Kodi Not Working? Fixes for Firestick, Android & PC

Kodi not working? In most cases the fix takes a few minutes. Kodi itself is rarely the problem. It’s usually your device, your internet connection, or an add-on that has stopped working.

This guide goes problem by problem, with fixes for Firestick, Android TV, Windows and more. Every fix is checked against the current stable release, Kodi 21+

Find your problem in the table below, try the fix, and move on to the next one only if it doesn’t help.

Kodi Not Working? Quick Facts

Find Your Kodi Problem: Quick Fix Guide

What Is Kodi, and What Isn’t Kodi?

Kodi is a free piece of media center software. It can decode and play audio and video files. These files can come from media you own or through the use of add-ons.

Kodi doesn’t own or store any links or categorize what is playing. It plays what it’s given or gives an error if it doesn’t like something.

Another big point: Kodi add-ons don’t own any links!

Think of Kodi add-ons as a search engine to the public internet, like Google.

You give the Kodi add-on a title and a Kodi add-on searches the internet for matching video files.

For more information, check out our “What is Kodi” information guide.

Therefore, when Kodi stops working, the Kodi software is rarely to blame. The cause usually lies in one of two spots:

• the setup of your Kodi and the device it runs on
• the query you passed to the Kodi add-on

Does Kodi Still Work in 2026?

Surprisingly, we get asked this question a lot.

The answer is YES.

Kodi is still actively developed. The latest stable release is Kodi 21.3 Omega, and the next major version, Kodi 22 Piers, is in release candidate testing. The player, your library and the official add-ons work the way they always have.

What breaks is usually the unofficial add-ons. They’re run by volunteers, and they stop working when the developer quits or the websites they pull from go offline. That’s why “Kodi stopped working” almost always turns out to be an add-on problem, covered in the add-on sections below.

One change to plan for: the Kodi 22 source code raises the minimum Android version from 5.0 to 7.0. If you run Kodi on an older Android box, stay on Omega, and think about a newer device (see our Android TV box guide) when you’re ready to upgrade.

It’s never too late to get Kodi working! The first step is learning why it’s not working for you in the first place.

Start Here: Quick Fixes That Solve Most Kodi Problems

Restart Kodi and Your Device

Force close Kodi, restart the device it runs on, and restart your router. Unplug the router for about 30 seconds if you can. It sounds basic, but it clears stuck network connections and memory that cause freezes and failed streams.

Update Kodi to the Latest Version

Using older Kodi versions leaves you vulnerable to bugs and security issues. We recommend updating Kodi to the latest stable version and enjoying the benefits.

Every so often the Kodi team releases a new major version of the software. At a high level, new versions of Kodi have the following advantages:

• New features
• Support for the latest operating systems (Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
• Updated dependencies and backend drivers

All three advantages are critical for a smooth streaming experience on Kodi, so be sure to update your Kodi.

The latest stable version is Kodi 21.3 Omega. Kodi 21 runs add-ons on Python 3, so add-ons built for Kodi 18 and older (which used Python 2) won’t install on it. That isn’t a reason to stay on an old version. Add-ons that never moved to Python 3 have been abandoned for years, and the add-ons in the official Kodi repository are kept up to date with the latest version.

Don’t install the Kodi 22 release candidate on the device you actually watch on. Wait for the stable release.

Check out our guide to update Kodi fast and easily.

Dependencies and backend drivers are the most important pieces of Kodi. Remember, Kodi is just a media player that plays whatever is passed to it. The way it displays, processes media, and handles potential bugs and errors are through these dependencies. Over time, add-ons drop support for old dependencies, only supporting the latest version of Kodi.

Check Your Internet Connection and VPN

Open any website or app on the same device to confirm the internet works. If you use a VPN, disconnect it and try Kodi again, then reconnect to a different server. Some VPN servers and protocols get blocked, and Kodi will sit on a loading screen or show no streams when that happens.

Kodi Won’t Open or Crashes on Startup?

This is one of the most common reasons for the Kodi not working error. If Kodi closes right after you open it, or never opens at all, work through these in order.

