How To Install Kodi on iPhone and iPad (No Jailbreak) in 2025

Apple doesn't allow Kodi in its marketplace, so it's not available in the App Store. 1% of iOS users jailbreak their phones (Help Net Security, 2025)¹, which can void their warranty, expose them to online threats, and potentially cause damage to their device (none of which sound fun to me). I also found most third-party app installers unreliable, and the business of revoked certificates confusing.

What's the easiest way to install Kodi on my iPhone and iPad without jailbreaking? With sideloading methods like Sideloadly and direct IPA installation, you can set up Kodi on your iPhone or iPad without risking your device’s security. In this guide, I'll walk you through the best ways to install Kodi on your iPhone or iPad — no hacking or shady downloads.

Short on Time? Here are the Best Methods To Install Kodi on iPhone and iPad

I found the easiest method to install Kodi on iPhone and iPad without jailbreaking is by sideloading the Kodi app. However, sideloading requires multiple steps due to Apple’s security measures, and you also need an Apple developer account to complete the process. Below are some of the best methods for sideloading Kodi on your iPhone or iPad.

How To Install Kodi on iPad and iPhone Without Jailbreaking

Method 1: Installing Kodi on iPhone and iPad With Sideloadly

For this method, you need a computer, a USB cable, and an active Apple ID. Windows, Mac, or Linux will all work. I used a Windows laptop for this method.

1. Download Sideloadly. Visit the Sideloadly website and download the latest version compatible with your device.
   For Mac, you can also use Safari to download Sideloadly
2. Download the Kodi IPA file. An IPA file serves as the installation package for iOS apps. You can easily download the Kodi IPA file from third-party websites, such as iOS Ninja. Alternatively, you can download the Kodi DEB file from the official website and convert the DEB file to an IPA if you prefer not to use third-party sources.
3. Connect your iOS device to your computer. Use a USB cable to connect your iPad or iPhone to any computer, and ensure it's powered on.
4. Open Sideloadly. Once the app is launched, you should see your iOS device in the app.
   If it isn’t detecting your device, try restarting both your device and Sideloadly
5. Open the Kodi IPA file. Click on the large IPA file on the left side of the Sideloadly app and find the downloaded Kodi IPA file.
6. Enter a valid Apple ID. After adding the Kodi IPA file, enter your Apple ID and click Start to begin sideloading Kodi onto your iOS device.
   You will also be prompted to verify your ID by entering the password
7. Update settings. Once Kodi is sideloaded on your device, enable your developer options by going to Settings > General > Device Management to instruct your device to trust your user ID as a developer.
8. Go to your device’s settings once you see the Kodi icon appear on your iPad or iPhone. Navigate to General > Profiles > Devices > Management.
9. Enter your Apple ID once again.
10. Approve making Kodi a trusted file. This will tell iOS that it’s safe to run the app.
11. That’s it. Once the installation is complete, you should see the Kodi icon on your iOS device's home screen.

Method 2: Installing Kodi on iPhone and iPad With the Xcode App

This method is very similar to using Sideloadly. However, it’s only possible with Mac devices. Additionally, it involves using the iOS app signer app, making this method slightly more technical.

1. Download Xcode and the Kodi IPA file. Download both the Xcode and Kodi IPA files to your Mac. The official Kodi website only has a DEB file for Kodi. You can also convert this DEB file to an IPA.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID. Open Xcode → Preferences → Accounts → add your Apple ID (free or paid) and connect your iPhone or iPad using a USB cable.
3. Use iOS App Signer. Download iOS App Signer, open it, select the downloaded Kodi IPA, and choose your Xcode provisioning profile & certificate. This will generate a re-signed IPA.
4. Sideload Kodi. Go to the Xcode window and click on Devices & Simulators. Select your iPhone, then click on the + sign to add the re-signed IPA.
5. Approve Kodi as a trusted file. Navigate to General > Profiles > Devices > Management and enter the Apple ID you used with Xcode. Then, approve making Kodi a trusted file. This will tell iOS that it’s safe to run the app.
6. Ready to launch. Once the installation finishes, the Kodi app icon will appear on your iPhone or iPad home screen.

Method 3: Installing Kodi on iPad and iPhone With AltStore

This method allows you to simply download, install, and use Kodi on your device. You still need to sideload the third-party store on your device. Alt Store may not have Kodi available at the time you attempt to install Kodi using this method. You can also use other third-party stores, such as TweakBox, TutuApp, or AppValley; however, most of them have become redundant due to expired certificates.

1. Download the Alt Store app. For Windows, you will need to download both iTunes & iCloud from Apple’s website and then install the AltServer and run it. For Mac, you can just install the AltServer onto your device.
2. Sideload AltStore. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the device on which you have installed the AltServer and click on the AltServer menu bar icon → Install AltStore → pick your iPhone/iPad. You will also need to provide your Apple ID and password to complete the sideloading.
3. Enable the developer options. Once you see the AltStore icon appear on your iPad or iPhone, go to Settings > General >Device Management to tell your device to trust your user ID as a developer.
4. Approve AltStore as a trusted file. Navigate to General > Profiles > Devices > Management, enter your Apple ID again, and approve making AltStore a trusted file. This will tell iOS that it’s safe to run the app.
5. Search Kodi. Search the store for Kodi and simply install it. If it doesn’t have the video platform, go to the My Apps tab on AltStore, tap the “+” button in the top-left corner, and select Kodi.ipa file.
6. Enable the app. Since the Kodi app developer isn’t “trusted” on iOS devices, you have to change a setting manually. Go to Settings > General > Profiles, then Devices > VPN & Device Management (or Management on other iOS versions).
7. Click Enterprise App, select the Kodi app from the developer profiles shown, and then Trust.
8. That's it. Now Kodi is sideloaded and working on your iPhone via AltStore.

