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Is Your Kodi Not Working? Here is How to Fix Common Kodi-Related Issues in 2024

kodi not working

Have you tried everything, but Kodi still doesn’t seem to work? Well, in that case, the solution is easier than you think. Here, we discuss how you can fix Kodi problems such as freezing, crashing, buffering, or playback issues.

Isn’t it always very annoying when Kodi encounters problems, particularly because it is very difficult to find the cause of an issue? Fortunately, you don’t need to fret over it because most Kodi issues can be easily resolved with minimum effort. Our guide is aimed at helping you troubleshoot issues most commonly faced by Kodi users so that you can get back to watching your favorite anime and movies within no time.

Here are the possible “Kodi not working” problems you are most likely to run into:

  1. Kodi crashing upon loading
  2. Inability to delete add-ons
  3. Hardware acceleration issues
  4. Buffering issues
  5. Video lagging
  6. Blank screen
  7. Kodi freezing during the playback
  8. Cannot search on add-ons

We intend to guide you through sound direction and insight into solving common problems that you might encounter, leaving Kodi not working. However, it’s pertinent to note that third-party add-ons happen to be less stable than the official ones. They are very unreliable and most often cause problems of their own. Moreover, third-party add-ons usually rely on unlicensed sources. Therefore, it is advised that you only use official add-ons and only rely on properly licensed content as much as possible.

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Warning: Only use Kodi for content to which you have legal access. Both Ivacy and Kodi Foundation don’t condone the use of Kodi for piracy purposes.

The Need to Use a VPN with Kodi

VPNs function by encrypting a user’s inbound and outbound internet traffic, preventing it from being accessed by an outsider. Doing so renders a wide variety of Man-in-the-middle attacks useless while also putting a stop to your browsing activities being spied on by your ISP.

Ivacy VPN offers fast and consistently stable connections to servers positioned around the globe. Moreover, it is one of the easiest VPNs to install on any device and keeps no logs of any of your activities. It is also available as a Chrome browser extension. With an extensive network of servers and excellent speeds, Ivacy VPN is preferred by Kodi users around the globe. You can get a 2-year VPN subscription plus three months and a password manager for free for only $2.49/month with our Freedom deal and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to Access Kodi Safely from Anywhere?

Setting up and using Kodi is one one thing, but using it safely and privately is something else. Ivacy VPN is the tool that keeps users private and secure while they browse, stream, and play online. Here is how to set up Ivacy VPN for Kodi:

  1. Sign up for an Ivacy VPN plan.
  2. Download and install the Ivacy VPN app or client.
  3. Sign in to the Ivacy VPN account.
  4. Connect to a VPN server in a different geographical region.
  5. Launch the Kodi media player.
  6. Watch Kodi safely and private from anywhere.
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What Problems Leave Kodi Not Working?

Kodi happens to be one of the most easily installable media center software packages and can be set up on a wide range of devices, including Roku and Apple TV. However, even though Kodi works similarly across various platforms, each device has a different system, which can make Kodi troubleshooting difficult. For instance, you may encounter issues while fixing Kodi on your Firestick that you never do on your Android app version.

Kodi Keeps Crashing, Freezing, or Pausing

Remove recently installed add-ons, updates, or builds

Suppose “Kodi not working” is in the form of crashing or freezing; that is a sure sign that something has gone wrong. First, consider when this problem began and what your actions were just prior to this. If the issue started after you installed a particular add-on, try uninstalling it and see if the problem persists. Likewise, if you just installed an add-on update or customized Kodi build, you might want to uninstall this to remove it as a potential cause.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is one of the main causes of Kodi not working, particularly on Android. You could try turning this option off to see if the issue goes away. Doing this is simple: from the Kodi home screen, click the gear icon to go to the settings menu.

Next, click on Player Settings. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find another gear icon with the word “Basic” beside it. Click this three times, and it should turn to “Expert.” Now highlight the Video tab, scroll down to the bottom of the list on the right, and disable the Allow hardware acceleration – DXVA2 option. Restart Kodi and see if the crashing persists.

