Archive:Kodi v14 (Helix) FAQ

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Kodi v14 (Helix) FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions for upgrading to Kodi v14 (codename Helix) from a previous version. Includes how to enable some of the new features, where some controls got moved to, etc.

General FAQ

See also: All platforms FAQ for an FAQ that applies to all versions of Kodi.

What is Kodi? What is Helix?

Main pages: Kodi name change FAQ and History of XBMC

Kodi is the new name for XBMC media center. "Helix" is the codename for version 14, just as "Gotham" was the codename for XBMC v13. You will often see "v14" and "Helix" used interchangeably in the community. It might be a little confusing with so many new names being used, but this is simply the new version of XBMC. As long as you call it version 14/v14/Helix, then everyone will know what you are talking about.

• Kodi v14.0 "Helix" was released on December 23rd, 2014.

You can download Kodi v14 "Helix" by going to http://kodi.tv/download/

Changelog

See: Kodi v14 (Helix) changelog (and add-on developers should also see Helix API changes)

What are some of the major new features?

See Kodi v14 (Helix) changelog for a condensed list of large and important changes

Examples include:

• Different selectable keyboard layouts for the on screen keyboard.
• faster library scraping
• updated ffmpeg including things like h.265 support
• software decoding defaults to multithread decoding
• more control over add-ons and their updates in the add-on manager
• "big font" size in Confluence
• Freescale i.MX6 support
• ATSC sub channels for PVR in the US
• PVR window changes for easier navigation and new EPG views (now/next/channel)
• Archives (zip, bin, etc) files can be directly browsed

Upgrading

Because v14 physically moves the location of your settings and add-ons during the upgrade, please backup those files before upgrading (while you are still on v13 or newer). While this isn't required for normal use, you will need the backup file if you ever want to downgrade to v13. Plus, really, it's always a good idea to backup regularly. And call your mother sometime.

How do I upgrade to v14?

Main page: Migration from XBMC to Kodi

Note: Always backup your settings before upgrading, just incase!

• In most cases you can just install Kodi v14 over XBMC v13. All your settings and library are saved and will continue to work in the new version.

• WARNING: Android users: Do not uninstall XBMC v13 before installing Kodi v14. Doing so will erase your settings before the upgrade takes place.

• After you install Kodi v14, you can then uninstall your old XBMC v13 install. XBMC v13 must be manually uninstalled in most cases since the upgrade has a new application name, depending on your OS.

See Migration from XBMC to Kodi for full details.

PVR add-ons for Ubuntu

• PVR add-ons for Ubuntu need to be reinstalled as they will have new Kodi- names.

MySQL

Main page: MySQL/Upgrading

• As long as your MySQL server is set up to allow XBMC/Kodi to make new databases for the upgrade itself (see MySQL/Upgrading) then you don't need to do anything for upgrading a MySQL set up for Kodi. Even if you use "XBMC" in your advancedsettings.xml file, you can leave this the same and everything will still work.

What happens if I don't like Kodi v14, can I just install XBMC v13 again?

Main page: Migration

You must restore a backup of your userdata and add-ons, as the v14 upgrade will physically move the location of those files.

Where did it this or that go?

Play button on remote no longer pauses

• Custom keymaps might need to be adjusted to use the action ID playpause instead of play. "Play" alone has new behavior to only play and not pause. This can be done with a basic text editor and going into your userdata folder and into the keymaps folder.
• Ubuntu users might have to "unmap" media key shortcuts in Ubuntu's keyboard settings, as they are intercepting media keys before they reach Kodi.

On-screen-keyboard is missing

• Skins that have not been updated to v14 might not have working on-screen-keyboards. You can switch back to the default skin, Confluence, in order to enter text, or wait for an update for your skin to be completely compatible with v14.

Live TV

• The Live TV home menu option has been renamed to just TV.

Audio encoder options

Main page: Ripping CDs

For Ubuntu users (and possibly other linux-based OSes), audio encoders are now binary add-ons and must be installed through apt-get. See Ripping CDs#Adding audio encoders for Ubuntu for details.

Userdata folder

• The userdata folder's parent settings folder has been renamed from "xbmc" to "kodi" (or .kodi for some OSes).
• If you are upgrading from an older XBMC install, then Kodi will move/rename your "xbmc" folder to "kodi".

Troubleshooting

Main page: Troubleshooting

What might break when upgrading to v14? (add-ons, skins, remotes, etc)

Most things from v13 will work in v14. However:

• Some add-ons may not work, prompting Kodi to ask you to disable them. You can keep using them if you wish (by choosing not to disable them), but doing so is unsupported.

• Some skins might not be updated for v14 Helix when you update. Be sure to check the relevant section of http://forum.kodi.tv for your skin to see if an update is planned.
  • Skins that have not been updated might not show the on screen keyboard.

• Should your repo appear empty, or you are missing the new subtitles services, you may need to trigger a Force refresh on the Kodi add-on repository.

• The default username for remote smartphone apps is now kodi and might need to be changed in the settings of those remote apps. You can also change the username back to "xbmc" or use a custom username (and optionally, a password) in Service settings.

Where can I get more help?

The general and platform specific FAQs, the Kodi support forums: http://forum.kodi.tv, and/or the #kodi IRC chat channel on irc.freenode.org.