Kodi Black Screen or Crash on Launch (Firestick and Android TV)

A full cache is a common reason Kodi shows a black screen or crashes as soon as it opens on a Fire TV Stick or Android box. Clear it first, using the steps in Clear Kodi’s Cache below, then reopen Kodi. Clearing the cache does not touch your add-ons or settings. Clear Data does, so don’t tap it unless you’re ready to start over.

If Kodi opens fine but the screen goes black or the picture looks wrong when a video plays, the cause is usually hardware acceleration. See Turn Off Hardware Acceleration.

Kodi Won’t Open on Windows 10 or 11

Work through these in order:

1. Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable. It installs the Microsoft C++ libraries that many apps, including Kodi, rely on on Windows. Kodi checks for missing system files during installation, but sometimes this fails. If you’re using Kodi on a new PC or have updated Windows, Kodi might crash more often than not, closing immediately without an error message. Download the latest version from the Microsoft website.
2. Update your graphics driver. Get the newest driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, or run Windows Update, then restart the PC.
3. Turn off hardware acceleration if Kodi opens but crashes when video plays. See the steps below.
4. Reinstall Kodi. Uninstall it, then install the latest stable version from kodi.tv.

“Unable to Create Application” Error

Sometimes even updating Kodi to its latest version can create problems with the add-ons. Kodi might throw up the Unable to create application error. If updating your graphics driver didn’t fix it, here’s how to try fixing the ‘Unable to create application’ error on Kodi. Back up your Kodi folder first.

1. On your PC, go to This PC
2. You’ll now need to enable hidden files. To do so, open the View menu and turn on Hidden items
3. Next, go to C: > Users > Your Username > AppData > Roaming
4. Now, go to Kodi > Userdata
5. Find and delete the profiles.xml file
6. Restart your PC and launch the Kodi app. It will create a new profiles.xml file and this should resolve the ‘Unable to create application’ error.

Another way to delete the profiles.xml file is by going to Settings > File Manager > Profile Directory on your Kodi application. If you installed Kodi from the Microsoft Store, your Kodi folder is in a different place. See Factory Reset Kodi for that path.

Kodi Freezing, Crashing, or Running Slow?

Kodi misbehaving is nothing new, and if you’ve been using Kodi for a long time, you might have encountered Kodi freezing or pausing. Here are the fixes, from the least to the most drastic.

Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration lets your device’s video chip decode video instead of the main processor. When the chip or its driver misbehaves, you see black screens, garbled picture, freezing or crashes during playback. Turning it off is one of the most common fixes on Firestick, Android boxes and Windows PCs.

1. From the Kodi home screen, open Settings (the gear icon) and select Player, then Videos.
2. Scroll to the Processing section. If you don’t see the hardware acceleration options, raise the Settings level to Advanced (the level control is at the bottom of the Settings screen). These options are hidden at the default Standard level.
3. On Android and Firestick, turn off Allow hardware acceleration – MediaCodec. If Allow hardware acceleration – MediaCodec (Surface) is listed, turn that off too.
4. On Windows, turn off Allow hardware acceleration – DXVA2.
5. Restart Kodi and play a video. If nothing changes, turn the settings back on, because hardware acceleration gives you smoother 1080p and 4K playback.

Clear Kodi’s Cache

Like any other streaming app, Kodi requires timely maintenance to keep it up and running. Clearing cached files on Kodi is one such maintenance activity to resolve the Kodi not working error.

Kodi cache is where Kodi data is stored temporarily for faster streaming. The data is supposed to be cleared periodically but most streaming apps often overload the cache by not removing the cached data from the older playbacks. With cached data, the app can get sluggish and you may experience constant hanging and buffering issues.

Follow the below procedure to clear Kodi cache on Firestick:

1. On your Firestick home screen, go to Settings
2. Scroll right and select Applications
3. Now, click on Manage installed applications
4. From the list of installed applications, select Kodi
5. Locate and click on the Clear Cache option

Remove Add-Ons and Builds You Don’t Use

Most add-ons perform the same or similar functionality and there’s no need for all of them at the same time. Keep your Kodi setup clean and fast by only installing what you actually need. Heavy builds are a common cause of slowdowns, which is one of the reasons we recommend against installing a Kodi build. You can always add more add-ons later. Our list of the best Kodi add-ons is a good place to start.