Clear Kodi’s Cache

When Kodi plays streaming videos, it downloads a few seconds at a time to the cache. This allows for faster access and smoother streaming. However, when the cache fills up entirely, it can cause Kodi to behave erratically. A choppy video is a tell-tale sign that the cache is getting full, and although the cache usually empties itself, sometimes it needs to be flushed manually.

Kodi does not have any built-in tools that allow you to do this, so you’ll have to install the Indigo add-on from the TVAddons repo. Once installed, click the Maintenance Tools tab, then the Clear Cache button on the right.

If you’re looking for a different maintenance option, TVAddons also provides an add-on called Indigo that works similarly. You’ll find a cache-clearing tool there as well.

Reinstall Kodi

If the steps above do not solve your issue, and you are still left with the Kodi app not working, you might want to consider doing a fresh Kodi installation. You can either do this manually by downloading your preferred version from https://kodi.tv/download or by using the Indigo tool’s Factory Restore option, found under the Maintenance Tools tab.

Check Internet Connectivity

You must ensure that your internet connection is operational. Many times, sluggish internet access is the consequence of Kodi streaming troubles, and we blame the add-on or Kodi itself. Follow the steps outlined below:

The minimum speed required to stream on Kodi = is 5 Mbps

  • SD quality stream = 0 Mbps
  • HD quality stream = 5 Mbps
  • Ultra HD or 3D stream = 25 Mbps
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Apply for Real Debrid

Real Debrid and Trakt are two paid accounts that you may use to get higher download speeds when streaming on Kodi. However, it is subscription-only if the specific service is accessible as an add-on.

It will not work if the Real Debrid or Trakt service is not available in the add-on. As a result, many Kodi users choose Real Debrid since many Kodi add-ons consider this service.

Kodi Unplayable Stream

There are three main reasons why a stream might not load. First, ensure you’re connected to the Internet. This is simple enough: without internet access, you won’t be able to watch the videos hosted online.

“Kodi add-ons not working” is a common issue with many add-ons. Unfortunately, development teams come and go all the time, often due to the threat of legal action. In cases like these, you won’t be able to install new add-ons from the repo in question, and the add-ons you already have may become unstable or refuse to work.

This error most commonly occurs when you try to access a region-locked service from outside of its required country. Geo-restrictions may prevent many users from accessing different kinds of content. For instance, if you’re attempting to use the iPlayer WWW add-on from outside of the UK, the streams won’t load. You can bypass these restrictions by connecting to a VPN server in the appropriate region before starting the add-on.

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A VPN service will help you bypass any geo-restrictions by changing your IP address and location. Therefore, if you are using Kodi from, let’s say, Australia, you will appear to be connecting from the United Kingdom on the Internet and be able to access any services that are only available for UK residents.

Continuous Crashing and Rebooting

Kodi may get stuck in a constant crash/reboot loop due to many reasons. For instance, if you’ve installed custom builds, they could be the source of the issue, and you need to remove them. If this still doesn’t resolve your problem. Disconnect your computer or device, and then check again.

Kodi’s Add-on Searches and Streams Not Functioning

A little-known error can result in your Kodi not working searches, updates, or streams correctly. For instance, you may discover that some add-ons are unable to pull any newer or older content, even if it is usually available. If this turns out to be the case, check your device’s date and time since it’s most commonly caused by an incorrect time and date.

Videos Constantly Stuttering or Loading

Weak network signals or slow internet speeds can result in streaming issues. If your network doesn’t have any significant issues, you could be facing geo-restrictions. Certain content providers tend to restrict access via geo-restrictions, whereby the IP addresses of someone trying to access from a non-preferred location are rejected.

However, you can easily evade such restrictions with the help of a VPN. You can connect your VPN to a server operating out of the correct location and access the restricted Kodi content immediately. For instance, BBC blocks content for anyone connecting from the UK, NBC from outside the US, and so on.

