How to watch Netflix, Amazon Video and Plex with Raspberry Pi

Tried to turn your Raspberry Pi into a media center but got frustrated?

Are you missing important channels like Netflix and Amazon Video on your Raspberry Pi? Fancy installing Plex to access content on your home network.

Luckily, Kodi isn’t just about illegal add-ons. Here’s how to install Netflix, Amazon Video, and Plex on your Raspberry Pi.

You need Raspberry Pi 3

Before going any further, make sure you are using a Raspberry Pi 3 or later. We used Raspberry Pi 3 B+. While the Raspberry Pi 2 is fine, later models are excellent for streaming and decoding from Netflix and Amazon Video.

Reality Check: If you’ve ever tried to get Netflix or Amazon Video add-ons to work on a Raspberry Pi-based Kodi box, you’ll understand how difficult (and frustrating) it can be.

Typically, these issues are caused by a combination of bad add-ons (or ones that will only work with desktop Kodi installations) and low spec old Raspberry Pis. If you are using a Raspberry Pi 3 B+, the following steps will allow you to access your existing Netflix and Amazon Video subscriptions via Kodi.

Install Kodi on Raspberry Pi with OSMC

To get Netflix, Amazon Video, and Plex to work with minimal effort, you need to use OSMC (Open Source Media Center). OSMC is one of several versions of Kodi available for the Raspberry Pi

Download the installer from osmc.tv, which automates the process of writing OSMC to a microSD card. (You can also download the disk image and install it on your Raspberry Pi in the usual way.)

Play with the installer by choosing the most recent build of OSMC. You can also set up a wireless network when prompted.

Install OSMC on your Raspberry Pi

Once installed, insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi, connect it to your router via Ethernet (you can set up Wi-Fi after everything is set up) and to your TV’s HDMI port, and then connect the power cable.

Downgrade OSMC for better stability

Although you have installed OSMC, a special version is required and cannot be burned as an image to a microSD card. This «nightly build» is stable enough to run the Netflix add-on you’ll install later.

First, open a terminal or connect to OSMC via SSH and type:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

In the file, add this line at the bottom; this adds a new source.

 deb http://download.osmc.tv/dev/gmc-18 gmc-18 main

Downgrade OSMC to Install Netflix

Click ctrl+X, to save and exit. Then add the GPG certificate to verify the origin:

 wget -qO - http://download.osmc.tv/dev/gmc-19/public/pubkey.asc | sudo apt-key add -

The next step is to update the list of sources:

 sudo apt update

You can then run a kernel update:

 sudo apt dist-upgrade -y

Follow this by downgrading to a new build.

 sudo apt install rbp2-mediacenter-osmc=17.8-433 -y

This may take some time, so be patient. After that install pip:

 sudo apt install python-pip python-crypto build-essential -y

Follow this by installing these dependencies:

 sudo apt install python-all-dev python-setuptools python-wheel -y sudo apt install python-crypto-dbg python-crypto-doc python-pip-whl -y

These dependencies will ensure that whatever you’re about to install works properly.

Install and set up Plex for local media streaming

Want to transfer videos, music or photos from another device on the network? You will need a Plex server installed on your computer and a client add-on installed on your Raspberry Pi.

Once OSMC is running on Raspberry Pi, go to » Settings» > «Add-ons Browser» > «Install from Repository» > «Video Add-ons» . Scroll through the list until you find Plex, select and install . Click OK, to confirm and wait until it finishes.

Install Plex Client Software on Raspberry Pi

After that use the option Restart to reboot your Raspberry Pi.

While this is happening, why not check out our Plex guide for info and tips on this great streaming solution? Or maybe you would like to know about some hidden plex settings you should use plex you should use

Install and Set Up Amazon Video on Raspberry Pi

Want to watch Amazon video streaming on your Raspberry Pi? Here’s what you need to do.

Staying in the terminal (or SSH client), it’s time to install the Amazon Video add-on. Start using command wget to download the ZIP file directly from GitHub:

 wget https://github.com/Sandmann79/xbmc/releases/download/v1.0.2/repository.sandmann79.plugins-1.0.2.zip

After that, switch your attention to the TV and go to » Settings» > «Add-ons Browser» > «Install from Zip File» . You will be told that installation is not possible from unknown sources, so select » Settings» and check the box » Unknown sources» . Confirm the decision by selecting «Yes», then go to the home screen and return to the » Install from Zip File» .

Select here root file system and find a way to home page > osmc > repository.sandmann79.plugins .

Install Storage for Amazon VOD on Raspberry PI

Select this and wait for it to unpack, then go back and search for » Settings» > «Add-ons Browser» > «Install from repository» . Go to Sandmann79s repository and find video add-ons . From here select Amazon VOD (an alternative called «Amazon» is for German users).

Amazon VOD dependencies in Kodi

Select Install then confirm by pressing OK . Please note that some additional add-ons will be installed (see image above). Leave it to the end, then reboot your Raspberry Pi. When it restarts, it’s time to set up the add-on. Go to » Settings > Add-ons Browser > My Add-ons > Video Add-ons and select » Amazon VOD» .

Install Amazon VOD on Raspberry Pi with Kodi

Go to Configure and in general change the parameter playback, to choose input stream . Then in the view Connection» select » Entrance» and enter your Amazon account credentials. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Amazon account, you will be prompted to enter a code sent to your device.

Enjoy Amazon VOD on Raspberry Pi

After that, you will be ready to watch Amazon video content! You will find Amazon VOD in the list of add-ons.

Install and Set Up Netflix on Raspberry Pi

Let’s take a look at streaming Netflix on Raspberry Pi next.

To install the Netflix client on your Raspberry Pi, you first need to do a little setup. In terminal enter:

 pip install pycryptodomex

This is a dependency required to run Netflix. The add-in needs to know where it is, so add a symlink:

 sudo ln -s /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/Crypto /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/Cryptodome

Then download the addon itself from GitHub.

 wget https://github.com/kodinerds/repo/raw/master/repository.netflix/repository.netflix-1.0.1.zip

Return your attention to the TV and navigate to the ZIP file: Settings > Secondary browser > Install from Zip file . AT root file system find home > osmc > repository.netflix-1.0.1.zip and select Install .

Install Netflix on Raspberry Pi

Wait for the notification, then go back and select » Settings»> «Browser superstructures» > «Install from repository» > «Repository superstructures Netflix» and then » Video add-ons» . Here you will find Netflix ; select Install select the latest version, then click OK .

Install the Netflix add-on for Raspberry Pi

After that, restart your Raspberry Pi. When it reboots, you will need to set up the add-on with your Netflix credentials.

Open » Settings» > «Add-ons Browser» > «My Add-ons» > «Video Add-ons» > «Netflix» select » Tune» and find » Account» . In chapter » Account change» enter your credentials.

You also need to set up the InputStream module. AT menu «Settings» > «Add-ons browser» > «My add-ons» find VideoPlayer InputStream and select » InputStream Adaptive» .

Adjust the resolution in the Netflix add-on