How to Install Kodi v19 Matrix on your QNAP NAS

Install KODI v.19 Matrix on your QNAP NAS

Buying a NAS Drive for use as a Kodi Media Centre is pretty common these days and something that alot of people have done in the past to huge success. With access to your own privately owned multimedia, the ability to share that media with friends and family, access Kodi TV channels and enjoy all the metadata background images, reviews and information that are included to dress up your movies and boxsets beautifully – the appeal is pretty obvious. However many users also like the option to access their Kodi Media Server locally over HDMI, i.e. connecting a TV to the HDMI port of their NAS and then accessing the Kodi media centre with all it’s graphical flair and design (as opposed to streaming from the NAS to an Amazon FireStick or Android TV Box with Kodi installed) with near-zero latency, which is hugely beneficial for MASSIVE 4K H.264 high bitrate media that is just so big to stream over the network, but HDMI can handle immediately. Till recently, the very best way of having HDMI access to your Kodi Media Server was using the QNAP HD Station application and many of the QNAP HDMI enabled NAS. However, Kodi has been missing from the QNAP app library for a few years and this has been a real area of disappointment for many users. This is especially frustrating for some, now that Kodi has arrived in version 19 (codenamed Matrix).

Using Kodi v.19 to watch your local media is especially tempting to do, as many of the newest generations of QNAP NAS in 2020 (such as the TS-251D and TS-253D) have HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.0a and HDMI 2.0b support – so 60FPS 4K and higher. Unfortunately, the most recent release of QTS and QNAP HD Station appears to have lost/removed the Kodi Media client application for HDMI access. Whether this is because of the older Kodi client app not being compatible with HD Station, or QNAP choosing to remove it (as they did older versions of Kodi) because of some users playing fast & loose with copyright law, we do not know. However, never fear! There are still several ways to access your Kodi Media player NAS over HDMI with HD Station and below I have detailed the very best way to do it in my Kodi HDMI NAS Guide. Take a look and let’s get back to watching some movies.

Kodi, QNAP NAS and HDMI – What You Will Need?

In order to take advantage of the Kodi Media Player via HDMI output on a QNAP NAS, you are going to need a few things before we start. This whole installation should take you no more than about 15 minutes (as long as you already have the Kodi Media Server NAS application installed from the QNAP App centre, otherwise, make it 45-60mins). Additionally, this guide is based on the idea that you have already set your NAS drive set up for use and you already have media uploaded onto the NAS drive to watch. Not all QNAP NAS devices are suitable for this installation, as you will need to have a NAS drive that supports an HDMI output and graphically enabled CPU. Below is your checklist to make sure you have before beginning the installation of the Kodi HD Station application for HDMI.

• QNAP NAS with an Intel/AMD CPU
• HDMI Port (1.4 or 2.0a)
• QTS Upgraded to QTS 4.4.1 or later
• Latest Version of HD Station
• Control Device for HDMI, ie IR Remote, Keyboard+Mouse,
• Access to the Internet (can be disabled after if you prefer) and access the NAS via the Web Browser GUI (Graphical User Interface, ie The Desktop of QNAP NAS)

And that is about it. You will also need a client device like a desktop PC or mobile device to access the QNAP QTS graphical user interface (GUI), but this is something you should already own and used when setting your device up from scratch for time. So, let’s get started with this Kodi QNAP NAS HDMI setup guide.

Step 1 – Upgrade your QNAP NAS to the latest version of QTS

Make sure that the QNAP NAS you are using is updated to the latest version of their QTS software platform. This will ensure that you have the most recent release from them, as well as have access to the latest applications in the app center.

Step 2 – Enable HD Station and Upgrade to the latest version

If you QNAP NAS has an HDMI port (which is essential for this installation and setup of HDMI Kodi NAS), then on the desktop of your QNAP NAS you will see an option for HD Station. Clicking on it will install the HDMI GUI portal that is HD Station from QNAP. It will also ask if you want to install a few companion applications for the HDMI output to enjoy Photos, Video, Music, Surveillance and more.

Alternatively, you can head to the control panel and click the HD Station menu option and install HD Station there.

Step 3 – Return to the QNAP QTS Menu, then over to the App Center and add the Unofficial App Store – QNAP Club

The next step is to head back to the QTS QNAP NAS GUI desktop that you use on your web browser and head back to the app center. However, we are now going to give your NAS access to the unofficial app center, QNAP Club.

QNAP Club is a community and homebrew application center that lets you access older versions of applications or customized software that has been modified from working on other software platforms, so they can run on your QNAP NAS.

This unofficial app center contains hundreds of very unique NAS applications, but it is worth remembering that these apps are unofficial and that means they do not get the official brand’s quality control or compatibility checks – so you are installing this at your own risk and can potentially invalidate your support from the manufacturer.