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Videos Look Strange, or the Colors Are Off

If the colors appear to be slightly off, it could be due to incorrect monitor settings. The issue is quite uncommon and may only appear in select few videos. It’s because every monitor has a different color profile.

If your video is too large or too small, you may have zoomed in or zoomed out accidentally. As the video plays, click on the gear icon, then go to video settings. You must look for the Zoom amount option – in case it’s anything other than 1.0, it’s what’s causing the issue. Also, ensure that the View mode is set to “Normal.” You may also want to check the values for Brightness and Contrast. It should be at 50%, and if it isn’t, it could be causing your video to look weird.

Kodi’s Black or Blank Screen

A number of issues can cause a black screen on startup or create a blank screen during regular Kodi streaming. It may also occur when you attempt to upgrade from Kodi 16 to the 17+ version or when changing from the confluence skin to the new estuary skin.

To solve this issue, you will need to delete the Add-ons.db file, which is used to cache information on your add-ons. However, deleting it won’t lead to the deletion of any of your add-ons. You can find the file in any of these locations:

  • Android: Android/data/orgkodi/files/.kodi/userdata/Database
  • Windows: Click start and type %APPDATA%\kodi\userdata\Database
  • Mac: /Users/[YOURUSERNAME]/Library/Application Support/Kodi/userdata/Database
  • Linux: ~/.kodi/userdata/Database
  • iOS: /private/var/mobile/Library/Preferences/Kodi/userdata/Database
  • OpenElec/LibreElec: /storage/kodi/userdata/Database
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Contrarily, you can use an Android box or Amazon Firestick, Force stop Kodi, and Clear Cache through the app settings.

Kodi Search Not Functioning on Add-Ons

If you’ve been using Kodi v.20, you may find that the search function in your add-ons is not working. This is because you may be using add-ons that have not been properly updated for Kodi 20.

When you use an add-on search function, that add-on caches information so that you can easily retrieve a result from the search. Kodi 20 changes some of the Python code requirements for the search function, making it so that any add-on not properly updated to match will fail to have its built-in search function working.

There is nothing users can do to fix this problem. All you can do is, wait until the add-on developers update their code to resolve this issue for good.

To date, most add-ons have not officially been updated to work with Kodi version 20, so you may have to wait a bit longer or keep using Kodi version 18 Krypton until more add-ons have been properly updated.

HD and 4K Streams Stuttering

There are a number of issues related to stream stuttering. For example, your internet speed may not be fast enough to handle the 4K or HD stream, and this may result in more buffering. However, especially with 4K, there’s a good chance your device may not be able to handle the higher-quality video.

Do a quick Google search of your specific device. Especially if you’re using Kodi on a Firestick, if you’re trying to process 4K streams, you will get stuttering. This is also true if you have an older Firestick and you’re trying to get 1080p streams.

My YouTube Kodi Add-Ons Not Working

YouTube has made changes to the way its API works, breaking the YouTube Kodi add-on and the add-ons which relied on it to function. However, it’s easy to fix this issue.

If your Kodi add-ons are not functioning correctly, follow these steps:

a. Check for Updates: Ensure that your add-ons are up to date. Developers regularly release updates to fix bugs and improve compatibility.

b. Reauthorize Accounts: Some add-ons require account authorization (e.g., Netflix, Hulu). Verify that you have logged in correctly and that your account credentials are accurate.

c. Clear Add-on Cache: Add-ons store temporary data that can lead to issues. Clear the cache by navigating to Settings > File Manager > Profile Directory > Addon_data, and delete the contents of the relevant add-on folders.

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Certain Kodi Builds are Not Working

Often people who have freshly installed Kodi face problems no matter what they watch. Here are several of the problems they may incur as a result of the installation of a build:

  1. Builds tend to include unofficial add-ons whose support is not available.
  2. In our experience, builds are rarely kept up to date, which means they often include several add-ons that have since been taken down.
  3. These builds tend to cause more problems than they solve.

