How to Install Umbrella Kodi Add-on: Beginner’s Guide
If you have been using Kodi for some time and have gotten used to the benefits of add-ons, you may find that installing a third-party add-on for the first time can be somewhat intimidating.
There are the repositories, ZIPS, unknown-source settings, various dependencies, and the constant feeling of ‘did I do something wrong’.
Umbrella is a third-party video add-on that Kodi users can stumble upon, which attempts to organize available streaming sources for easy access and utilize supported services. As expected, since it is not an official add-on, you will have to perform a manual install of Umbrella.
The good news is, once you get past the initial learning curve, it is actually ridiculously straightforward!
Here is my step-by-step beginner’s guide.
Before You Start
Ensure that you have Kodi already installed on your device. The look of the menus can be slightly different on Android TV, Fire TV, Windows, or other devices, but it will be largely similar.
I also suggest checking if you are running a recent Kodi version. If your Kodi install is several versions old, you may encounter issues later.
One more thing – Kodi itself does not offer any movies, TV shows, or any other streaming content via third-party add-ons, so legally speaking, it is entirely up to you and the content and sources you choose to use. Be responsible and use only content and sources that you are legally entitled to use.
1. Enable Unknown Sources
The first thing we have to do is enable unknown sources.
Go to Kodi’s home screen and navigate to
Settings → System → Add-ons
You should see the Unknown sources option there. Toggle it on.
Kodi will notify you that unknown sources can potentially be dangerous, which is entirely true.
As I mentioned, repositories with third-party add-ons are not monitored by the Kodi team, so it is essential to ensure that you know what you are doing. Do not go around and randomly install ZIPs just because you found a link to them somewhere on the internet.
2. Add the Umbrella Repository
Go back to Kodi’s main menu and navigate to
Settings → File Manager → Add source
Click and enter the currently used repository address provided by the Umbrella project devs.
You can name it whatever you want; I named it Umbrella Repo for simplicity. Hit OK.
An important thing to note here is that repository addresses change frequently, so if you are using an old guide, the chances are that the address will not be valid anymore. Always check the currently used official source of the add-on before adding it.
3. Install the Repository
Go back to Kodi’s home screen.
Now, navigate to
Add-ons → Add-on browser
Click Install from zip file and select the source we just added. In this case, it will be the Umbrella Repo.
Open it and select the repository ZIP file. Kodi will start extracting the files and should notify you when the repository is successfully installed.
If nothing is happening, double-check the repository address and your internet connection.
4. Install the Umbrella Add-on
This part is relatively simple.
Navigate to
Add-on browser → Install from repository
Select the just-installed repository, scroll down to Video add-ons, and select Umbrella. Click Install.
I recommend paying close attention to what else Kodi is trying to install. These are additional dependencies/add-ons that Umbrella requires to function correctly. Allow Kodi to install all of them.
When it is done, you should get a confirmation that Umbrella has been successfully installed.
5. Open Umbrella and Check the Settings
You can find Umbrella add-on in
Add-ons → Video add-ons → Umbrella
Take a look around; I would not recommend changing a lot of settings in the beginning. It is always best to take it slow and experiment a bit.
Depending on the version of Umbrella, you should see a list ofPlayback, Subtitles, Providers, Caching, and other settings, which are all customizable. Everything is pretty self-explanatory, so you do not have to configure anything right away if you do not want to. Just play around a bit, and when you feel confident enough, start fooling around with the settings!
A Few Things I Recommend
As I mentioned, third-party add-ons require a steeper learning curve and are generally less safe than the official Kodi add-ons.
Make sure to keep your Kodi install and third-party add-ons up to date, and always update from the trusted source. In this case, make sure to check what add-ons, programs, or any suspicious files some random website is asking you to install to get Umbrella working. It should pretty much always be only Umbrella.
Most importantly, make sure that you only use legal sources and Kodi will not get you in any legal issues. Just because there is an add-on that lists sources does not mean that those sources are legal.
What If Umbrella Doesn’t Work?
A few things can cause an add-on to stop working. Here are a few common issues and their solutions.
If you have successfully installed the repository but cannot seem to find Umbrella add-on, try restarting Kodi and check My add-ons → Video add-ons. Chances are, you just missed it.
If the repository would not install, make sure that the repository address is correct. If you are using an old guide, there is a high chance that it will not be correct anymore since repository addresses change often.
If Umbrella add-on would not play something, it can be either an issue with a source, a dependency, or your Kodi settings or the content itself. Check if there are any updates available before attempting any advanced tweaks.
And, of course, the issue can be entirely unrelated to Kodi. There are times when a source that an add-on lists suddenly becomes unavailable.
Final Thoughts
Installation of Umbrella on Kodi can seem intimidating at first due to the involved nature of the process, but it ultimately boils down to enabling support for unofficial add-ons, adding the repository, and installing the add-on itself. The actual technical part is not that hard; what is hard is knowing what to do and what not to do with third-party software.
Kodi offers incredible flexibility, which is part of its charm, but it also means that you have to take extra precautions. Keeping your system and add-ons updated and only using trusted sources and legal content will keep your Kodi experience smooth and enjoyable.
