SMB/Mac

This page describes how to share media files using the SMB/CIFS protocol, also known as Windows file sharing, that are on a computer running Mac OS X. When the media files are shared on your network you can then access those files using any other version of Kodi, even if it uses another OS.

Enabling SMB sharing
To enable Windows file sharing
 * 1) Open the Apple Menu in the top left corner
 * 2) Select System Preferences
 * 3) Click on the Sharing panel.
 * 4) On the left, under Service, select "File Sharing" and check the box to turn it On.
 * 5) Under the Shared folders option, press the plus sign to select which folder you want to share on the network. You will need to share the whole folder that holds the media files, rather than individual files.
 * 6) Select "Options" and check "Share files and Folders using SMB (Windows)".
 * 7) Below, check the boxes of any accounts you want to give SMB access to (you probably want the "guest" account to have access) then click Done.
 * 8) Windows Sharing should now show as "On" with a green light next to it. Add folders, users and permissions in the boxes below.

You have now enabled Windows Sharing on Mac OS X for the specific accounts you enabled in the Sharing panel. If you want to give public access (i.e. no password required) to shares you need to enable "Allow guests to connect to shared folders" for the Guest account in System Preferences under Accounts. Now you can configure this share by adding a media source in the Kodi GUI.

If SMB in Mac OS X stops working
Every so often an update for Mac OS X comes out that seems to break the built-in SMB sharing in OS X. Here are some guides that might help you fix OS X's SMB sharing:


 * http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=214091
 * http://www.tweaking4all.com/os-tips-and-tricks/macosx-tips-and-tricks/smbup-mac-os-x-smb-fix/
 * http://automatica.com.au/2012/11/fixing-windows-file-sharing-smb-permissions-on-os-x-server/