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XBMC for specific FAQs about XBMC running under Windows, Windows computer hardware, and Windows operating-system questions.  
<section begin="intro" />'''F'''requently '''A'''sked '''Q'''uestions Windows and Windows-compatible computer hardware.<section end="intro" />


=== What Win32 ports are available ? ===
__TOC__
There are two existing Windows ports of XBMC
{{-}}
* XBMC.exe (build from the linux branch, using SDL/OpenGL)
== General FAQ ==
* XBMC_PC.exe (build from the xbox trunk, using DirectX)
:{{big| ''See also: '''All platforms FAQ''' for FAQs that apply to all versions of Kodi.'' }}
{| width="100%"


==== About XBMC.exe (SDL/OpenGL) ====
{{FAQ|1=requirements
The SDL version is the Windows future of XBMC. The codebase is under development and is the base for the Linux, MacOSX and Windows ports. This FAQ will ONLY deal with the SDL version!<br>
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
'''Note:''' The SDL win32 port still needs DirectX for the audio processing.
| Question= Requirements
| Answer=
{{See|Supported hardware#Windows}}
}}


==== About XBMC_PC.exe (DirectX) ====
{{FAQ|1=install|2=update
The DirectX version is only for skin and python development. You won't get support for it since it is only adapted to reflect the skin and python changes.
| BGcolor=
| Question= How to install and/or update Kodi
| Answer=
{{main|HOW-TO:Install Kodi for Windows}}
* To download Kodi, goto http://kodi.tv/; select "Downloads" and then run the Windows: Installer.
* Do the same to update Kodi. All your settings and files will be preserved as they are located in a different place in the [[Userdata|userdata folder]]. Be sure to make a backup of the [[Userdata|userdata folder]] when doing updates in case something goes wrong.
}}


==== Why is a OpenGL 2.0 compatible graphic-controller the recommended minimum for XBMC? ====
{{FAQ|1=Release_version|2=Version
OpenGL 2.0 is not really the current minimum requirement to run XBMC, as in reality XBMC will today run with only OpenGL 1.4 + [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLSL GLSL] support (everything else has fall-backs to be runned in software on the CPU, slower than GPU hardware though), however to be sure to stay future-proof Team-XBMC have decided that the OpenGL 2.0 is the recommended minimum requirement.  
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= Kodi for Windows version
| Answer=
* The current stable version of Kodi for Windows is {{Current version}}. This is the same code that all of the other platforms (Linux, iOS, Mac OS X) are using.
}}


:'''Currently OpenGL 2.0 hardware is only needed for:'''
{{FAQ|1=Current_build|2=Kodi_Version
* Any deinterlacing that is not linear blending (which FFmpeg does in software)
| BGcolor=
* Video [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_post-processing video post-processing filtering] (bicubic upscaling, etc.)
| Question= What version/nightly build/beta of Kodi am I running?
* Non-power of two textures for the GUI (using NPOT saves a lot of texture memory)  
| Answer=
* Hardware accelerated YUV 2 RGB conversion (actually GLSL is needed for this, and a few GPU hardware implementations as low as OpenGL 1.4 does provide GLSL as an extension. OpenGL 2.0 guarantees availability of GLSL).
* Open the Settings Page by clicking the "gear" icon (top left corner underneath the Kodi logo) then System Information. '''Note the build date.'''
:'''In the future OpenGL 2.0 might also be needed for:'''
}}
* More [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_post-processing video post-processing filters] to improve visual quality perception.
* [[Hardware Accelerated Video Decoding]] (using the GPU hardware to assist with video decoding)


==== How to install XBMC for Windows (SDL/OpenGL)? ====
{{FAQ|1=Tools
XBMC for Windows is still in experimental stage, there are however install packages available for easy installation.
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
* Download [http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=87054&package_id=260464&release_id=585323 XBMCSetup-Rev<xx>.exe] from the [http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=87054&package_id=260464&release_id=585323 xbmc win32 experimental section] on sourceforge. Higher rev-number means a newer build.
| Question= Programs and tools to help with Kodi
* Run the downloaded setup to install XBMC for Windows.
| Answer=
* You can now start XBMC from the startmenu either in fullscreen or windowed mode.
* For a list of programs and tools to help with Kodi, such as renaming files, managing media, file sharing, and more, see '''[[Supplemental tools]]'''
}}


