Last Updated on June 21, 2022
Sadly, even the best technological devices are not infallible, and you may sometimes experience connection issues. The main causes for a faulty connection on Kodi might be a result of poor internet connection or the incorrect input of the URL.
If you are experiencing connection issues, don’t despair. There is usually a simple solution. Read on to learn exactly what to do if Kodi won’t connect to the server.
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Why Kodi is not connecting, and what to do about it
If Kodi is not connecting, you can troubleshoot the problem. Here are the main reasons people experience connection issues and what to do about them.
Check your internet connection
The first thing to do is to check your internet connection. This can quite often provide the simplest solution to your Kodi connection issues. A fast and stable internet connection is crucial if you are streaming movies online and will help you to avoid the frustrations of endless buffering. Don’t forget your FireStick is connected via the internet, so it is important to check that this is working.
To check the internet connection on your device:
- Go to Settings on your FireStick home screen
- View the Network option
- Select WiFi connection (this will be your home network provider) and the click play/pause
- You will be taken to a screen that shows you the network connection details, and here you will be able to see if there any connectivity issues – such as a poor or broken connection
- If you are not connected, you may need to contact your service provider. You could also try disconnecting and reconnecting to see if that solves the problem
If everything else is running perfectly on your FireStick, then this will obviously mean that the problem lies with Kodi and not with your connection. Similarly, if other apps on your FireStick are NOT working, the problem is most likely to exist within your internet connection.
Check the URL
Once you have ruled out the issue of the internet connection, you can check the URL information. Human error is one of the major issues affecting technological problems. It could be that you simply had some mistyped information when you entered the URL into the search bar. Even a tiny error such as the incorrect spelling of https or an extra space or colon will mean that your Kodi will not operate correctly. Try copying and pasting the URL to avoid any such errors.
To check the entered URL information:
- When you get the unable to connect message, click Yes and go back to the Kodi Settings
- Select File Manager, right-click the source and select Edit source
- Select the add on you were going to install using the three horizontal lines on your FireStick remote
- When a pop-up menu appears, select Edit source
- Click on the address bar and paste in the correct URL
- Then click OK
- Then enter the name of your media source and you should be connected – if not, you may need to fix it using a different solution
Check the repository availability
If having checked your internet connection and also that you have added the correct URL, you have found that neither of these is causing your Kodi network connection issue, then there are a couple more troubleshooting processes that you can try, including checking the repository availability, updating add-ons and a reinstall of Kodi.
To check if the Repository is available:
The third-party add-ons and repositories will continue to change frequently, and therefore the one you are trying to install may no longer be available.
To check availability:
- You will get a message saying Index of/, to show that the URL is a working source and this message will show you all the files that are present within this source. OR…
- You will get a message that says ‘this site cannot be reached,’ which means that the add-on is no longer available
Run updates
Usually, Kodi will automatically update, but sometimes you will need to check for updates manually as this can cause connection issues.
- To update your add-ons:
- Go to the Home page of Kodi and click Add-ons
- Click My add-ons
- Press the left button on your remote and a sidebar will pop up
- Select check for updates
- Kodi will then automatically install the latest version for your add-ons
- Restart Kodi and your problem should be resolved
Reinstall Kodi
Reinstalling Kodi can sometimes resolve your connection issues. If nothing else has worked so far, follow these steps.
To reinstall Kodi:
- To reinstall any app, you will need to uninstall it first
- Go to C:\Users\frede\AppData\Roaming\Kodi and delete the file in this location
- Restart your PC and then install a fresh version of Kodi which should hopefully make things run more smoothly
What is Kodi?
Kodi is an app that provides the end-user with an open-source, free media player. You can use Kodi to playback media from local storage, but its main benefit is to allow you to play media over the internet for free.
Kodi will give you free access to your favorite shows, movies, sports, and live TV, providing you have the correct Kodi add-ons. It is compatible with almost all of the popular platforms and may even be hosted in the official app stores of Android smartphones, TV Boxes and Windows 10, etc.
How do I install Kodi?
The installation process will vary from one device to another. On some devices, it will be officially available. On others, you will need to use a sideloading method to install it.
Installing on Amazon FireStick, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Cube:
As all of these devices are very similar, then so too will be the process for installing Kodi.
- Get the Downloader app – Select Find in the middle bar on the FireStick home screen and then click Search
- Search and click the Downloader app in the search results
- Click Download
- Prepare your FireStick for Kodi Installation – navigate to Settings on your FireStick in the middle bar on the far right of the home screen
- Select My Fire TV
- Click Developer Options
- Click ADB debugging (optional) and turn it ON
- Click Install unknown apps
- Turn ON the Downloader app
- Now navigate to Settings ➤ open Preferences ➤ Privacy Settings
- Turn OFF Device Usage Data and Collect App Usage Data
- Your Amazon FireStick is now ready to install Kodi
Install Kodi:
- Launch the Downloader app that you just installed and click on the URL box
- Enter https://www.firesticktricks.com/kapk into the pop-up keypad and then click GO
- Downloading will now begin – Once downloaded, you can click Install.
Installing Kodi on Smartphones, Tablets, and Android TV:
On these devices, Kodi can simply be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
For Windows and Xbox, you can download Kodi from the Microsoft Store or from the official Kodi site, respectively.
Getting Started with Kodi
As with many other streaming devices, Kodi does not host any of its own original content. It is simply a media player that enables content playback for free over the internet.
In order to get started with Kodi, you will need add-ons and build-ons, which can be readily accessed online. However, it is worth making sure that you only use add-ons from a trusted source.
Add-ons will enhance your Kodi experience by adding functionalities to your entertainment center. Some add-ons can be used to stream video and audio content over the internet and can also maintain your Kodi app by deleting cache and other temporary files to keep performance at a maximum.
Youtube and BBC iPlayer are perhaps the most popular add-ons and are considered essential by many users. These two add-ons alone will allow you to watch new movies, TV shows, and live TV channels. Other recommended add-ons include Crackle and Popcornflix.
The difference between add-ons and builds is that add-ons are apps that allow you to stream movies and TV shows. Builds are made up of numerous add-ons and displayed in an interface that is user-friendly and makes your streaming experience easier all round.
In summary
Kodi is a fantastic device that can bring you hours of free viewing via the internet. Unfortunately, like any other device of its kind, there are sometimes some glitches or issues that will mean that you cannot view your chosen content. By working through the possible issues carefully and methodically, you should be able to find the correct solution by process of elimination. Try one thing and see if it works. If not, move on to the next possible solution.
There are lots of forums online that can also help with any technical issues that you may encounter. Although, as previously stated, the main causes of potential difficulty lie with the stability of your internet connection, human error, or failure to update the app.
With a little patience and perseverance, you should be able to identify the issue and fix it without too much difficulty or frustration. Before you know it, you will be able to resume viewing and enjoying your favorite content!