Our advice is to uninstall your build and manually install each add-on you want. This way, you won’t have dozens of add-ons you’ll never use, plus you’ll be able to pinpoint the exact add-on that’s causing any problems should anything go wrong.

Cannot Uninstall or Delete Kodi Add-Ons

At times, you may find a build or a specific Kodi add-on causes a conflict with your Kodi installation. When this happens, you may try to load up Kodi and experience inconvenience with it crashing every time. However, you should know that there is a way to delete Kodi add-ons from outside of the Kodi interface.

For this, you need to visit the folder that contains Kodi files on your device – %APPDATA%\Kodi\addons\

If you need to delete a Kodi addon, you can do some from your %APPDATA%\Kodi\addons\ folder.

To find it on your system, do the following:

  • Go to your C: drive
  • Click on Users
  • Find the name of the user account you use for your computer and select it
  • Click on AppData
  • Click on Roaming
  • Select the Kodi folder
  • Now find the specific plugin causing your issues, and delete it directly from this folder
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In case you are unsure as to which plugin seems to be the cause of the issue, delete the most recent installed addons or repositories and load Kodi to see if it works. If worst comes to worst, you can delete as many addons or repositories as necessary without causing any harm to your base Kodi installation. You may, however, need to reinstall your addons again later.

Kodi Cannot Install an Add-On

If you have managed to install a repo but an add-on fails to install, there are several possible causes. The add-on may be outdated or no longer supported by its developers. In this scenario there’s very little you can do. Older versions may still be hosted elsewhere, but these aren’t guaranteed to work and the older an add-on gets, the more risk it poses to your system when installed.

Additionally, older add-ons may not work with newer versions of Kodi. New Kodi versions have changed the way the software reads and processes add-on code, making some older add-ons obsolete with newer versions of Kodi (for instance, many add-ons stopped working after Kodi 18 was released).

It’s also possible that the add-on has uninstalled dependencies. These are additional add-ons that are required for the initial add-on to work. That said, add-ons that have these dependencies are not official and pose a significant risk to your system’s security. For this reason, we’d advise against installing them in the first place.

Finally, it’s possible that this particular add-on doesn’t work with your version of Kodi. For instance, until recently, LibreELEC users couldn’t install the Netflix add-on due to its reliance on files that weren’t present in just enough OS platforms.

Kodi Crashes on Startup or Fails to Start

Kodi crashes and refuses to launch for a variety of reasons. We began exploring after noting a significant increase in the issue and discovered that it occurred for a variety of causes. Because each machine is configured differently, they may not all be appropriate in your circumstance.

Here’s what you should do if Kodi fails to launch and crashes:

Fix #1 Update Kodi to The Latest Version Available

With each new version, Kodi receives a slew of bug patches, so there’s always the potential that the issue you’re experiencing has been resolved in the meanwhile.

So, here’s how to upgrade Kodi to the most recent version.

  1. Go to Kodi’s official website and look for the download area. Under the ‘Choose Your Weapon’ section, select your operating system.
  2. Select the ‘Recommended’ tab and save the Kodi installation file.
  3. If you are unable to resolve the issue, you may try downloading a beta Kodi version from the ‘Pre Release’ option.
  4. Reinstall Kodi on your device now. Keep in mind that if you want to keep your media collection, you should not delete the old Kodi installation.
  5. Simply reinstall Kodi, and it will immediately repair any vulnerabilities.
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Fix # 2: Download the Latest Visual C++ Redistributable

If you’ve just purchased a new Windows PC or installed a fresh copy of Windows, you may face a Kodi Windows 10 crash.

The application crashes on launch without displaying an error message. So, here’s a quick remedy for this issue.

In many circumstances, installing the most recent Visual C++ redistributable fixes the problem. It’s worth noting that Kodi should scan your system for missing files during installation, but this doesn’t always happen.

