How to Jailbreak Roku and Install Kodi (Full Tutorial)

Love the convenience of Roku, but addicted to the sheer streaming power of Kodi? Well today, we show you how to combine the two–and it doesn’t actually even require jailbreaking! Don’t worry, it’s actually a pretty simple process–we walk you through it, step by step, sharing a few tips along the way on how to get the most out of both services.

Got a brand new Roku you’re itching to put to use? The affordable and portable streaming device is the perfect solution for getting Netflix on your TV, watching Hulu, or catching up on all the latest live sports and TV shows. The only thing that could make Roku even more powerful is if it could run Kodi, the free, highly extensible open-source media center software.

Can you jailbreak a Roku and install Kodi? The short answer is no, not exactly. Instead of jailbreaking your Roku, though, you can use an alternate method to get Kodi on your TV. We’ll cover all the details below. Before you begin, though, make sure you take the proper steps to secure your device so you can use Kodi with full privacy.

Before Using Kodi on Roku, Get a Good VPN

The Kodi software itself is free and legal to use on a wide variety of devices. Some third party add-ons you can use aren’t quite as safe, however, which means Kodi has gotten a bad reputation as of late. This has caused companies and ISPs to take extreme measures against Kodi users, tracking, throttling, or even blocking their connections automatically.

VPNs can easily keep you safe from these privacy threats. They work by encrypting all of your traffic so it’s impossible to read. Hackers, government agencies, and internet service providers alike will be unable to determine what you’re doing on the internet or which streams you’re watching on Kodi/Roku. The bottom line is simple: if you want to stay safe, you have to use a VPN with Kodi.

NordVPN – Best VPN for Kodi

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: ISPs don’t like you using Kodi, even if you’re just streaming legally available content. But with NordVPN, you can completely lock them out of your business, shrouded in a wall of unbreakable 256-bit encryption via the ultra-fast NordLynx protocol. This not only stops ISPs from tracking your activity, but removes the ability for them to throttle your Kodi traffic.

But there’s more–NordVPN’s massive network now spans 7,400+ servers across 118 countries, which vastly enhances the ability of Kodi to stream international content. You can also effectively change the region on your Roku through the same process; just click the server in a country you want within NordVPN’s intuitive user interface, and relax as the VPN handles the rest.

NordVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous devices per account and maintains a strict no-logs policy. Plans are frequently discounted—check the current pricing page for the latest 2-year deal and the usual 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

Can You Jailbreak a Roku to Install Kodi?

Jailbreaking usually refers to hacking a device to allow it to run a wider variety of software. Not allowed to install your favorite app on iOS? Jailbreak it and do it anyway! Android and Fire TV devices usually refer to this as rooting, but the basic principle is the same.

The Roku itself runs its own operating system called Roku OS that isn’t compatible with standard Android or iOS jailbreaking methods. But the good news is Roku doesn’t actually require any kind of jailbreaking to get at its full functionality. You can add channels with ease, including custom homebrew ones, no hacking required.

Instead of Jailbreaking, Mirror Kodi to Your Roku

Below we’ll look at the best alternative method to getting Kodi on your Roku device. Since jailbreaking isn’t possible, and since Kodi doesn’t support Roku OS, we’ll simply use a secondary device and mirror Kodi straight to Roku, nice and easy.

Step 1 – Enable Roku Screen Mirroring

Before you can mirror anything to your Roku, you’ll need to turn on screen mirroring. This is perfectly safe to do and only takes a few seconds.

1. Go to your Roku and press the home button to access the main menu.
2. Go to Settings > System
3. Choose Screen Mirroring from the menu.
4. Next to Screen mirroring mode, select either Prompt or Always Allow.
5. That’s it! Return to your Roku home screen.

Tip: Roku’s screen mirroring works with Miracast on compatible Android and Windows devices. For iPhone/iPad and Mac, use AirPlay (covered below).

Step 2 – Install Kodi on a Second Device (Android)

Now that your Roku is ready to go, you’ll need to get Kodi prepared on a secondary device. Which hardware you use really doesn’t matter, just as long as it’s capable of casting to your home network. We recommend using Kodi with Android for the best results, so that’s what we’ll cover below. You can also install Kodi on Fire Stick if you like, though you won’t be able to mirror it to Roku in this instance.

1. On your Android smartphone or tablet, open up the Google Play store.
2. Tap the search bar and enter “Kodi”.
3. The Kodi media center app should show up as the first search result.
4. Tap the Kodi icon, then select the green Install button.
5. Accept the permissions requests if prompted. Kodi is perfectly safe to use.
6. Launch Kodi on your Android device to make sure it works. (Current stable is the Kodi 21 “Omega” series — you can always grab the latest from the official Kodi download page.)

Step 3 – Set Up Screen Mirroring

Any device you use with Kodi will now need screen mirroring to be set up. The steps below will let you quickly turn the features on so you can start watching some movies!

1. On your Android device, open Settings.
2. Go to Display (or Connections) and look for Cast, Smart View, Wireless Display, or Screen Mirroring (naming varies by manufacturer).
3. Open the mirroring options and wait for devices to populate.
4. If you have your Roku correctly set up, you should see it listed.
5. Tap your Roku device to begin casting.

Note: Some stock Android devices (e.g., recent Pixels) do not support Miracast. If you don’t see a mirroring option, use a different Android model or mirror from Windows/macOS instead.

Step 4 – Start Screen Mirroring

Now that your Roku is set up and your secondary device is ready to cast, you can finally start watching Kodi! This is the fun and easy part, and if you followed the steps above, you should be able to pull it off without a hitch.