Factory Reset Kodi

Restoring Kodi to factory defaults aids in the smooth functioning of the software. Also, if there’s a problematic build installed on your Kodi, you might want to reset Kodi to its original state.

I suggest you note down the most important add-ons, builds, skins, and repos you have installed, as resetting Kodi will erase all the data within the application.

On Windows (standard installer): close Kodi, then follow these steps.

1. On your PC, type in %appdata% in the Windows search bar
2. Click and open the %appdata% file folder
3. Locate the Kodi folder. Right-click on it and select Delete.

Kodi has now been reset to its factory settings.

On Windows (Microsoft Store version): the Kodi folder lives at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\XBMCFoundation.Kodi_4n2hpmxwrvr6p\LocalCache\Roaming\Kodi\ instead of %appdata%. Close Kodi and delete that Kodi folder.

On Firestick and Android: go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Kodi and choose Clear Data. This wipes everything, including your add-ons and settings.

Expert advice

Any time you do something in Kodi like:

• install a repository or add-on
• load up a stream
• force an update
• change a setting

Kodi saves a copy of your data.

Over time, as things die, change, and transition, files are left dormant on your Kodi hardware.

There’s no rhyme or reason for what or why, but these dormant files tend to slow down your system. They also can cause issues with updates.

A factory reset is not as bad as it sounds. If you have an Android TV box, delete the Kodi app and reinstall it from the Google Play Store. On a Firestick, reinstall Kodi the same way you installed it the first time (see our Firestick guide). A fresh version of Kodi will install and you’ll be free to reinstall what you need.

Kodi Add-Ons Not Working?

If Kodi opens fine but your add-ons show no links, throw errors, or won’t install, the problem is almost always the add-on, not Kodi.

Why Do Kodi Add-Ons Stop Working?

Are you wondering why your favorite add-on isn’t working? Older add-ons like Covenant, 13 Clowns, Placenta and the original Exodus are long gone. It’s because there is no support, including no updates, for these add-ons. More recent ones have shut down too, including The Oath, Asgard and Fen.

How Do Kodi Add-ons Work?

A scraper is a piece of code that searches a specific website on the internet that hosts media files. A resolver is a piece of code that goes into the media file to extract the native video.

Once Kodi has found a media file, the resolver navigates through CAPTCHA and ads to present you with the unfiltered video file.

The Kodi community is a volatile beast and there is a constant turnover of developers and add-ons. When the sites an add-on scrapes disappear, or the developer gives up, the add-on stops returning streams.

Playlist Add-ons

Even worse are some of the playlist Kodi add-ons that have come and gone. Playlist add-ons require more manual support and upkeep from developers and are dead as soon as the developer gives up.

People still message us asking for help on Phoenix or Vidtime, both long gone and obsolete. Make sure that the add-on is supported by someone in the Kodi community.

If you want to stay up to date with the latest working Kodi add-ons, check out our list of the best Kodi add-ons today.

Update the Add-On

Updating Kodi add-ons, especially the newly released add-ons, must be done to eliminate the Kodi not working error. They will require regular updates to fix any issues and bugs. Here’s how to update Kodi add-ons.

1. On the Kodi homepage, navigate to the Add-ons
2. Go to the add-on you want to update by selecting the category. For example, for a video add-on, go to Video add-ons and right-click on it.
3. Select Information
4. Click on the Versions button to check if a newer version is available
5. Finally, click on the repo from which you’ve installed the add-on

The add-on is now updated. Check if the Kodi add-on fails to play/stream a video error still persists.

Kodi Fails to Connect to a Source or Repository

When you try to add an external source, an add-on, or a repository, for instance, you need to add a URL. Kodi often fails to identify the URL leading to the ‘Kodi fails to connect to a source’ error. Try these fixes.

Check the URL. Recheck the entered URL. You might have entered the add-on URL incorrectly. For example, when copying the URL, sometimes we tend to miss the “/” towards the end. If you think you’ve entered the URL correctly and still can’t install the add-on, there’s a good chance that the add-on you’re trying to install or the repository itself is down or offline. Enter the repository address in a web browser and see if it opens. If not, it won’t work on Kodi either.