===What are the recent changes? ===
All changes to the repository can be seen on our [http://trac.xbmc.org/timeline?changeset=on&max=200&daysback=90 XBMC Tracker]


'''Note:''' branches/linuxport/XBMC/ is the repository for the Linux, MacOSX and Win32 port. trunk/ belongs to the Xbox repository.
{{FAQ|1=Portable|2=Portable_mode
| BGcolor=
| Question= Portable mode
| Answer=
[[File:Portable01.jpg|300px|right]]
{{#lst:HOW-TO:Install_Kodi_for_Windows|Portable Mode}}
}}


=== What is the best way to post logs? ===
Take the xbmc.log out of the XBMC installation directory and upload it to http://pastebin.com/ for example. Post the link instead of the content.


=== How can I switch XBMC to full screen? ===
{{FAQ|1=Delay
Start XBMC.exe with '''-fs'''
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= Upon booting, start Kodi with a delay
| Answer=
* When starting Kodi on Windows startup it can be that some sub services weren't started when Kodi is up. To delay Kodi just add the parameter -d X (in the ''Target field'' after the closing quotation mark) to the shortcut's properties used to launch Kodi, with X equal to the startup delay in seconds.
}}


=== What are platform directories ? ===
|}
XBMC uses the UserDir in the installation directory to store profiles, settings and other stuff. You can start XBMC with '''-p''' to force it to use the directory '''Documents and Settings\[user]\AppData\XBMC''' on WinXp or '''Users/[user]/AppData/Roaming/XBMC''' on Vista.<br>
On Linux and Mac other platform directories are used like the user HOME.


=== What is the current development platform ? ===
== Troubleshooting ==
We currently develop under Windows XP SP2 with Visual Studio 2003.
{| width="100%"
{{FAQ|1=Help|2=Forum|3=IRC
| BGcolor=
| Question=Getting more help with Kodi for Windows
| Answer=
* '''[http://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?f=59 Kodi for Windows specific help forum]'''
* '''[irc://irc.freenode.org/Kodi #Kodi]''' [[w:IRC|IRC]] chat channel on irc.freenode.org.
}}


=== Why is my video screen smaller than my desktop in full screen? ===
{{FAQ|1=Userdata|2=Logs|3=logs|4=debuglog|5=kodi.log
We're still early alpha. Try to set the XBMC video resolution to your current desktop resolution.
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= Userdata folder and logs
| Answer=
:''See '''[[How-to:Submit a bug report]]''' for bug reporting details and '''[[forum:42708|here]]''' for instructions on reporting an issue to the forums''


=== How can I access the DVD-ROM drive from XBMC? ===
* [[Userdata]]:
DVD auto detection isn't working as of yet and therefore disabled. You can work around this by using [http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Advancedsettings.xml advancedsettings.xml] and set [http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Advancedsettings.xml#.3Cusepcdvdrom.3E usepcdvdrom] to true.
** Windows Vista/7/8/10: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\}}
** Windows 10 AppStore version: {{highlight|Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Packages\XBMCFoundation.Kodi_4n2hpmxwrvr6p\LocalCache\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\}}
* [[Log_file]]:
*: ''If Kodi is started in '''portable''' mode, the log file will be created in the Kodi folder itself.''
** Windows Vista/7/8/10: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\kodi.log}}
* Crash report:
** Windows Vista/7/8/10: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\Kodi_crashlog-[DATE]-[TIME].dmp}}
}}


==Does XBMC for Windows support Blu-ray or HD DVD playback with out without menus?==
{{FAQ|1=Black_white |2=DirectX
No. There is not yet any C/C++ open source software out there yet capable of fully playing back Blu-ray or HD DVD so we can not add the code from somewhere in any case. [http://www.ffmpeg.org FFmpeg (the open source codec-suit that XBMC uses)] will probably relativly soon be able to decode all audio and video codecs used in both Blu-ray and HD DVD, but even when that happens you
| BGcolor=
still have to get around the DRM encryptions used by the disc formats and there is not yet any C/C++ open source software library capable of that on-the-fly, nither is there any C/C++ open source software library out there capable of displaying Blu-ray or HD DVD menus. XBMC need C/C++ open source software libraries for all of these things to fully support Blu-ray or HD DVD playback.
| Question= Black/white screen instead of video
| Answer=
* ... but the gui works fine.
* If you have a video adapter with pixel shader >= 2.0
:* Kodi compiles the video shader at runtime and the compiler was not installed. When installing Kodi, do not uncheck the "Install DirectX" option. Contrary to a common belief, Windows Vista and above do not have a complete DirectX installation out of the box.
* if you have a DirectX 9 video adapter with pixel shader < 2.0
:* version 9.11: you are out of luck because the video renderer requires support of pixel shaders >= 2.0
:* versions after 9.11: supported, with the 'Software' render method. The CPU will work harder.
}}


