Can I use my phone as a Kodi remote on a PC?
Yes. Kodi on a PC is fully usable from the keyboard, and SofaDeck turns those keys into big phone buttons: arrows to move, Enter to select, Backspace to go back, Space to pause, C for the context menu, I for info. Every one of them is a single key, so the free version covers a whole Kodi remote. For browsing your library with posters, Kodi's own Kore app is better; SofaDeck adds the rest of the PC.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC (free)
- Scan the QR code with your phone
- Tap
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
Kodi was designed for the couch, and its keyboard map is a full remote control: arrows, OK, back, play controls and menus. On a living-room PC that means a phone that can press those keys is a complete Kodi remote. SofaDeck does exactly that, from the phone's browser, and on the same screen it controls the things Kodi can't reach: the Windows volume, a sleep timer, turning the screen off and shutting the PC down.
If the PC also runs a browser, Steam or Spotify, the same deck handles them too, which is the main reason to use a PC-level remote rather than a Kodi-only one.
Set it up in 5 steps
- Install SofaDeck on the PC that runs Kodi.
- Scan the QR code on the PC with your phone and type the PIN.
- Tap edit → + → Key / hotkey and add the arrows, Enter and Backspace first; those three do most of the work in Kodi.
- Add Space (pause), X (stop), C (context menu) and I (info), then a button that launches Kodi itself (pick it from the imported Start Menu apps).
- Optional: add PC power buttons (screen off, sleep, shut down) from the PC power template.
Buttons to add for Kodi
| Button | What it sends | What it does | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↑ ↓ ← → | Keys: ↑, ↓, ←, → | Moves through Kodi's menus; during playback ← → step back and forward, ↑ ↓ take bigger steps. | Free |
| OK | Key: Enter | Selects the highlighted item. | Free |
| Back | Key: Backspace | Goes back one screen. | Free |
| Menu / previous | Key: Esc | Returns to the previous menu or Home. | Free |
| Play / Pause | Key: Space | Pauses and resumes playback (P works too). | Free |
| Stop | Key: X | Stops playback. | Free |
| Rewind / Fast forward | Keys: R, F | R rewinds, F fast-forwards (press again for a faster speed). | Free |
| Context menu | Key: C | Opens the context menu for the highlighted item. | Free |
| Info | Key: I | Shows information about the item or what's playing. | Free |
| Subtitles | Keys: T, L | Turns subtitles on or off; L switches to the next subtitle track. | Free |
| Kodi volume | Keys: =, -, F8 | The +/= key raises Kodi's volume, - lowers it, F8 mutes. | Free |
| Fullscreen / window | Key: \ | Switches Kodi between fullscreen and a window. | Free |
| Open Kodi | App: Kodi (imported from the Start Menu) | Starts Kodi from the couch. | Free |
| Screen off | PC power: screen off | Turns the display off; the PC keeps running. | Free |
Keys are Kodi's default keyboard map (the Kodi wiki's "Keyboard controls" page has the full list; skins and add-ons can change some). The free version holds one page of 12 buttons, so start with the ones you reach for most; Pro removes the limit.
Or just say it
Tap the microphone on the phone (or type in the say-or-type bar) and SofaDeck runs the command on the PC. Any button also runs by saying its label. The full voice command list has the rest.
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
pause | Media Play/Pause key, which Kodi answers. |
volume 40 | Sets the Windows volume. |
open Kodi | Starts Kodi (once it's a button or an imported app). |
shut down | Shuts the PC down after you confirm on the phone. |
What's free and what needs Pro
Everything on this page is in the free version. Pro (from $6.99 once, no subscription) adds more pages, hotkey combos, macros and Smart pages that switch the phone to your Kodi page when Kodi comes to the front (Windows), if you want more later. See Pro.
Limits, honestly
- SofaDeck sends keys; it doesn't show Kodi's library, posters or a now-playing seek bar on the phone.
- Keys go to the window in front. Kodi in fullscreen is always in front, so this only matters if you alt-tab away.
- The arrows are four separate buttons, so plan a 3 × 4 layout: arrows and OK in the middle, play controls around them.
- Kodi on Android TV boxes, Fire TV or a Raspberry Pi is out of reach: SofaDeck runs on Windows and Mac only.
SofaDeck runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) and on the Mac (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). The phone needs only a browser: iPhone or Android, no app to install, on the same Wi-Fi as the PC.
Other ways to control Kodi from your phone
Kodi's official free remote app, Kore (Android), and the paid Yatse talk to Kodi directly through its web server and show your library, artwork and a seek bar. They're the best choice for browsing a big library and they work with Kodi on any device. SofaDeck is the choice when Kodi lives on a PC that also does other things, or when you want voice and PC power controls next to the Kodi buttons.
Kodi is a trademark of its owner. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Kodi. Shortcuts listed are the app's defaults at the time of writing and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kodi remote free?
Yes. Every Kodi key on this page is a single key, and single keys are free in SofaDeck. Pro adds more pages, Smart pages that switch to your Kodi page when Kodi comes to the front, and macros.
Which keys does Kodi use for a remote?
Arrows to move, Enter to select, Backspace to go back, Esc for the previous menu, Space or P to pause, X to stop, R and F to rewind and fast-forward, C for the context menu, I for info, T for subtitles and \ to switch between fullscreen and a window.
Does it need Kodi's web server or a password?
No. SofaDeck presses keys on the PC, so nothing in Kodi needs to be switched on. Kore and Yatse need Kodi's "Allow remote control via HTTP" setting instead.
Can I also use my TV remote?
Yes, with a USB-CEC adapter between the PC and the TV, which Kodi supports. It works alongside SofaDeck.
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