Try installing the zip file repository from its Git address. To install the add-on from the repository, select Install from the zip file option and choose the zip file on your device.

Expert advice

When a developer takes the time to create a Kodi add-on and a repository to store it in, they’ve:

• meticulously tested the add-on.
• tested each dependency that installs itself with the add-on.
• tested how to install the add-on from this official source.

When you install an add-on from a repo, you are recreating the same steps as the developer took. This maximizes the chance that you’ll get everything you need!

All Kodi add-ons install modules with it to make things run smoothly. Some other Kodi users have decided to host mirror images of add-ons and repositories, most likely for the hits or fame. They duplicate a repository on their own server, sometimes with no malicious intent.

The problem is, how do you know that they’ve duplicated this content correctly? Are they hosting the latest version of the repository? Of the add-on? Are all the right modules still installing themselves? Will you get the latest updates in the future? And the better question is, why would you take this chance? Repositories that copied add-ons without the developer’s permission have caused broken installs in the past. Install your add-ons from the developer’s own repository, the right way.

“Failed to Install Dependency” and “xbmc.python” Errors

These errors usually mean the add-on needs another add-on that can’t be installed, or that it was built for an older version of Kodi. Our guides cover both: Failed to Install Dependency and the dependency on xbmc.python could not be satisfied.

Kodi Says “No Stream Available” or Won’t Play Streams?

One common Kodi error is the “No Streams Available” error. If you are constantly seeing this error message, we’ve created a “No Streams Available” guide to help you solve your issues. These are the quick checks.

Make Sure What You Want to Watch Is Available

There is a misconception that everything presented in Kodi must have a working stream available for it. Some people believe that the 1950s black and white film they are dying to see is available.

We’ll say it again: Kodi is a glorified search engine. If you can’t access a stream through a simple Google search, then your Kodi system can’t either.

If a website is blocked in your country because your service provider has flagged it as malicious, Kodi can’t access it either.

You can go to Google right now and search for “<insert movie name here> 720p MP4” for a popular movie. You’ll recognize some of the same scraper sources used by Kodi add-ons.

A premium service like Real Debrid gives you access to a broader range of freely available content on the internet. If you want to increase your chance of finding that obscure title, consider one. Having trouble with Real Debrid itself? See Real Debrid not working on Kodi, the Real Debrid content filter explainer, or the best Real Debrid alternatives.

Use a VPN

Before you come back complaining about Kodi not working, ensure that what you are trying to watch is truly available.

Some countries are cracking down and banning websites that they have deemed to be “inappropriate” to users.

If your internet provider has blocked access, then none of the tips in this guide can circumvent that block. The best way to fix this issue is by enabling a reliable VPN. See our best VPN for Kodi guide to find out which one best meets your needs.

When you use a VPN, the traffic can’t be throttled by the ISPs or any third-party user. Moreover, you can access geo-restricted content you can’t usually stream without a VPN.

We performed some research on the scraper sites used by Kodi add-ons to find out which are blocked in the UK. You can read that document here. This research will give you a better understanding of why a VPN is key and can open up your world of Kodi streaming.

Kodi Buffering or Playing Slowly?

Buffering is almost always your connection, your device, or a slow stream, not a bug in Kodi. Our guide to stopping buffering in Kodi walks through the fixes in order, including Kodi’s own cache settings. On a Firestick, a wired connection is one of the biggest upgrades (see the Firestick section below).

Kodi Not Working on Firestick or Android TV?

The Amazon Fire TV is a popular Kodi box. The Fire Stick model is really nice because it’s small, quick to set up, and cheap in price.

If you are having trouble with Kodi on the Fire Stick or an Android TV box, here are some considerations to make:

Do Not Use a Build

The Amazon Fire Stick is a very basic Kodi box. It doesn’t have as much memory or power as a regular Android TV box and it cannot handle a heavy build installed on it.

Instead of a build, only install a few add-ons by yourself onto your Fire Stick and see if Kodi is faster.

Hardwire Your Fire Stick to the Internet

The Amazon Fire Stick doesn’t have a built-in Ethernet port. Wi-Fi connections lead to more buffering in Kodi.

