Hey friend! Have you heard about the hot new Kodi addon called 9 LIVES? In this guide, I‘m going to walk you through everything you need to know about 9 LIVES including what it is, how to install it, key features, and some tips for safely enjoying free movies and TV shows.
What is 9 LIVES Kodi Addon?
9 LIVES is a relatively new third-party addon for Kodi that provides access to a huge library of free movies and TV shows. It scrapes content links from various online sources and brings them all together in one easy to use video addon.
Some of the standout features of 9 LIVES include:
- Massive catalog of movies and TV shows rivaling top addons like The Crew and Seren
- Constantly updated library with latest releases
- Great section organization including New Movies, New Episodes, Search, Tools and more
- Integration with Real-Debrid for premium quality streams
- My Movies and My TV sections for personal media libraries
- People section to browse actors filmographies
- Trakt integration to track and sync watched content
In a short time, 9 LIVES has already become one of the most popular Kodi addons thanks to its smooth performance and wealth of content.
Kodi Addon Usage Statistics and Trends
Kodi has exploded in popularity in recent years as a free open source home theater software. According to Statista, active Kodi installations worldwide have grown from around 6 million in 2016 to over 41 million in 2021.
A big driver of this growth is Kodi‘s support for addons that allow users to expand its capabilities and access streaming content. There are thousands of addons available but which ones are most popular in 2022?
TechRadar recently compiled data on current Kodi addon trends and usage. Their findings indicated addons like The Crew, Seren, and Venom are among the top devices by users, but 9 LIVES is rapidly rising up the charts as a new favorite.
According to Google Trends data, search interest for "9 lives kodi" has dramatically increased over the past year, accelerating especially in recent months as word has spread about the quality and experience the addon provides.
While 9 LIVES got its start distributing potentially questionable or copyrighted material, it stands out from other addons in my opinion due to its focus on adding more and more legal, free sources. I‘ll highlight some great free/legal content options later in this guide.
First though, let‘s get into how to get 9 LIVES installed on your device!
Is 9 LIVES Legal and Safe to Use?
Now you may be wondering – is using 9 LIVES legal and safe? This is an important question to address.
The Kodi software itself is perfectly legal. However, some third-party addons provide access to content hosted without permission, raising legal concerns.
The 9 LIVES addon is legal to install and use. However, some of the content it scrapes may come from unauthorized sources. It‘s up to each user to responsibly choose media sources that don‘t violate copyrights. There are plenty of legal options which I‘ll point out later.
In terms of safety, unofficial addons like 9 LIVES always carry some risks. They may contain malware or expose your data. Potential issues include:
- Privacy/data collection concerns
- Spyware, malware or viruses
- Addons suddenly shutting down
- Linking to dangerous piracy sites
- ISP infringement notices
That said, 9 LIVES comes from a reputable developer and so far has a strong safety track record. But it still helps to take precautions like using a good VPN.
I‘d recommend considering Surfshark or NordVPN. These will encrypt your streaming, prevent spying, and help avoid any ISP trouble.
Now let‘s get into how to install 9 LIVES!
Step-by-Step 9 LIVES Installation Guide
In this section, I‘ll walk you through the complete process for installing 9 LIVES on a Firestick or Android TV box. I‘ll be demonstrating on a Firestick 4K but all Fire TV and Android devices work the same way.
Before we get started, make sure you have the latest version of Kodi installed. If not, you can install or update it by following my Kodi installation guide for Firestick.
Let‘s begin!
Enable Unknown Sources in Kodi
Since 9 LIVES isn’t part of the official Kodi addon repository, we first need to enable “Unknown Sources” to allow installing third-party addons:
- Launch Kodi on your device
- Click the Settings icon (looks like a gear)
- Select System, then Add-ons
- Enable “Unknown Sources”
Kodi will warn you that add-ons can access data on your device. This is normal – click Yes to proceed.
Enabling Unknown Sources is a one-time setting change in Kodi that will remain enabled in the future.
Add the 9 LIVES Repository
Next, we need to add the repository that hosts the 9 LIVES addon files. The repository only needs to be added once and allows installing 9 LIVES and receiving updates.
- Go back to the Kodi home screen
- Click on Settings icon > File Manager > Add source
- Enter the following URL exactly:
http://grindhousekodi.tk/repo- Enter a name for the media source like "Grindhouse" and click OK
Note: In newer Kodi versions the colon ‘:‘ button is under the keyboard caps lock key.
Install the Grindhouse Repository
Now we can install the repository we just added:
- Return to the Kodi main menu
- Click on Add-ons > Install from zip file
- Select "Grindhouse" or whatever you named the source
- Install
repository.grindhousekodi.zip - Wait for the repository to install
Once installed, you‘ll see a "Grindhouse Repository Add-on installed" pop-up.
Install the 9 LIVES Addon
With the repository installed, we‘re ready to download 9 LIVES:
- Go back to Add-ons and click Install from repository
- Select the Grindhouse Repository
- Go to Video add-ons
- Choose 9 LIVES > Install
- Accept the additional dependency addons to download
- Wait for the "9 LIVES Kodi Add-on installed" notification
It may take a minute or two for everything to finish installing. Once complete though, 9 LIVES will be ready to use!