Troubleshooting Kodi on iOS

Running Kodi on iOS can sometimes lead to errors. You may encounter issues such as crashes and missing apps, like I did. Below are some of the most common problems you may face while using Kodi on your iPhone or iPad.

• Frequent crashes. This usually happens when the certificate expires, the profile isn’t trusted, or the IPA is corrupt. You can easily fix this issue by refreshing the app, trusting the profile in Settings, and using the official Kodi IPA.
• The app disappeared. This also happens when the app’s certificate expires and iOS removes it. You can resolve this issue by refreshing the app using the same method you originally used to sideload it.
• Black Screen/UI Broken. This usually happens when the Kodi skin (theme) you applied is corrupted, outdated, or incompatible with the current Kodi build on iOS. You can solve this error by resetting to the default Estuary skin or manually deleting the problematic skin files.
• Network issues. iOS can sometimes block local network access. Try fixing this by enabling Local Network Access in Settings and adjusting cache settings.
• Your addons fail. Incorrect or outdated Kodi URLs are the primary cause of this issue. This can be easily fixed by verifying the links are valid. You should also ensure that you use iOS-compatible repositories for downloading addons.
• Updating Kodi. Kodi doesn’t auto-update when sideloaded, so you will need to install updates via sideloading the new IPA over the old one to keep your settings intact.
• Wrong credentials. While Kodi itself doesn’t require any registration, many addons do. You may need to sign out and sign back in. If you need to create a new password, we recommend using a password generator to generate a strong one.

How To Convert a DEB File to IPA

You need an unarchive utility such as 7-Zip, The Unarchiver, or WinRAR for this conversion. If you have another archiving software you're fond of, you can use that instead. For this guide, I’ll be using 7-Zip.

• Download the DEB file for the latest version of Kodi from Kodi’s official website, or choose another version that suits your preference.
• Find the Kodi .deb file and right-click on it.
  After clicking “Extract Files” select “OK” in the next Window
• Open the extracted folder to find the data.tar file. Right-click on it and choose 7-Zip> Extract Files to initiate the extraction process. In the same folder, you should now see both a data folder and a data.tar file.
• Go into the data folder and open the Applications folder. You’ll find a folder named Kodi.app.
• Inside the Kodi.app folder, create a new folder, and give it any name you prefer.
  Next, drag the “Kodi.app” folder into the “Kodi New” folder
• Create the IPA file. Now right-click on the Kodi New folder and choose 7-zip > Add to archive.
  After choosing the above options, click “OK”
• That’s all. The IPA file is now ready for installation.

Is It Safe To Install Kodi on iOS?

Yes, Kodi is safe to install on iOS as long as you download it from the official Kodi website or other trusted sources. Also, make sure that you sideload it using trusted tools like AltStore or Sideloadly. These methods rely on your own Apple ID for signing the app, which makes the installation process secure and transparent. However, using third-party signing services can be risky as they often use revoked enterprise certificates, inject ads, or even bundle malware into the apps they distribute.

Is a VPN necessary for Kodi on iOS? It's not required, but offer numerous benefits, especially when streaming via addons. For example, a VPN encrypts your online data, keeping your viewing habits private from ISPs and network monitoring, helping you avoid ISP throttling. Premium VPNs can also provide secure access to HD content from anywhere, thanks to their extensive network of thousands of servers worldwide.

Is it easier to get malware when you sideload on iOS? Possibly; some reports suggest that up to 38.5% of malware can be attributed to sideloaded apps; however, many safe apps can be sideloaded (Zimperium, 2024) ². This includes Kodi when it’s acquired from the right places. However, a trustworthy VPN for iOS is a good idea when using new Kodi addons (especially those from third parties), as it keeps your IP address hidden, so no activity is exposed.

Best Kodi Alternatives for iOS

If Kodi isn’t the right fit for you, several excellent alternatives on iOS can handle local and network media playback, each with its own strengths:

• MrMC. A Kodi fork optimized for iOS and tvOS. It keeps Kodi’s familiar interface but removes support for third-party addons. Still, it is available on the App Store and does not require sideloading.
• Infuse (by Firecore). A great media player that supports nearly every video format. It offers a beautiful interface and integrates with Trakt and cloud storage. It also does not require any sideloading and can be downloaded from the App Store.
• VLC for Mobile. A free, open-source player that handles almost any file format or streaming protocol that is available on the App Store.
• Plex. A comprehensive streaming platform offering thousands of movies and TV series for free. In addition to providing an app on the App Store, it also has a website, so sideloading is not required here either. While it’s available in many places, a great streaming VPN makes it possible to access Plex safely from anywhere.
• Emby. Another great option, similar to Plex, but with more customization options, including live TV/DVR support, as well as remote streaming. It also offers an app as well as a website.
• Jellyfin. A completely free and open-source media server, forked from Emby, that you can directly download from the App Store without any sideloading.
• nPlayer Plus. Another versatile media player with extensive format and subtitle support, as well as network streaming options, is available to download from the App Store.

FAQs on Installing Kodi on iPhone and iPad

Conclusion

Installing Kodi on your iPad or iPhone doesn’t require jailbreaking your device. There are multiple ways to do this, but the most reliable and easy ones are using Sideloadly, Xcode, or AltStore.

However, all methods require an Apple Developer account. In case you're using a free account, you will need to refresh the Kodi app every 7 days to renew its authentication certificate.

References

1. https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/03/20/rooting-jailbreaking-threat/
2. https://zimperium.com/blog/the-hidden-risks-of-sideloading-apps