1. Turn on your TV and make sure your Roku is plugged in and active.
2. Open Kodi on your Android or other non-Roku device.
3. Choose a movie or TV show to stream.
4. Launch the player and start the video.
5. After a moment, the content should be displayed on your TV.

If anything goes wrong, the most likely candidate is your Wi-Fi network. Both the device you’re casting from and the Roku need to be using the same wireless connection in order for screen mirroring to work. For the smoothest playback, connect both devices to the same 5 GHz network, keep them close to the router, and avoid heavy downloads on other devices.

Alternatives to Streaming from Android

In our guide above we covered how to mirror your screen from an Android device to Roku on your TV. Not everyone has an Android tablet or smartphone, however, and even if you do, maybe you want to set up Kodi on a different piece of hardware? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Screen Mirror Kodi to Roku from Windows

Windows is the world’s most common PC operating system. It also happens to have just the right tools needed to screen mirror Kodi to your Roku. Follow the guide below (in order) to get everything set up. Don’t be put off by the number of steps required, it’s not as complicated as you might think.

First, we’ll need to install Kodi on your Windows machine. If you already have it, feel free to jump to the next section.

1. Visit Kodi’s official website to get a fresh and clean copy of the program.
2. Click the blue download button at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down to your operating system, represented by the icons.
4. Click the appropriate icon and a new window will open.
5. Make sure the Recommended tab is selected.
6. Click the installer button near the center to start downloading Kodi.
7. Once Kodi is downloaded, install it to your device, then launch it to make sure it works.

Next it’s time to set up screen mirroring for Windows. Note that even though Windows supports Miracast, not all hardware includes the wireless display components needed for casting. If the options below do not show up on your system, you’ll be unable to cast Kodi from your Windows PC. Try using an Android phone instead for seamless results.

1. Windows 11: Press Win+K (or go to Settings > System > Display and select Connect to a wireless display).
2. Select your Roku device from the list to connect.
3. Choose Duplicate or Second screen only if prompted.
4. Open Kodi and start streaming.

Use a Mac to Stream or Mirror Kodi to Roku (AirPlay)

Good news: most recent Roku players and Roku TVs support Apple AirPlay 2, so you can mirror or stream from macOS without workarounds.

1. Ensure your Roku supports AirPlay (check Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit). If you don’t see the option, your model may not support it. See Roku’s AirPlay guide for supported models.
2. Connect your Mac and Roku to the same Wi-Fi.
3. On your Mac, open Control Center > Screen Mirroring and select your Roku.
   – To stream a single video (without full mirroring), use the AirPlay icon in supported apps instead.
4. Launch Kodi on your Mac and play your content.

Only using Plex as a bridge is no longer necessary for most users. If your older Roku model doesn’t support AirPlay, Plex remains a viable alternative: install Plex Media Server on your Mac and the Plex channel on Roku, then play your local media through Plex.

Cast Kodi from iOS to Roku (AirPlay)

Unlike years past, you can now cast or mirror directly from iPhone/iPad to many Roku models via AirPlay 2—no third-party apps required.

1. Make sure your Roku supports AirPlay and that Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit is configured.
2. Connect your iPhone/iPad and Roku to the same Wi-Fi.
3. Install Kodi on iOS (where applicable), then open Control Center > Screen Mirroring and choose your Roku.
4. Open Kodi and start playback; your TV should mirror within seconds.

Heads-up: Some streaming apps may block mirroring due to DRM. In those cases, use their built-in AirPlay button (if available) or play the content directly via the Roku app/channel instead.

Conclusion

While you can’t directly jailbreak a Roku and install Kodi software to it, there is a simple workaround you can use to gain access to the same content. Screen mirroring (Android/Windows) and AirPlay (iPhone/iPad/Mac) are powerful tools with a wide variety of applications, including casting Kodi content to your TV. With the guide above you can have everything up and running in no time!

Quick definitions & tips

• Screen mirroring (Miracast): Duplicates your device’s screen on Roku; common on Windows and many Android phones.
• AirPlay 2: Apple’s casting/mirroring tech supported on most newer Roku devices; best for iPhone/iPad/Mac.
• Casting vs mirroring: Casting sends just the media stream (when an app supports it); mirroring shows your entire screen.
• Network advice: Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi, keep devices close to the router, and pause large downloads for smoother playback.

Have a question about any of our installation instructions? Get in touch with us in the comment section below!

What’s New in This Update

• Updated VPN section: current NordVPN device limit (10), server footprint, and pricing link; clarified 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Added note on the current Kodi 21 “Omega” series and link to official downloads.
• Replaced older Mac/iOS workaround with native AirPlay 2 steps for most modern Roku models, plus guidance for older models (Plex fallback).
• Refreshed Windows casting steps for Windows 11 (Win+K / Settings path) and added hardware compatibility caveat.
• Clarified Android mirroring naming differences and noted Miracast support variations on some devices.
• Added quick definitions (AirPlay vs Miracast vs Casting) and practical network tips for smoother streaming.

Last updated: 2025-10-21

Don't miss this great deal

3 Comments

1. I’m sorry but mirroring just isn’t a real solution nor can be compared to what you titled this. very misleading

2. Where is “Scroll to the Play on Roku section of your Roku app”?

3. You wanker, I have a risen 7 build plugged into a 75 inch 4k HDR and you wanna tell me about screen mirroring and set your metadata up to look like your a hacker. Stop wasting peoples time, if you were happy to cast from your phone, you wouldn’t be doing a search for root roku would you, dumbass…