[[Category:FAQ]]
{{FAQ|1=dxva2 |2=WASAPI
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= "Allow hardware acceleration (dxva2)" and WASAPI output settings missing
| Answer=
* These options are available with Windows Vista, 7 and later.
* If you have the required OS and do not see the options, check System Info->Summary->Operating system. It should match your actual OS version.
* If not, Windows is starting Kodi in a compatibility mode, which reports an alternative OS version. To disable the compatibility mode, open the file properties of Kodi.exe (located in Program Files\Kodi), and uncheck all the options of the Compatibility tab.
* If that doesn't help, check the compatibility options of the shortcut used to start Kodi or any launcher program that starts Kodi. If there is a chain of launchers, check each and every one.
}}
 
{{FAQ|1=Stuttering
| BGcolor=
| Question= Video stutters when "Adjust display refresh rate" is turned on
| Answer=
* The "Adjust display refresh rate" function of Kodi sometimes has bad interactions with Aero on Windows Vista and 7.
:* Turn off the "Use a fullscreen window rather than true fullscreen" option.
:* If you must have the "Use a fullscreen window..." option turned on, disable Aero, either globally on the PC with the selection of a basic theme, or just for Kodi, with the "Disable desktop composition" option, in the compatibility tab of Kodi.exe's file properties.
}}
 
{{FAQ|1=Stuttering2
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= Video stutters due to audio misconfiguration
| Answer=
* [http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=154265 Some users reported] that video may stutter in Kodi version 12 because of audio misconfiguration.
:* Go to System / Settings / Audio and try to set Analog Output.
:* If you don't want to use Analog Output, try to turn on/off DTS-HD or set output to WASAPI HDMI.
:* For more detailed guide and for Graphics Vendor Specifics visit forum page [http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=146911 HOW TO - Solve audio problems + video stutter (audio induced)].
}}
 
{{FAQ|1=Half_video
| BGcolor=
| Question= Video plays in half/quarter of the screen
| Answer=
* This happens for certain settings with nVidia graphics cards/integrated chipsets and hardware decoding. To fix this, go in the 3D settings of the nVidia Control panel and stop forcing antialiasing to be used (set "Antialiasing - Mode" to Application-controlled or Off). To avoid changing the setting globally and to preserve it for other applications, you can alternatively create a program profile for Kodi and only disable antialiasing in that profile.
}}
 
{{FAQ|1=DVD_player |2=please_insert_disk
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= DVD player does not work/"please insert disk" message
| Answer=
* Please check if you have more than one ejectable media drive in your system. If that's the case you must be sure that you insert the disk in the drive that has the first drive letter, as Kodi will fail in all others. You may need to swap driver letters in your Windows installation.
}}
 
{{FAQ|1=Chinese_text |2=Asian_characters
| BGcolor=
| Question= Chinese/Asian text as unrecognized squares
| Answer=
* For example, using the YouTube add-on to search for Chinese media video content, the Kodi displays the retrieved media video title Chinese text as unrecognized squares. The reason is that the default font pre-installed with Kodi does not support Chinese Unicode Font display.
* To make Kodi to display proper Chinese Text, you need a True-Type Font (.ttf) that supports Chinese Unicode. Below steps guide you on how to install the required font:
*# Navigate to Windows -> Fonts directory, select an Unicode ttf font file that supports Chinese characters display e.g.KaiTiRegular, copy the font file.
*# Navigate to the Kodi user directory i.e. C:\Users\<your_user_name>\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\media\Fonts (Windows 7)
*# Create the Fonts sub-directory if it does not exist.
*# Paste the copies Chinese font .ttf file into this Fonts sub-directory.
*# Rename the newly copied .ttf file to arial.ttf.
*# Launch Kodi and navigate to System -> Appearance -> Skin
*# Change the Fonts selection to 'Arial based'.
* You should now be able to see the Chinese font display properly.
* Note: Your Windows system must have the Asia Fonts support pre-installed. Otherwise you may not be able to find any Chinese .ttf font file in Windows -> Fonts directory.
}}
 
