In some instances, Kodi may crash, force close, frequently freeze, or generally not work like the app was intended to work. If you’re scrambling to figure out the reason, in this article, we will discuss why Kodi keeps crashing on your device. We will also provide solutions to fix this problem.
Kodi enjoys a lot of popularity among users, thanks to its versatility and reliability. It is supported on many devices including FireSticks, Windows, iOS, Android, macOS devices, and many more.
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How to Fix Kodi Not Working
But like all other apps, Kodi is also not free from problems. One of the common problems that Kodi users face is the Kodi app crashing. It crashes during startup or when you open any particular Kodi Add-on or you try to stream content. Hanging/Crashing apps is a very frustrating problem.
There can be different reasons behind of this problem. The most probable ones are outdated Kodi versions, corrupt or incompatible Kodi Add-ons, cache build-up, software glitches, etc.
Thankfully, this common Kodi app problem has some quick-fix solutions. In most cases, you will be able to fix Kodi keeps crashing issue by updating the app or clearing the app cache and app data.
I have provided all the solutions for Kodi keeps crashing problem with detailed steps further down.
Why Does Kodi Keep Crashing?
There can be various reasons which cause Kodi to crash. It also depends on the device on which you have installed Kodi. Let us check the possible causes:
1. Outdated Kodi Version: If you are using an outdated version of Kodi, it can also contribute to Kodi crashing issue.
2. Corrupt /Damaged /Incompatible Kodi Add-ons: Incompatibility issues or Corrupt Add-ons can also lead to Kodi crashing error. Third-party Add-ons may contain bugs or malware that in turn hamper the proper functionality of Kodi.
3. Minor Software Glitches: Minor software issues in your device can also cause Kodi to crash.
4. Cache Accumulation in Kodi: Huge build up of Kodi cache can also cause Kodi to crash.
5. Hardware Acceleration Tuned ON: Hardware acceleration is an excellent feature available in Kodi that is used to enhance video speed and quality. But it is also prone to malfunction and can cause Kodi crashing issue.
6. Outdated Or Faulty Graphics Driver: This case only applies to users that have installed Kodi on their PC/laptop. An outdated driver will restrict the displaying capabilities of your PC. Faulty graphics driver can also cause this issue.
7. Firewall restricting Kodi: Kodi requires internet connectivity to function properly. But if Firewall of your PC doesn’t give internet access to Kodi, it cannot connect to the internet and may end up crashing/hanging.
How to Fix Kodi Keeps Crashing on FireStick, PC and Other Devices
Let us check all the possible solutions that you can try to fix Kodi crashing problem. While most of the solutions work on every Kodi-compatible device, some of them only work on Windows devices. Take a look.
1. Restart your Device
If Kodi keeps crashing, you should first of all restart your device. This will give the device a fresh start and fix minor problems responsible for Kodi crashing.
Restart FireStick:
Let’s learn how to restart FireStick:
1. Hit Gear Icon (Settings) from your FireStick main screen.
2. Select My Fire TV.
3. Click Restart.
4. Hit Restart again to confirm.
Restart Windows Computer:
Let’s learn how to restart PC running on Windows OS:
1. Select the Start Menu from Windows home screen.
2. Hit the Power Icon
3. Choose Restart option to restart the device.
Restart Android Devices:
Steps to restart your Android Smartphone:
1. Press & hold the Power button on your smartphone till you see a list of options.
2. Select Restart to restart the phone.
Restart Mac Computer:
For Mac users, go to Apple Menu > Restart > Restart
Restart iOS devices:
For iOS users, go to Assistive Touch > Device > More > Restart.
2. Uninstall Kodi Add-ons
If you have recently installed a new Kodi add-on and after that your Kodi is crashing. The addon may be causing Kodi to crash.
The add-on could also be incompatible with your Kodi version or there are certain malware/bugs in the add-on. In that case, you should uninstall the add-on and see if the problem is resolved.
