Kodi not working Windows 10/11

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Once a Xbox exclusive – nowadays a multi-platform fan-favorite media center. Kodi is indeed one of the best multimedia players, with so many different features, add-ons, and an amazing interface. Even though it covers most of the platforms known to a modern man, Kodi still shines the best in Windows. At least, when it works as intended.

Now, this open-source media player is daily subjected to changes and improvements, and we can already expect the 18th iteration. However, for the time being, Windows 10 users are having a hard time with the version 17.4 Krypton, which, for some of them, just won’t work.

Luckily, we prepared a list of possible solutions that should help you address this issue. If you’re still unable to make Kodi work in Windows 10, follow the solutions below.

How to address Kodi not working in Windows 10

Solution 1 – Check drivers and DirectX

The ambiguous nature of Kodi makes it a more demanding application than a usual media player. There are certain system requirements you’ll need to meet, plus, you’ll probably want proper GPU drivers and DirectX installed. And, when we say ‘proper’, we’re referring to the latest stable version. Not generic drivers, provided by Windows 10 itself. On the other hand, users with older GPU cards are advised to install Legacy drivers, even in case they’re in the beta phase.

The lack of appropriate software support can indeed affect the usability of Kodi, so make sure to check the drivers and DirectX before we move to additional steps. In order to obtain the legacy driver for your GPU, you’ll need to navigate to OEM’s official site. If you’re unsure how to do it, follow the instructions below:

Navigate to one of these sites depending on your GPU:

Search for your GPU and download the latest drivers.

Install your drivers and restart the PC.

Now, in the Windows Search bar, type dxdiag and open the first result.

At the bottom, you’ll see the current DirectX version running on your PC.

The updates can be found here for all current and previous DirectX versions.

After you’ve dealt with both drivers and DirectX, give Kodi another try. If the problem is persistent and you’re unable to run Kodi in Windows 10, make sure to check the alternative solutions below.

Solution 2 – Update Kodi

The developers behind Kodi Media Player are certainly a productive bunch, with the large community following. Updates are frequent, especially if you enrolled in the beta version, and, most of the time, the majority of critical issues are resolved after updates.

The latest stable version is 17.4 Krypton, so make sure to obtain it if you already hasn’t. The update procedure basically equals the fresh installation, with a few differences.

These instructions should show you how to update Kodi to v17.4 Krypton:

Backup your settings. Navigate to C:Users > <Your username> > AppData > Roaming, and back up the Kodi folder.

Download the Kodi v17.4 Krypton installation file from this link.

Right-click the installation file and Run as administrator.

Finally, run Kodi and look for changes.

Solution 3 – Delete Addons27.db file

Every third-party program that supports add-ons is a risk on its own. Don’t get us wrong: Kodi is great, but the abundance of add-ons that are not well-optimized or even banned for that matter is risky matter. And most of the time, the resolution for the problem we’re addressing today is somehow related to Add-ons.

Namely, due to corruption or incompatibility issues, certain Add-ons can cause crashes or freezes. Most of the time, the problem comes after Kodi has been updated but there’s not a proper support for a certain add-on. That specific add-on immediately becomes outdated and thus, it can cause a lot of critical issues.

Luckily, you can always delete a configuration file which stores all the add-on- related data. Follow the instructions below to try this troubleshooting step and, hopefully, resolve the problem at hand:

Close Kodi completely. Meaning, navigate to Task Manager and kill all related processes.

Now, copy-paste this path in the Windows Search bar or Windows Explorer address bar:

%APPDATA%KodiuserdataDatabase

In here you should be able to see the Addons27.db. Delete it.

Start Kodi again.

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Now, you should be able to locate and install the add-ons that support the latest Kodi version, which is, as we already stated, v17.4 Krypton.

Solution 4 – Disable Hardware Acceleration

When it comes to playback of high-resolution video files, the system capabilities are occasionally in need of a hardware push. And, that ‘push’ comes with the Hardware Acceleration feature. Now, Hardware Acceleration is enabled by default, and the majority of users won’t even know it’s there. However, certain users reported that this specific feature affected the behavior of the whole media platform.

Namely, it seems that for the users with older or lesser system specs, this feature causes black screen problem in Windows 10. For that purpose, we advise you to disable Hardware acceleration and look for changes afterward.

Open Kodi.

Choose the cog-like Settings icon.

Open Player Settings.

Under the left pane, click on the bottom cog until you set the Expert mode.

Select Videos.

Scroll down and disable ”Allow hardware acceleration DXVA2”.

Restart Kodi and give it another go.

This should relieve you of the black screen and similar issues. However, if you still haven’t dealt with other major issues, make sure to check the final steps below.

Solution 5 – Reinstall Kodi

If you’re already accustomed to using Kodi, you probably know how complex and feature-rich this media center is. Simple programs have simple problems solved by simple steps. That’s just not the case with Kodi. Even the reinstallation procedure must be a more thorough than it is with some minor programs.

And reinstallation is always a viable troubleshooting step, especially if Windows 10 made some changes lately via updates.

If you’re not sure how to reinstall Kodi, follow the steps below and we should be good to go:

In the Search bar, type control and open Control Panel.

Choose the Category View.

Open Uninstall a program.

Choose Kodi and uninstall it.

Copy-paste %APPDATA%Kodi to Windows Search bar or Windows Explorer address bar and press Enter.

Delete the Kodi folder.

Restart your PC and start the installer.

Solution 6 – Install other or older version

Finally, if none of the aforementioned solutions served you justice, maybe you should take into consideration switching to other or older Kodi version. We’re well aware that the portable version or older versions lack the usability of the full 17.4 Krypton, but they at least work. Additionally, there’s a chance that the further updates will sort things out, so this is just a temporary solution.

In addition, you should check the community forum where you can post your debug log. The knowledgeable folks, including the developers themselves, will be glad to help you. If you ask politely and within the forum rules, that is.

What’s your experience with the latest Kodi release version? Tell us in the comments section below.