{{FAQ|1=No_text
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= No text in Kodi with AMD GPU
| Answer=
* AMD Catalyst 12.10 and 12.11 drivers have a known issue where they will cause all Kodi GUI text to show up as scattered dots (or nothing at all). A fix has been published by AMD with the '''12.11 Beta 11''' Catalyst drivers.
* [http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=143548 Base Windows + Kodi Install, '''no text''' forum discussion]
}}
 
{{FAQ|1= Server_08
| BGcolor=
| Question= Getting IR remote working on Windows Server 2008 & WHS 2011
| Answer=
* The link below contains instructions to install the required drivers to get IR remotes working in the following Windows operating systems
*# Windows Server 2008
*# Windows Home Server 2011
* [http://www.hellosri.com/2012/07/install-ehome-ir-drivers-on-whs-2011.html Sri's Media Center Blog - Install ehome IR drivers on WHS 2011/ windows 2008]
}}
 
{{FAQ|1= Audio
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= Audio issues and/or slow video playback
| Answer=
* Make sure that your audio settings are correct. Wrong audio settings will have severely negative effects on video playback.
:* Check to see if your speaker setup is really correct
:* If passthrough: make sure you '''only''' enable the audio codecs your receiver supports.
:* Select the correct audio output device for analog and passthrough.
* Most user can fix their issue by just switching to "DirectSound" in the audio settings. See '''Windows_audio''' for more in-depth information.
}}
 
{{FAQ|1= GUI error
| BGcolor=
| Question= ERROR: Unable to create GUI. Exiting.
| Answer=
*If you are getting this error when trying to start Kodi, make sure you have specific and updated graphics card drivers installed. Generic graphics card drivers might not work with Kodi.
}}
|}

Latest revision as of 22:31, 13 September 2022

Frequently Asked Questions Windows and Windows-compatible computer hardware.


General FAQ

See also: All platforms FAQ for FAQs that apply to all versions of Kodi.

Requirements
Link
See: Supported hardware#Windows

How to install and/or update Kodi
Link
Main page: HOW-TO:Install Kodi for Windows
  • To download Kodi, goto http://kodi.tv/; select "Downloads" and then run the Windows: Installer.
  • Do the same to update Kodi. All your settings and files will be preserved as they are located in a different place in the userdata folder. Be sure to make a backup of the userdata folder when doing updates in case something goes wrong.

Kodi for Windows version
Link
  • The current stable version of Kodi for Windows is Kodi v21 Omega. This is the same code that all of the other platforms (Linux, iOS, Mac OS X) are using.

What version/nightly build/beta of Kodi am I running?
Link
  • Open the Settings Page by clicking the "gear" icon (top left corner underneath the Kodi logo) then System Information. Note the build date.

Programs and tools to help with Kodi
Link
  • For a list of programs and tools to help with Kodi, such as renaming files, managing media, file sharing, and more, see Supplemental tools


Portable mode
Link
Portable01.jpg


Upon booting, start Kodi with a delay
Link
  • When starting Kodi on Windows startup it can be that some sub services weren't started when Kodi is up. To delay Kodi just add the parameter -d X (in the Target field after the closing quotation mark) to the shortcut's properties used to launch Kodi, with X equal to the startup delay in seconds.

Troubleshooting

Getting more help with Kodi for Windows
Link

Userdata folder and logs
Link
See How-to:Submit a bug report for bug reporting details and here for instructions on reporting an issue to the forums
  • Userdata:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\
    • Windows 10 AppStore version: Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Packages\XBMCFoundation.Kodi_4n2hpmxwrvr6p\LocalCache\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\
  • Log_file:
    If Kodi is started in portable mode, the log file will be created in the Kodi folder itself.
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\kodi.log
  • Crash report:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\Kodi_crashlog-[DATE]-[TIME].dmp

Black/white screen instead of video
Link
  • ... but the gui works fine.
  • If you have a video adapter with pixel shader >= 2.0
  • Kodi compiles the video shader at runtime and the compiler was not installed. When installing Kodi, do not uncheck the "Install DirectX" option. Contrary to a common belief, Windows Vista and above do not have a complete DirectX installation out of the box.
  • if you have a DirectX 9 video adapter with pixel shader < 2.0
  • version 9.11: you are out of luck because the video renderer requires support of pixel shaders >= 2.0
  • versions after 9.11: supported, with the 'Software' render method. The CPU will work harder.