This is how you uninstall Kodi add-on:
1. Click the Gear Icon from left-hand side of Kodi home screen.
2. Select Add-ons
3. Then, select My Add-ons.
2. Click All. You may also choose a category such as Video add-ons, if you know which category the addon that you want to uninstall belongs to.
3. Select the add-on you want to uninstall. I am choosing Pluto TV here.
4. Hit Uninstall.
5. Click Yes if asked to confirm.
3. Keep Kodi Add-ons Up-to-date
Any bugs or glitches in any Kodi add-on may be indirectly responsible for Kodi crashing. It can be fixed by updating Kodi addon to its latest version.
Kodi Add-ons are set to update automatically by default. But if somehow the settings changed, this is how to set the add-on to auto-update:
💡Note: This method works great for official Kodi addons. However, it may not always work for third-party addons. To update third-party addons, you might need to re-install the addon manually.
1. Start Kodi and select Gear Icon (Settings).
2. Hit System
3. Select Add-ons from the left-hand side. Then, ensure that the Update option is set to Install Updates Automatically.
4. Clear Kodi Cache
Sometimes, accumulation of cache in Kodi can also contribute to crashing problems in Kodi. Moreover, if the cache contains malware or is bug-infused, it will certainly force Kodi to crash.
This is how you clear Kodi cache in FireStick:
Full Guide: How to Clear Kodi Cache on Any Device
1. Click the Gear Icon (Settings) from FireStick home screen.
2. Then, select Applications.
3. Choose Manage Installed Applications.
4. Find Kodi and click it.
5. Choose Clear Cache option.
5. Try Disabling Automatic Updates for Add-ons
Yes! You are right. This hack contradicts what I told you in the previous solution. But some solutions are part of trial and error. You don’t know which solution will work best for you unless you try.
Sometimes, Kodi add-on updates occur when you are streaming something on Kodi or when the CPU of your device is at maximum load. This may cause Kodi to crash. If that’s the case, you have to disable automatic updates for Kodi Add-ons.
But that doesn’t mean that you stop updating Kodi Add-ons. Update Kodi Add-ons manually when your device is idle.
Here’s how to disable automatic updates:
1. Start Kodi and select Gear Icon (Settings).
2. Hit System
3. Select Add-ons from the left-hand side. Then, click on Update from the right side.
4. Select Notify, but don’t install updates
6. Ensure ResolveURL is Updated
It is very frustrating when Kodi keeps crashing on startup. The problem can be caused due to ResolveURL not being up-to-date.
To make sure the Kodi ResolveURL is updated, follow the below steps:
1. Launch Kodi and click Gear icon (Settings).
2. Then, choose System.
3. Make sure Expert or Advanced option is selected on the left-hand side bottom instead of Standard option.
Now, click Add-ons from left-hand side & hit Manage Dependencies from the right-hand side
4. Then, locate and click ResolveURL
5. Ensure Auto-update is enabled.
7. Turn OFF Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration increases the performance of the device. But, in some cases, it does the complete opposite. Hence, you may experience Kodi crashing problem.
You can try turning it off and see if it solves the problem. If it didn’t, turn it back on. This is how to turn off hardware acceleration:
💡Quick Tip: If Kodi crashes almost immediately after start-up, disconnect your device from internet and then follow this method. Once the process is complete, connect your device back to the internet.
1. Hit the Gear icon (Settings) from Kodi home screen.
2. Select Player.
3. Hit Videos option from left-hand side. Then, ensure Allow hardware acceleration – DXVA2 option is turned off.
💡Note: If you can’t find Allow hardware acceleration option, make sure Expert or Advanced option is selected on the left-hand side bottom instead of Standard option. Then, scroll down and you will see the option.
8. Try Resetting Kodi
You should reset the Kodi app to fix the Kodi keeps crashing problem. It will return Kodi to its initial state when you first installed it.
