputstream >> Inputstream Adaptive >> menu >> enable
– Install the addon from Addons >> Package icon >> Install from repository >> netflix repository >> video Ads-ons >> Netflix Add-on
– Configure the netflix Add-on with your Login details for netflix
– Copy your Netflix ESN id (android settings >> about) to the Add-on settings (expert >> ESN). Yes its really, really long!!
– Restart Kodi IMPORTANT!!
Windows (64bit)
– Download the appropriate widevine dll from here
– Copy the widevinecdm.dll >> [user]/AppData/Roaming/Kodi/cdm/
– Install the repository on your machine using Install from zip
– Install the addon from Addons >> Package icon >> Install from repository >> netflix repository >> video Ads-ons >> Netflix Add-on
– Configure the netflix Add-on with your Login details for netflix
Adding Netflix items to your library
1) When you find a movie or Tv show you want to add to your Kodi library, press ‘C’ to enable the context menu, then select the ‘export to library’ option.
2) By default, the Netflix addon exports items to the following path on Windows and will create separate folders at this location for movies and Tv shows:-
C:\Users\My Pc’s Name\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\addon_data\plugin.video.netflix (You can obviously choose a different path if you prefer).
3) Create a new Video path for your Netflix Movie and Tv shows folders by clicking on ‘Videos’ on your main home menu, then ‘Files’, then ‘Add Videos’
5) Navigate and select the path of your Netflix Movie and TV show folders, as detailed in step 2
6) Once your path has been added, highlight it, then press ‘C’ to enable the context menu and select the ‘Scan For New Content’ option. Once done, your Netflix items will now appear in your Kodi library….
Amazon Instant Video Addon for Kodi 18
This Addon supports DE/JP/UK/US Amazon accounts, and since version 0.5.0 all the countries where Amazon’s PrimeVideo is available in.
Features
- access and edit Amazons Watch list and Video Library (currently not available for primevideo)
- export Movies, TV Shows to Kodi Library
- loads Covers and Fanart from TMDB/TVDB
Setup instructions
- Download Repo and add it to Kodi
- via Addon
- Browser
- Install from ZIP
- via Addon
- Install Amazon VOD Addon from Sandmann79’s Repository
- at Settings > General you have to choose one of the following Playback Method:
Change settings to play from KODI
In order to have the stream play in KODI 18 change the playback to Input Stream
Then Make sure you login to the Amazon video with your user name and password
For More information visit Sandmann GithubÂ
Also useful: if you are replacing an older Fire TV device, these are the two current options I would compare.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen): the current Wi-Fi 6E model; check the listing says Fire OS rather than Vega OS before you pay. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Google TV Streamer 4K: a simple Google TV box with Ethernet and the full Play Store. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Best IPTV boxes to buy
These are media boxes and sticks that can run players and licensed apps. The first six are Google certified Android TV or Google TV devices with Google Play. The three Fire TV Sticks run Amazon’s own systems with the Appstore instead of Google Play: the 4K Max and 4K Plus run Fire OS, which is Android based, while the new Fire TV Stick 4K (2026) runs Vega OS, which does not allow sideloading Android apps, only Appstore apps. The last one, the Formuler, runs its own Android and is not certified. They are not pirate hardware. They do not come with channels or playlists. I am not claiming I personally lab-tested every SKU this month.
Pick a Google TV box when you want Play Store apps on a proper TV OS or a dedicated player behind the sofa. Pick a Fire TV Stick when Prime Video and the Appstore already cover what you watch. If you need an Android player from outside the Appstore, skip the Vega OS stick.
- NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro: the premium pick, a certified Android TV player with AI upscaling, Dolby Vision/Atmos and Gigabit Ethernet for the main living-room telly. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Google TV Streamer 4K: solid Google TV living-room default with Ethernet, 32GB storage and Dolby Vision/Atmos. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen): Google TV box with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos, the cheaper box route than the Streamer. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen): budget Google TV stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos when you want HDMI-simple, not a full box. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Budget Google TV 4K player: a cheaper certified Google TV player for a second telly. The model differs by store, so each link names the one you get there. MECOOL KD3 (Amazon UK) | onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box (Amazon US) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon DE) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon FR) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon IT)
- MECOOL MEon1: Google TV certified 4K box with AI upscaling and 32GB storage for a dedicated player behind the sofa. Amazon UK
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max: the most powerful Fire TV Stick, with Wi-Fi 6E, Dolby Vision/Atmos and 16GB storage. It runs Fire OS, which is Android based, so you get Appstore apps and can still sideload an Android player. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE
- Fire TV Stick 4K Plus: the older Fire OS stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos. It is being phased out, so buy it only while stock lasts. Like the Max, it can still sideload Android apps. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Fire TV Stick 4K (2026): the newest and slimmest 4K stick, with a new remote. It runs Vega OS, which does not allow sideloading Android apps, only Appstore apps, so check your player is in the Appstore before you buy. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Formuler Z12 Ultra SE: the newest Formuler box, built around MYTVOnline 4 for IPTV playlists. It runs Formuler’s own Android rather than certified Google TV, so there is no Netflix in HD and no Google certification. Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon UK) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon US) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon DE) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon FR) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon IT)
Whichever you pick, check that the app you need is in its store before you pay. And none of these boxes or sticks magically make unlicensed streams legal.
