Fix: Kodi Not Working or Crashing On Windows 11

Kodi is a free-to-use media player via which you can fulfill all your entertainment cravings. Here you can watch videos of all the formats, and listen to your favorite soundtracks. The platform also gives the access to manage your photographs. But one thing that no one likes about the platform is the Kodi not working on Windows 11 problem. It might be the case that it is not able to open in the latest Windows OS. Or, it was working a few hours ago but now has stopped working. Whatever the situation may be, it will put a full stop to your entertainment train.

Kodi incompatibility errors are mainly a sign that something is wrong with the application or the OS. And it has been seen that the problem often originates just after the user have downloaded the latest OS or the application version. That said, is there any workaround to fix the problem?

Luckily there is, and this guide is all about that. Here we are going to talk about how to fix Kodi not working on Windows 11 problem. So, without any further, let’s get started.

Reasons Behind Kodi Not Working On Windows 11

There can be several reasons why Kodi is throwing incompatibility errors on Windows 11. But among all, below mentioned are some of the most common culprits causing the problem.

1. Kodi is a feature-rich application that allows you to install different add-ons. But if you are installing way too many add-ons on the application, you are most likely to face different errors.
2. Kodi will not open on Windows 11 if it hasn’t been closed from the last session. It’s very important to completely close Kodi if you don’t want to face errors in the application.
3. A broken update can also throw Kodi incompatibility error on Windows 11.

Now that you are aware of all the main reasons triggering the problem, let’s check out how to fix them.

Fix: Kodi Not Working On Windows 11

Here are different workarounds you can try to fix Kodi not working on Windows 11 problem.

Fix 1: Reinstall Kodi On Windows 11

Re-installation is one of the best ways to get rid of any kind of bugs and glitches that originates in an application. Kodi is completely compatible with Windows 11. Facing incompatibility issues is a sign of a temporary glitch. You can fix it by simply reinstalling Kodi on Windows 11. So, here are the steps you need to follow to get the work done.

1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu.
2. In the search bar, type “Control Panel” and press enter.
3. Click on “Uninstall a program”.
4. The program and features window will pop up containing all the installed applications.
5. Right-click on Kodi and click on uninstall.
   

Restart the system to clear all the temporary glitches that were related to the application. Now, visit the official Kodi website to download its Windows 11 version. For your convenience, here’s the direct download link for Kodi Windows 11.

Fix 2: Remove Add-ons

Kodi has a dedicated folder in the installation directory containing all the add-ons you have installed. So, if Kodi not working on Windows 11 problem is being caused by an add-on that you have recently installed, then you can manually delete it to get rid of the problem.

Sounds confusing? Worry not, just follow the below-mentioned steps to get the work done.

1. Open File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC and head towards the below mentioned location.

   C:\Users\"username"\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\Database

2. In case you are not able to locate the “AppData” folder, then it indicates that you haven’t enabled the “Hidden items” option. For enabling the hidden items option, click on “View” present at the top of the screen. Checkmark the “Hidden items” option.
3. In the database folder, delete the “addon_data” folder. If File Explorer fails to delete the file, open task manager and close Kodi from the background.
   

Now, restart Kodi on Windows 11, and check if the problem is fixed or not. If yes, continue with your favorite movies and songs. However, if you are still facing the problem, move on to the next workaround.

Fix 3: Close Kodi From The Background

In Windows Operating System, most of the application keeps on running in the background, even if you have manually closed them. Windows 10 does so to offer fast access to that particular application the next time you open it. But it has its own share of downside as well such as Kodi not working on Windows 11. If Kodi is still running in the background, even if you have closed it manually, it can throw an incompatibility error the next time you try to open it. To get rid of it, you will have to close Kodi from the background. So, here are the steps you need to follow.

1. Open Task Manager on Windows 11 by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut key followed by selecting Task Manager from the list of options.
2. The Task Manager window will pop up containing all the applications running in the background.
3. Select Kodi and click on the “End task” option.

You have finally closed Kodi, even from the background. Now, restart Kodi on Windows 11 to check if the problem is fixed or not. If not, continue with the article.

Fix 4: Turn-off Hardware Acceleration

If you have a low-end Windows 11 PC, it’s recommended to keep the hardware acceleration option enabled in Kodi. In fact, it comes in abled by default in the application. It not only enhances the video performance but also makes sure that the application is not taking much system memory. However, at the same time, hardware acceleration can also cause incompatibility errors on Windows 11. To fix this, you will have to disable hardware acceleration on Kodi. So, here are the steps you need to follow to get the work done.

1. Open Kodi on Windows 11.
2. Click on the gear icon present at the left panel of the screen.
   
3. Tap the “Player” option.
   
4. Now, in the video section, scroll down and disable “Allow hardware acceleration – DXVA2” by turning off the toggle.
   

That’s it. You have disabled hardware acceleration on Kodi. Restart the application, and check if the problem is resolved or not.

Fix 5: Download Latest DirectX Version

If you have been using Windows for a long time then you must have heard of DirectX. In fact, all the windows devices feature DirectX. And it is updated at regular intervals via Windows update. But in case, if you haven’t downloaded the latest DirectX version on Windows 11, you are most likely to face an incompatibility error with Kodi.

First off you need to check the install DirectX version on Windows 11. So, here are the steps you need to follow.

1. Open the Run dialogue box by pressing Windows + R shortcut key.
2. In the search bar, type “dxdiag” and press enter.
3. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window will pop up.
4. Check for the DirectX version installed on your system. If the DirectX version is not DirectX 12 or above, then you will have to go through the update process.
   
5. Click on the link to download DirectX 12 on Windows 11.

Once downloaded, install it on your system. Launch Kodi and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Fix 6: Use VPN to Access Kodi

Kodi is accessible in almost all countries. Still, if you are not able to access Kodi on Windows 11 in your country, then it might be the case that there is some issue going on with your internet service provider. To fix the problem, you can use a VPN. It will allow you to visit the platform from another location via a public network.

You can try any VPN you like. From Secure VPN, Turbo VPN, Nord VPN to Express VPN, you can try any VPN to fix Kodi not working on Windows 11 problem.

Final Words

This was how you can fix Kodi not working on Windows 11 problem. As there isn’t any specific workaround available for the problem, you might have to go through all the fixes to get rid of the issue. Nevertheless, you can share any other solution that you think will be helpful in the situation. You can check our other guides on Kodi to fix different problems that revolve around applications.