So, go to Microsoft’s website and get the most recent update.

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Kodi Shows the ‘Failed to Install a Dependency Error

Kodi add-ons rely on different types of dependencies to work. For example, we have Web scrapers searching the Internet for media streaming links. If the scraper doesn’t work, the add-on won’t work either.

Now, let’s talk about how to resolve this. You’ll find all you need to know in our article on resolving Kodi’s dependency-related issues. More precisely, we’ve decided to show you the three most effective solutions to this error, so make sure to click on the provided link.

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Kodi Shows the ‘Unable to Create Application’ Error

In some cases, updating your Kodi to the latest available version can cause certain issues leading to live TV Kodi not working.

When it comes to other solutions to the ‘Unable to Create Application’ error, here’s what to do if this is happening on a Windows PC:

  • Go to My Computer on your PC.
  • Now, make sure that you can see hidden files. This is done (on Windows 10) by clicking on the ‘View’ tab and then selecting ‘Hidden Items.’
  • Now go to C: > Users > Your Username > App Data > Roaming.
  • Next, go to Kodi > Userdata.
  • This is where you’ll find a file named profiles.xml. Delete the file.
  • Now, restart your PC and launch Kodi. The application will create a new ‘profiles.xml’ file, and it should start successfully.
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Kodi Add-ons Fail to Return Any Search Results

Kodi won’t be able to search for files if the date and time of the application/device aren’t set correctly. This causes issues with individual add-ons, especially those that list entries based on dates.

Therefore, to resolve this problem, you need to check your device. This can be a computer, a media streaming device, or a TV set-top box. Double-check if the date and time are set properly.

If you’ve just upgraded to a major new Kodi version, there might be a chance that you’re using not-yet-updated Kodi add-ons. You may have to wait for a few months until developers update their add-ons and make them compatible with (major) new Kodi versions.

Kodi Cannot Connect to a Source

Kodi repositories get installed with the provision of a path to the source. Sometimes, once the source is added, a popup tells you that it cant be accessed.

It usually happens because of an incorrect source address. You need to check to ensure that you entered it correctly. Common mistakes include misspellings, not using the proper letter case (e.g., inserting upper or lowercase letters where they don’t belong), forgetting to include “http://” at the start, and in some cases, missing the repo’s file extension.

If the address has been entered correctly, more often than not, the repository has gone offline or been moved to a new address. You can test this by opening the source address in your browser; if the folder is empty or not found, that’s the root of your issue. Try researching the repo to see if it has been moved, but remember that alternative hosts are not always trustworthy.

Kodi is Not Connecting to the Internet

If Kodi is not connecting to the Internet, it could be due to network issues, incorrect settings, or firewall restrictions. To fix this, check your internet connection and ensure that Kodi has the necessary permissions to access the network. Additionally, you can also try disabling the firewall or adding Kodi to the exception list.

Kodi is Not Recognizing the Media Files

If Kodi does not recognize the media files, it could be due to the incorrect file format, missing codecs, or corrupted files. To fix this, try converting the file to a compatible format, installing the necessary codecs, or repairing the corrupted files.

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Why isn’t Kodi working properly on Xbox?

Kodi, the versatile media player, has gained immense popularity across various platforms. However, users sometimes encounter issues specific to certain devices like the Xbox. If you’re facing problems with Kodi on your Xbox, you’re not alone. Several factors might be contributing to this inconvenience:

Outdated Kodi Version:

Ensure you’re using the latest version of Kodi compatible with the Xbox platform. Outdated software can lead to compatibility issues and performance glitches.

System Updates:

Xbox system updates can sometimes interfere with Kodi’s functionality. Check for Xbox updates and ensure your system is up to date.

Add-On Compatibility

Some Kodi add-ons might not work seamlessly on the Xbox due to differences in hardware and software. Double-check the compatibility of your add-ons with the Xbox platform.

Network Issues

Slow or unstable internet connections can impact Kodi’s streaming performance on the Xbox. Opt for a stable, high-speed connection to avoid buffering and lag.

