Smartphone/tablet remotes: Difference between revisions

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* [[iOS remotes]]
* [[iOS remotes]]
* [[Windows Phone remotes]]
* [[Windows Phone remotes]]
* [https://uappexplorer.com/app/com.ubuntu.developer.mzanetti.kodimote Ubuntu touch remote]
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{{highlight|bordered=yes|[[Settings/Services#Zeroconf|Settings → Services → Zeroconf → '''Announce these services to other systems via Zeroconf''' → {{color|green|'''ON'''}} ]] }}
{{highlight|bordered=yes|[[Settings/Services#Zeroconf|Settings → Services → Zeroconf → '''Announce these services to other systems via Zeroconf''' → {{color|green|'''ON'''}} ]] }}
:This should be enabled by default already. Zeroconf makes it easier to find your Kodi install on your local network without having to know the exact IP address.
:Optional. This should be enabled by default already. Zeroconf makes it easier to find your Kodi install on your local network without having to know the exact IP address.


== Manually enabling remote control ==
== Manually enabling remote control ==

Revision as of 19:24, 3 December 2016

Home icon grey.png   ▶ Remote controls ▶ tablet remotes

Kodi can be controlled in several different ways, including both a physical remote control as well as using your smartphone or tablet. This page will link to both the official Team Kodi remote control apps and additional remote apps made by the community, as well as tell you how to enable smartphone/tablet app control in Kodi.

Remote apps

Kore now playing nexus6.png Smartphone and tablet remote controls

Quick set up guide

Turn on the following settings in Kodi to enable using a smartphone or tablet remote:


Settings → Services → Remote control → Allow programs on other systems to control KodiON

This setting enables the basic ability to remotely control Kodi.


Settings → Services → Webserver → Allow control of Kodi via HTTPON

Many smartphone remotes also display additional library data, such as images and summaries. This setting allows that extra data to be transmitted to your remote app.
Take note of the Port number, the Username and the Password (if any). You'll probably need to enter these in your remote app.


Settings → Services → Zeroconf → Announce these services to other systems via ZeroconfON

Optional. This should be enabled by default already. Zeroconf makes it easier to find your Kodi install on your local network without having to know the exact IP address.

Manually enabling remote control

If you have installed Kodi on a device and it has started up in Kodi, and you either have SSH access or other access to the Kodi userdata folder, you can manually enable remote control. This is helpful in a few situations, for example: If you have a networked device but no physical remote control (left it at home, can't find the dang remote, etc), you can still use the web interface or a smartphone/tablet app to control Kodi.

There are two basic ways to do this:


guisettings.xml -

Normally you do not want to manually edit the guisettings.xml file. In this case it should be "safe", but only change these settings from false to true, and don't edit other things.
  1. Edit the guisettings.xml file in the userdata folder and look for the following settings under "<services>", and make sure they are set to "true". You'll have to look for them a little bit, because there among several other settings. Assuming you have not set a password or changed other default settings, this should work:
    • <esallinterfaces> - true
    • <webserver> - true
    • <zeroconf> - true
  2. Save the file and restart Kodi.


advancedsettings.xml -

While using an advancedsettings.xml file might be easier to enable these services, doing so will hide them from the normal Kodi GUI. You will have to remove or edit the advancedsettings.xml file to turn these settings back off, which can be confusing later on if you forgot you have an advancedsettings.xml file.
  1. Create a plain text file (no rich text formatting, don't use .doc, etc) and save it as advancedsettings.xml. Make sure that the file extension is ".xml" and not ".txt" or ".xml.txt".
  2. Cut and paste this into your new plain text file:
    <advancedsettings>
        <services>
            <esallinterfaces>true</esallinterfaces>
            <webserver>true</webserver>
            <zeroconf>true</zeroconf>
        </services>
    </advancedsettings>
  3. Save this file in your userdata folder
    Note: If you have an existing advancedsettings.xml file, make sure the tags are between the main <advancedsettings></advancedsettings> tags.
  4. Restart Kodi.



Firewall

If there is a firewall between the smartphone or tablet and the device running Kodi or on this device itself, you need to open two ports to enable remote control. The first one is the port of the http server which is 8080/tcp unless otherwise configured. The second port is the Kodi event port 9777/udp. Many remotes work without the second port, but have limited functionality (e.g. keyboard does not pop up automatically when required). Others like Yatse do not work at all without it.