Here is how to gain access to the QNAP Club app centre.

Step 4 – Head to the HD Station Catagory and search for KODI, then Install the latest Version

Once you have added access to the QNAP Club app centre (and given it a minute or two to sync with their server over the internet), you will have a category list on the left-hand side that breaks down all of the applications into their subjects. Head down to the ‘HD Station’ category to see the full list of unofficial applications that utilize the QNAP HDMI Port and HDMI Portal software GUI. In that list, you will find several Kodi related appliances (you can also just search for the word ‘Kodi’ in the search bar of the QNAP App centre).

Of these two applications, the two best ones that will serve your needs are the Kodi Matrix 19.0.0.200 application (which is the most recent Kodi release so far for QNAP NAS) that presents you with the familiar browsing list option of your Kodi library (that you should have set up earlier in the Kodi Media Server QNAP NAS app installation in Step 3&4). Alternatively, there is Kodi Leia (light), which allows you to use the previous version of Kodi .18.5, but is much lighter and streamlined version -ideal for those that want to use Kodi, but have lower system resources available..

I would recommend installing both to test them individually and see which one best suits your needs. Each is a pretty big installation file (just under 300MBs) so it will take differing times to install based on your internet connection.

Step 5 – Connect an HDMI Monitor and Control Device so you can browse the QNAP HD Station GUI over HDMI

If you have not done it already, now you need to connect the HDMI monitor/TV, as well as establish the means of which you plan on controlling the options menus and navigating. With regard to control, your options are:

IR Remote – QNAP has several different remote controls that are either bundled with NAS releases (such as the TS-251+, TS-253B, TS-682, etc) that communicate like any home remote control, over infrared. These can also be purchased for around £10-20. I STRONGLY recommend the latest one, as it has NAS task tailored buttons that can be connected with different applications or tasks on the NAS (eg a button that IMMEDIATELY switches to your Surveillance setup or a button that automatically opens Kodi).

New Generation QNAP Remote

Buy the QNAP RM-IR004 HERE

 

Old Generation QNAP Remote

Buy the QNAP RM-IR002 HERE

QRemote – A free application for Android and iOS, this is the official QNAP mobile remote. A small download and supported by pretty much ANY mobile phone, it has all the features and functionality of the physical remote control mentioned above but is connected to the NAS over the network. It also arrives with much more integrated connectivity with the QNAP NAS applications and can even give you a touch-screen mouse pad control. Quite cool, but then requires you to use your mobile phone in conjunction with the TV/NAS and adds an extra few seconds to access the menu (unlocking your phone from standby, etc) and pausing/controlling your Kodi Media.

Keyboard and Mouse – This is the most rudimentary option, allowing you to connect ANY USB mouse and keyboard, as well as those that use a wireless radio/Bluetooth dongle. Depending on the keyboard, some of the hotkeys functions (volume, media keys, etc) that are featured on yoru keyboard might well be supported on Kodi HD Station, but having a keyboard/mouse setup on the sofa is hardly ideal.

Any of these options are workable and each has its own advantages/disadvantages. Personally, I use the IR Remote. Once you connect the QNAP NAS to an HDMI monitor (and the QNAP is fully booted), the screen with show the QNAP Login screen. Use the input device you have selected from my options above and then enter your username and password. If you are concerned with security and entering your login details on a big TV in front of friends and family, I HIGHLY recommend you create a 2nd account that ONLY has access to the HD Station applications, or use the HD Station setup options to create a login account that ONLY works in the HD Station HDMI GUI portal.

Step 6 – Open the Kodi Media Player Application

Once you are logged in, you will see the HD STATION GUI window over HDMI, as well as the applications you have selected to install (which should include Kodi apps now).

Once you have verified your account credentials and linked the Kodi Account with this NAS HDMI app, you should have access to all the libraries and setup from yoru Kodi Media Server and can access your full multimedia library, stream shows from the Kodi Channels and more.

Step 7 – Head back to the HD STATION GUI and Set KODI V.19 as the Default Boot App

This last step is purely optional. If you plan on ONLY using Kodi Media Player (v19 Matrix or V18.5 Leia) for your HDMI output on the QNAP NAS and want to skip all the steps to open it every single time, you can head into the HD Station settings options (in the HD Station HDMI GUI on your TV) and then assign Kodi to be the default opening app. This means that it will automatically open Kodi every time you boot the QNAP NAS and save you time going into it every time.

This does not stop you accessing the HD Station menu though and just clicking the home/back/exit key of your control device (remote, keyboard, etc) will take you back to the HD Station GUI menu and all the apps. Just like QNAP QTS, the HD Station application allows you to run multiple applications at once, flicking between them as needed. You have now installed the Kodi Client application on your QNAP, over HD Station and have access to the Kodi Media Server library on your NAS Drive. I hope you found this guide helpful.

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