How do I fix the Kodi “no stream available” error?

Encountering a “no stream available” error on Kodi can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to watch your favorite content. This error typically stems from issues related to sources, add-ons, or network connectivity. To address this problem:

  1. Check Sources: The error might occur if the sources you’re trying to access are down or no longer available. Try different sources or wait for the source to become accessible again.
  2. Update Add-Ons: Outdated or incompatible add-ons can result in the “no stream available” error. Ensure your add-ons are updated to their latest versions.
  3. Clear Cache: Accumulated cache data can impact Kodi’s performance and lead to errors. Clear the cache within Kodi settings to potentially resolve the issue.
  4. Network Stability: A weak or unstable internet connection can prevent Kodi from accessing streams. Verify your internet connection and consider using a VPN to ensure a secure and stable connection.

Why is Kodi still not working with a fresh install?

Even after a fresh install, Kodi might not work as expected due to a variety of reasons. Here’s what you can do to troubleshoot:

  1. Corrupted Installation: If Kodi was not installed properly or the installation files were corrupted, issues can arise. Reinstall Kodi from a reliable source to ensure a clean installation.
  2. Add-On Compatibility: Certain add-ons might not be compatible with the version of Kodi you’ve installed. Make sure your add-ons are compatible and up to date.
  3. Device Limitations: Kodi’s performance can be affected by the hardware and resources available on your device. If you’re using older or less powerful hardware, it might struggle to run Kodi smoothly.
  4. System Updates: Ensure your operating system and device firmware are updated to support the latest version of Kodi.

On a Final Note

This is everything that is needed to be understood if you ever face the problem regarding “Kodi not Working.” Since Kodi can be installed across a huge range of devices, troubleshooting it is easier than you may imagine. Most commonly faced Kodi issues can be quickly resolved. Hopefully, this guide will enable you to resolve the issues you are encountering, and if we have skipped something, do let us know in the comments below.

Given that Kodi can be installed on a variety of different devices, troubleshooting is really simpler than you may think. In truth, the most frequent Kodi issues may be resolved rather fast. By the way, if you’re having difficulties using Kodi on a Fire TV Stick, we have a troubleshooting guide, particularly for you. Hopefully, this tutorial has helped you cure your problem, and if you’ve discovered a simple resolution that we haven’t discussed, please let us know in the comments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Kodi, and why is it not working?

Kodi is a popular open-source media player software that allows you to stream and organize your media content. There can be several reasons why Kodi is not working, such as network issues, outdated add-ons, or incompatible hardware.

How can I fix Kodi buffering issues?

Buffering issues in Kodi can be resolved by checking your internet connection, ensuring you have a stable and fast connection. You can also try adjusting the video cache settings within Kodi or using a VPN to improve streaming performance.

Why are some Kodi add-ons not working?

Kodi add-ons rely on external sources for streaming content, and sometimes those sources may go offline or become unsupported. If an add-on is not working, it could be due to outdated software, the source being down, or the add-on being incompatible with your Kodi version. Try updating Kodi and the add-ons, or consider using alternative add-ons.

How do I fix Kodi audio and video sync issues?

If you’re experiencing audio and video sync issues in Kodi, you can try adjusting the audio offset settings in Kodi’s player settings. You can also check if the issue persists with other media files or try using different audio and video codecs.

Why is Kodi crashing or freezing frequently?

Frequent crashing or freezing in Kodi can be caused by various factors, such as insufficient system resources, incompatible add-ons, or corrupt databases. To fix this, try clearing the Kodi cache, updating Kodi and add-ons, disabling problematic add-ons, or reinstalling Kodi.

Can using a VPN help with Kodi-related issues?

Yes, using Ivacy VPN can help with Kodi-related issues. A VPN can enhance your online privacy, security, and bypass geographical restrictions. It can also improve your streaming experience by reducing buffering and preventing ISP throttling.
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