To fix this issue, buy this Amazon Fire Stick USB ethernet adapter and make Kodi work faster.

Android TV 11 or Higher: Kodi Can’t See Your Local Files

On Android TV 11 or higher, Kodi doesn’t have access to local files by default. Files you’ve saved on the device or on a USB drive exist but won’t show up in Kodi. To fix it, go to Settings > Apps > Kodi > Permissions > Files and Media and select Allow all the time.

New Fire TV Stick Won’t Run Kodi? Check for Vega OS

Amazon’s newer Fire TV Sticks run Vega OS, which blocks sideloading entirely, so you can’t install Kodi on them. If you’re buying a stick for Kodi, read which Fire TV Sticks still sideload first.

How to Check the Kodi Log File

Kodi log files contain a lot of information about why the software might be broken for you. If you see an error that says “check the log for more information,” this is how you find out what it means. For a longer walkthrough, see our guide on how to access your Kodi log file.

1. Go to Settings > System > Logging and turn on Enable debug logging.
2. Restart Kodi from the Kodi power menu. Don’t just pull the power, because the setting may not save. You’ll see counters in the top left corner when debug mode is on.
3. Repeat the problem. Play the video that fails, or try installing the add-on again.
4. Get the log. The easiest way is the Kodi Logfile Uploader add-on, which gives you a link you can share. You can also open the file yourself.

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Kodi\kodi.log
• Windows (Microsoft Store version): %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\XBMCFoundation.Kodi_4n2hpmxwrvr6p\LocalCache\Roaming\Kodi\kodi.log
• Android and Firestick: Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/temp/kodi.log (the exact folder can differ by device)

Turn debug logging off again when you’re done, because it makes the log much larger.

Do You Need a VPN With Kodi?

Kodi works without a VPN, but a VPN hides your add-on streaming from your internet provider and can get around blocked streams, a common reason streams fail to load. It matters most if you use add-ons that pull streams from the open internet.

Sign up for a premium VPN and access the internet unrestricted. We offer exclusive discounts for IPVanish and NordVPN, the highest respected VPNs in the streaming community. Both of these VPNs have some great features for users:

• Apps for Android, iOS, Mac, Linux & more
• Zero Logs
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Tier 1 hardware (no speed slowdown)
• Access to hundreds of VPN servers

Click here to learn more about VPN protection.

Kodi Not Working: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kodi Still Working in 2026?

Yes. Kodi 21.3 Omega is the current stable release and Kodi 22 Piers is in release candidate testing. What stops working is individual add-ons, not Kodi itself. See Kodi Add-Ons Not Working?.

Why Is Kodi Not Working on My Firestick?

The usual causes are a full cache, hardware acceleration, an add-on that no longer works, or a connection your provider is blocking. Clear the cache first, then try turning off hardware acceleration. If you just bought a new stick and can’t install Kodi at all, check whether it runs Vega OS, which blocks sideloading.

Why Won’t Kodi Open?

On Firestick and Android, clear Kodi’s cache and restart the device. On Windows, install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable and update your graphics driver. See Kodi Won’t Open or Crashes on Startup? for each step.

Why Does Kodi Say “No Stream Available”?

The add-on couldn’t find a working link. It may be dead, the title may not exist anywhere, or your internet provider may be blocking the source. Update the add-on, try a VPN, and read our No Streams Available guide.

Why Are My Kodi Add-Ons Not Working?

Most unofficial add-ons stop working when the developer quits or the sites they scrape go offline. Check that the add-on is still maintained, update it, and if it isn’t, switch to one from our best Kodi add-ons list.

Is Kodi Dead?

No. Kodi is a free, open source media player that is still developed and updated. People say “Kodi is dead” when a popular add-on shuts down, but the player itself keeps working.

And with that, we hope the guide above teaches you a little bit about why you might find Kodi broken for you.

You can fix a lot of the problems above without much technical knowledge.

Get used to performing basic Kodi maintenance and gain valuable knowledge for the future when other issues come up. Still stuck? These guides cover specific problems: no streams available, buffering, Real Debrid not working and failed to install dependency.