"Allow hardware acceleration (dxva2)" and WASAPI output settings missing
Link
  • These options are available with Windows Vista, 7 and later.
  • If you have the required OS and do not see the options, check System Info->Summary->Operating system. It should match your actual OS version.
  • If not, Windows is starting Kodi in a compatibility mode, which reports an alternative OS version. To disable the compatibility mode, open the file properties of Kodi.exe (located in Program Files\Kodi), and uncheck all the options of the Compatibility tab.
  • If that doesn't help, check the compatibility options of the shortcut used to start Kodi or any launcher program that starts Kodi. If there is a chain of launchers, check each and every one.

Video stutters when "Adjust display refresh rate" is turned on
Link
  • The "Adjust display refresh rate" function of Kodi sometimes has bad interactions with Aero on Windows Vista and 7.
  • Turn off the "Use a fullscreen window rather than true fullscreen" option.
  • If you must have the "Use a fullscreen window..." option turned on, disable Aero, either globally on the PC with the selection of a basic theme, or just for Kodi, with the "Disable desktop composition" option, in the compatibility tab of Kodi.exe's file properties.

Video stutters due to audio misconfiguration
Link
  • Some users reported that video may stutter in Kodi version 12 because of audio misconfiguration.

Video plays in half/quarter of the screen
Link
  • This happens for certain settings with nVidia graphics cards/integrated chipsets and hardware decoding. To fix this, go in the 3D settings of the nVidia Control panel and stop forcing antialiasing to be used (set "Antialiasing - Mode" to Application-controlled or Off). To avoid changing the setting globally and to preserve it for other applications, you can alternatively create a program profile for Kodi and only disable antialiasing in that profile.

DVD player does not work/"please insert disk" message
Link
  • Please check if you have more than one ejectable media drive in your system. If that's the case you must be sure that you insert the disk in the drive that has the first drive letter, as Kodi will fail in all others. You may need to swap driver letters in your Windows installation.

Chinese/Asian text as unrecognized squares
Link
  • For example, using the YouTube add-on to search for Chinese media video content, the Kodi displays the retrieved media video title Chinese text as unrecognized squares. The reason is that the default font pre-installed with Kodi does not support Chinese Unicode Font display.
  • To make Kodi to display proper Chinese Text, you need a True-Type Font (.ttf) that supports Chinese Unicode. Below steps guide you on how to install the required font:
    1. Navigate to Windows -> Fonts directory, select an Unicode ttf font file that supports Chinese characters display e.g.KaiTiRegular, copy the font file.
    2. Navigate to the Kodi user directory i.e. C:\Users\<your_user_name>\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\media\Fonts (Windows 7)
    3. Create the Fonts sub-directory if it does not exist.
    4. Paste the copies Chinese font .ttf file into this Fonts sub-directory.
    5. Rename the newly copied .ttf file to arial.ttf.
    6. Launch Kodi and navigate to System -> Appearance -> Skin
    7. Change the Fonts selection to 'Arial based'.
  • You should now be able to see the Chinese font display properly.
  • Note: Your Windows system must have the Asia Fonts support pre-installed. Otherwise you may not be able to find any Chinese .ttf font file in Windows -> Fonts directory.

No text in Kodi with AMD GPU
Link
  • AMD Catalyst 12.10 and 12.11 drivers have a known issue where they will cause all Kodi GUI text to show up as scattered dots (or nothing at all). A fix has been published by AMD with the 12.11 Beta 11 Catalyst drivers.
  • Base Windows + Kodi Install, no text forum discussion

Getting IR remote working on Windows Server 2008 & WHS 2011
Link

Audio issues and/or slow video playback
Link
  • Make sure that your audio settings are correct. Wrong audio settings will have severely negative effects on video playback.
  • Check to see if your speaker setup is really correct
  • If passthrough: make sure you only enable the audio codecs your receiver supports.
  • Select the correct audio output device for analog and passthrough.
  • Most user can fix their issue by just switching to "DirectSound" in the audio settings. See Windows_audio for more in-depth information.

ERROR: Unable to create GUI. Exiting.
Link
  • If you are getting this error when trying to start Kodi, make sure you have specific and updated graphics card drivers installed. Generic graphics card drivers might not work with Kodi.
Retrieved from "https://kodi.wiki/index.php?title=Archive:Windows_FAQ&oldid=243001"