Troubleshooting 9 LIVES Install
Hopefully the install process goes smoothly for you. But in case you run into any issues, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure Kodi is updated to the latest version
- Double check the repository URL was entered correctly
- Try disabling and re-enabling Unknown Sources
- Clear the Kodi cache in Settings > Tools > Clear Caches
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling the repository
- Restart your Firestick/Android box
- Check Kodi forums for other users installing 9 LIVES
With a little patience, you should be able to sort out any addon installation problems.
Using a VPN for Privacy and Security
I want to re-emphasize the importance of using a virtual private network (VPN) anytime you use third-party Kodi addons like 9 LIVES.
A VPN encrypts all of your Kodi streaming activity and hides your IP address. This prevents your internet service provider from monitoring or throttling your connection speed. It also adds a layer of anonymity for any content accessed through unofficial addons.
I recommend these top-rated Kodi VPNs:
NordVPN – fast speeds, doesn‘t log activity, advanced security features and encryption. Easy to install on Firestick and Android TV.
Surfshark – affordable pricing, allows unlimited devices, provides antivirus protection. Also offers a 30-day money back guarantee.
ExpressVPN – very reliable with excellent speeds, allows media streaming on tons of devices, offers 24/7 customer support.
Any of these will work great, so choose the one that best fits your budget and needs.
Now let‘s explore all the great content and features available with 9 LIVES!
Using the 9 LIVES Addon
After finishing the install process, you‘ll find the 9 LIVES icon in the Kodi Add-ons section. Here‘s an overview of the key sections available and how to use them.
Movies
The Movies section contains a huge library of films you can browse and watch for free. You‘ll find all the latest cinema releases as well as classics, indie flicks and more.
Genres are organized to easily find exactly what you‘re in the mood for. Horror, action, comedy, drama, thriller – 9 LIVES has them all!
You can also access sections like Most Popular, Highly Rated, New HD Releases and New Cam Releases. Use these to discover top movies or find the newest additions.
Within each movie selection, 9 LIVES will display a variety of streaming link sources. I recommend trying the RD Links first if you have Real-Debrid connected as these provide the fastest, highest quality streams.
TV Shows
Just like Movies, 9 LIVES gives you a giant catalog of TV shows to access on-demand. Browse networks like HBO, Netflix, AMC, ABC, and more to watch shows from each channel.
Dig into popular shows by checking Most Popular, Top Rated, New Seasons, and Latest Episodes. The People section also lets you search by actor to find their shows.
You can select a show, pick a season, and stream any episode completely free!
My Movies and My TV Shows
If you connect 9 LIVES to your Trakt account, you can access custom My Movies and My TV sections. These pull in your Trakt collections, watchlists, and viewing history for quick access.
It‘s a great feature so you can easily continue shows or watch your favorite movies without having to search for them each time.
New Movies and New Episodes
Want to stay on top of the latest releases? Check the New Movies and New Episodes sections.
As the name suggests, these provide constantly updated listings of new movies that have hit streaming as well as recently aired episodes of popular shows. It‘s a fast way to keep up with fresh content.
People
The People section offers a unique way to browse 9 LIVES‘ catalog. You can search for specific actors or actresses and it will return all their movies and shows available to stream.
It‘s a great way to find titles starring your favorite actors or revisit films from specific eras based on their cast members.
Settings and Tools
Under the Settings section you can link your Real-Debrid and Trakt accounts for premium streams and centralized media libraries.
The Tools area provides additional options like clearing caches, resetting addon settings, and more. These can help resolve any issues.
Search
Of course 9 LIVES also includes search functionality so you can find movies, shows, actors and more. As you type in the search bar, it will autocomplete and display results.
Linking a Real-Debrid Account
While not completely necessary, I‘d highly recommend considering linking a Real-Debrid account in the 9 LIVES addon settings.
This unlocks premium quality fast streaming links so you can enjoy ad-free 1080p HD streams that never buffer. Real-Debrid is very affordable starting at just a few dollars per month.
Integrating Real-Debrid really maximizes the streaming potential of 9 LIVES and gives you a smooth watching experience.
Enjoying Free Legal Content with 9 LIVES
While some of 9 LIVES‘ content comes from gray area sources, there are also lots of great free legal movies and shows accessible as well. Here are just a few examples:
Classic Movies – 9 LIVES offers many classic films that are in the public domain and 100% free/legal to watch such as Night of the Living Dead, Nosferatu, His Girl Friday, and more.
Independent Films – Lots of great indie movies on 9 LIVES were released legally for free streaming by their creators.
Free YouTube Movies – Major studios like Paramount and Lionsgate have uploaded some of their films to YouTube entirely free. 9 LIVES catalogs many of these.
Documentaries – Many excellent documentaries have been made available for free public viewing by their producers.
News/Education Content – Videos produced by news organizations and educational institutions are typically legal to freely stream.
There are tons of high-quality free movies and shows on 9 LIVES – you just have to be responsible and selective about which sources you use.
I hope this guide has helped explain exactly what the 9 LIVES Kodi addon is, how to install it, key features, and tips for safe usage. Take your time setting it up, and you‘ll have access to endless entertainment options!
Let me know if you have any other questions about getting started with 9 LIVES. Enjoy!
