The most common way to control your Kodi is to use physical remote control. However, there is another way to control it using your mobile phone, which can be an Android or iOS device.
For the second option, you first need to configure Kodi accordingly. Then you need to install and configure an app on your mobile. After doing so, you will be able to control Kodi with an app that is optimized for it. Your mobile device and Kodi must be connected to the same local network for this to work.
Using an app instead of physical remote control has several advantages. The app is easier to work with and you can copy and paste long text like URLs of repositories, URLs of M3U playlists and API keys. Also, it is handy if you have lost your remote.
Here are the instructions on how to configure the remote on Kodi:
- Launch Kodi
- Click the Settings icon
- Click System settings
- Click Service settings
- Hover Over Control
- Enable Allow remote control from HTTP
- Enable Allow remote control from applications on this system
- Enable Allow remote control from applications on other systems
- Go back to System settings
- Click System information
- Hover over Network
- Check in the network page what is your IP address (you will need to know it to set up the Android and iOS apps) and what is your MAC address (you will need to know it to set up the iOS app)
Here are the instructions on how to set up the remote on your Android device:
- Install Kore app from Google Play
- Open the app
- Click Next to open the Manual Configuration page
- Type Kodi in the Media Center Name field
- Type your IP address in the Address field
- Type 8080 in the Port field
- Type kodi in the Username field
- Click Test
- Click Finish once you get the All Done message
Here are the instructions on how to set up the remote on your iOS device:
- Install Offical Kodi Remote from App Store
- Open the app
- Click Add Host to open the New Kodi Server Page
- Type Kodi in the Description field
- Type your IP address in the Host field
- Type 8080 in the Port field
- Type your MAC address in the Address field
- Type kodi in the Username field
- Click Save
- You see a green mark once the remote is connected
Now you can control Kodi from your mobile device and enjoy a perfect experience doing so.