Kodi won’t install or open on PC [Fixed]

Kodi is one of the best open-source media players. However, some Windows users are complaining that the player is not installing on their computer, and some users are saying that even though they can install Kodi, it is not launching on their system. In this article, we will talk about this issue and see what you need to do if Kodi won’t install or open on your PC.

Why is Kodi not opening Windows?

The following are the reasons why Kodi won’t launch on your computer.

• If Kodi lacks administrative privileges, there is a high chance that it won’t launch on your computer.
• Make sure that there are outdated drivers and required tools.
• In case, the addons attached to Kodi are corrupted, there is a high chance that the media player won’t launch on your computer.
• The worst-case scenario is corruption in Kodi. The only way to resolve the issue, in this case, is by reinstalling the program.

Now, let us go to the troubleshooting guide to resolve the issue.

Fix Kodi won’t install or open on PC

If Kodi doesn’t install or open on your Windows 11/10 computer, try the following solutions.

1. Disable Firewall Temporarily
2. Try installing Kodi from Microsoft Store
3. Run Kodi or its installer as an administrator
4. Update your Graphics Drivers, DirectX, and Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
5. Check Addons
6. Reinstall Kodi

Let us start with the first solution.

1] Disable Firewall Temporarily

If Kodi is not getting installed on your computer, the first thing you need to do is disable the Firewall temporarily. Sometimes, the firewall blocks the installation process, sometimes, you will even see a prompt by the Defender asking the user to allow the app through a network. So, first of all, go ahead and disable Windows Firewall temporarily. In case your computer has a third-party antivirus, disable it as well. Once you have disabled the security program, install the app and see if the issue persists. However, make sure to enable the firewall after completing the installation process, as that makes your computer vulnerable. Hopefully, this will do the job for you.

2] Try installing Kodi from Microsoft Store

If Kodi is not getting installed on your computer, try downloading and installing the app from Microsoft Store. Because Windows or Microsoft Store is a part of your Windows computer, if there is an app that is available there, there is no need for you to download it from their official website. Since Kodi is available on MS Store, try downloading it from there, the app will automatically get installed and your issue will be resolved. To do the same, navigate to apps.microsoft.com and download the app from there. Hopefully, Kodi will be installed.

3] Run Kodi or its installer as an administrator

You need to try to run Kodi or its installer with administrative privileges. First of all, let us talk about the installer, you can easily right-click on it and click on Run as administrator. Then, just install the app normally and your issue will be resolved.

If you have already installed Kodi, but the app is not launching, try opening the app as an administrator. In case, you can not find its shortcut, search out “Kodi” from the Start Menu and select Run as administrator.

You can also configure the properties of the app such that it always opens with the required permissions. This will save you time if you use Kodi regularly. To do the same, just follow the prescribed steps.

1. Go to the location where you have installed it.
2. Right-click on the application Kodi and select Properties.
3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
4. Tick Run this program as an administrator.
5. Click Apply > Ok.

This will make sure that every time you launch Kodi, it opens with administrative privileges. Hopefully, this will make Kodi launch on your computer.

4] Update your Graphics Drivers, DirectX, and Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

A lot of AMD users reported that the issue is resolved by updating the GPU drivers. Since there is no official announcement, we recommend you update your Graphics Drivers, regardless of the brand it is from. You can choose any of the following methods to update your Graphics Drivers.

• Install a free driver update software and use it to keep your drivers updated
• Navigate to the manufacturer’s website and download the driver
• Install Driver and Optional Update from Windows Settings.
• Update GPU Driver from Device Manager.

Now, launch the game and see if the issue persists. In case, the issue is not resolved, the latest version of DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributable. These two tools are required to create an environment for your game to run.

5] Check Addons

There is a high chance that an addon is corrupted and is forcing your game to crash. We should move all addons to another location temporarily and if this works, disable all addons one by one to find out which one is corrupted. So, first of all, open Run, enter “%APPDATA%\Kodi\addons” and hit Enter. Hit Ctrl + A, then hit Ctrl + C, go to the location where you want to paste, and hit Ctrl + V.

6] Reinstall Kodi

If nothing works, your last option is to reinstall the Kodi app. We won’t just delete the app, but clear all related data from your computer as well. So, first of all, uninstall Kodi, in one of the steps, you need to tick the box associated with Yes, I am sure and grant permission to also delete the profile folder, do that and complete the uninstallation process.

After deleting the app, launch File Explorer and go to the following location.

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Kodi

Click on View > Hidden items. Delete all the content of the folder. Finally, install Kodi from the Microsoft Store (check the second solution).

Hopefully, this will resolve the issue for you. In case you don’t like this media player, check some other Kodi alternatives.

Also Read: Best free VPN for Kodi 

How do I fix my Kodi on my computer?

If Kodi is not installing or refuses to launch on your computer, try the solutions mentioned in this article to resolve the issue. You should try troubleshooting the issue from the first solution as it will save a lot of your time. Hopefully, your issue will be resolved.

Read: Set up Kodi Remote Control in Windows using Android & iOS devices.