Reset Kodi on FireStick
This is how you reset Kodi app on FireStick:
1. Click the Gear Icon (Settings) from FireStick home screen.
2. Then, select Applications.
3. Choose Manage Installed Applications.
4. Find Kodi and click it.
5. Choose Clear Data option. Clearing data will essentially reset the Kodi app and all app data will be deleted. It will be a blank canvas like how it was when you first installed it.
6. Click Clear Data again.
Repair/Reset Kodi on Windows
If you are using Kodi on a Windows PC, you can try repairing or resetting Kodi to solve the crashing problem. This is how to do it:
1. Click Settings option after opening the Start Menu.
2. Then, click Apps from left-hand side and Apps & features from the right-hand side.
3. Locate Kodi and click the three dots icon. Then, click Advanced Options.
4. Firstly try repairing Kodi by clicking Repair. This will not erase the user data.
5. If it does not work, hit Reset. This, however, will delete the user data.
6. Now, you can launch Kodi again. But I suggest restarting your PC before doing that.
9. Update the Kodi Application
Updating Kodi application may solve Kodi crashing problem. It will fix any bugs or glitches that were responsible for the problem. This is how you update Kodi:
Read our Guide on How to update Kodi on Any device for detailed info.
Update Kodi on FireStick:
If you are a FireStick user, do the following to update Kodi:
Kodi is not available on Amazon app store. Therefore, the only way to update Kodi is to reinstall it.
Let’s Uninstall Kodi First:
1. Go to Gear Icon (Settings)
2. Click Applications
3. Select Manage Installed Applications
4. Find and click Kodi
5. Click Uninstall
6. To confirm, click Uninstall again
Now you need to install Kodi again. I am providing the quick steps below:
Full Guide: How to install Kodi on FireStick/PC
1. Use a sideloading app like Downloader (you can download it from the Amazon appstore) and visit the enter kodi.tv/download and click Go
2. Then, hit Android option.
3. Select ARMV7A (32BIT)
4. The file will download.
5. After the download is complete, click INSTALL to update Kodi.
6. Wait till the process is completed.
7. Click DONE when the installation is complete.
Update Kodi on Windows
If you are a Windows user, do the following to update Kodi:
1. Open Microsoft Store and search for Kodi. Then, click the corresponding search result.
2. If there’s an update, you will see Update option. Click Update to update the app.
Update Kodi on Android
If you are an Android user, do the following to update Kodi:
1. Open Google Play Store and search for Kodi. Then, click it in the Search ressult.
2. If there’s an update, you will see Update option. Click Update to update it.
10. Reinstall Kodi App on your Device
If Kodi keeps crashing on FireStick or any other Kodi-supported devices, you should consider reinstalling Kodi to see if it solves the issue.
This will erase your Kodi data and remove all the Add-ons that you installed. But what is the use of these Kodi Add-ons if you can’t use them, right?
Re-install Kodi on FireStick:
If you are a FireStick user, this is how you do it:
For a FireStick user, the steps will be same as updating Kodi since we uninstalled the app first and re-installed it. The steps to Update Kodi on FireStick have been illustrated in detail in the previous solution.
Simply follow the steps to update Kodi or check out our Kodi installation guide HERE.
Re-install Kodi on Windows:
If you are a Windows user, this is how you reinstall it. I have shown the steps on Windows 11 PC. The steps are almost the same for all other Windows versions.
1. Click Settings option after opening the Start Menu.
2. Then, click Apps from left-hand side and Apps & features from the right-hand side.
3. Locate Kodi and click the three dots icon.
Then, click Uninstall.
4. Again, click Uninstall to confirm
5. If asked for permission, click Yes.
6. Kodi Uninstall Setup will open. Click Next.
7. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall Kodi from your device.
8. Now, go to Microsoft store and locate Kodi.
9. Then, click Get. It will download and install Kodi once again.
Solutions Specifically for When Kodi Keeps Crashing on Windows Devices
In this section, I am going to provide solutions pertaining to Windows devices only. Do try them if you’re having trouble with Kodi on your Windows device.
1. Try Disabling Windows Firewall for Some Time
Sometimes, after a Kodi update, Windows Firewall may block it. This may cause Kodi to ultimately crash. You can try disabling Windows Firewall for the time being. But make sure you enable it once the problem is solved.
This is how to disable Windows Firewall:
1. Search for Control Panel using the Windows Search Tool. Click the resulting option to start it.
2. Go to System and Security.
3. Choose Windows Defender Firewall.
4. Select Turn Windows Firewall on or off from left-hand side.
5. Then, switch off Windows Defender Firewall for Private and Public Networks. Finally, hit OK.
6. You will receive a notification once the Firewall is switched off.
2. Disable Antivirus
The Antivirus app that you are using may restrict Kodi to function properly. This, in turn, will cause Kodi crashing problem.
This usually happens when the antivirus assumes Kodi to be a threat, which may cause harm to your device. You may disable antivirus for the time being to see if the Kodi Crashing problem is resolved. But I suggest you make sure Windows Defender is turned ON after you switch off the third-party antivirus.
The process for switching off antivirus varies from brand to brand. I have shown the example of Kaspersky Total Security here.
1. Click on the Show hidden icons option (Ʌ Icon) in the Windows Taskbar.
2. Then, right-click on the Kaspersky Total Security icon and select Exit.
3. Confirm by clicking Yes.
3. Adjust the Time & Date of your Device
You may not believe but an incorrect time or date set on your PC may cause problems in apps like Kodi that requires internet connectivity. This is how you adjust time and date on Windows PC:
1. Right-click on Time & Date display in Windows Taskbar.
2. Then, select Adjust date and time.
3. Now, turn on both Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically options. You can also click Sync now option to sync the time & date when you are connected to the internet.
You can also adjust the time & date manually if you want. But I find this technique easy and reliable. You just need an active internet connection for this.
4. Try Updating Graphics Drivers
If you have an outdated driver installed on your PC, it may also cause Kodi crashing problem. This is because the GPU of your PC is being utilized by Kodi for it to function properly.
If the driver is outdated, Kodi will have trouble utilizing it and may crash. This is how you update the graphics driver:
1. Search for Device Manager using the Windows Search Tool. Then, click the resulting option to open it
2. Expand Display adapters option by double-clicking it.
3. Then, right-click the graphics driver and choose Update driver. (I am clicking NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 here.)
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers option.
5. If there are any new updates available, it will automatically download & install them.
5. Try Moving or Deleting the Kodi User Data Folder
If you decide on retrieving Kodi old configuration before permanently removing it, you have to move the user data folder to a different location. The content in the User data folder may be the real miscreant responsible for crashing Kodi. This is how you delete or move Kodi User Data folder to solve the problem:
1. Launch File Explorer.
2. Now, locate the User Data folder for Kodi. Generally, it is stored in the C Drive (C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Kodi)
3. Either delete the folder or move it to a different location.
4. Now, open Kodi and see if it solves the problem.
5. If you haven’t deleted the folder and just moved it, you can retrieve the previous configuration of Kodi. For that, create another user data folder in the same location.
6. Then, move the content from the previous folder to the new folder one by one. Check if Kodi is functioning properly every time you move a content until you find the real miscreant. When you figure out the real miscreant, delete it.
Wrapping Up
I hope now you are able to stream Kodi seamlessly without any trouble. Let us know which solution worked for you to fix Kodi keeps crashing problem.
If Kodi is still crashing on your device, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Simply comment down below and we will try to get to the bottom of it.
Hi, I am Alyssa! I am a tech enthusiast and a blogger. I have been using Kodi and FireStick since 2016. I wanted to share my latest tech discoveries and knowledge with the World, which led me to start this blog in 2021. I post in-depth how-to guides for FireStick devices & Kodi in a way that is easy to understand for people of all ages. Thanks for stopping by!
