Kodi upgrades can improve playback and platform support, but moving too quickly may break an add-on or skin that has not been updated. This guide explains how to compare Kodi 22 with Kodi 21 and prepare a reversible upgrade.
What changes between major Kodi versions?
Major releases update the playback engine, supported platforms, libraries, Python components, and user-interface behavior. Kodi 22 also continues work on video, audio, input, and platform-specific reliability. The exact benefit depends on your hardware and media formats.
Before you upgrade
- Record your current Kodi version and device model.
- Update every repository, add-on, and skin.
- Back up the Kodi data folder and export the media library.
- Check that essential add-ons explicitly support the new version.
- Make sure there is enough free storage for installation and database migration.
When to stay on Kodi 21
Wait if a critical add-on is unsupported, the device vendor has not released a compatible build, or the system is used in a setting where downtime matters. A stable working installation is more valuable than upgrading only for a version number.
Safe upgrade process
Install from Kodi’s official download page or your platform’s trusted app store. Open the new version, allow database migration to finish, and test local video, audio, subtitles, remote control, and any authorized streaming services.
FAQ
Will an upgrade erase my library?
Normally it should migrate, but a backup is essential because device packages and third-party builds vary.
Can I downgrade?
Downgrades may require restoring a compatible backup because newer databases are not always readable by older versions.
Decide whether to upgrade from Kodi 21
Do not upgrade only because a newer number is available. First check whether your current installation is stable, whether essential add-ons support Kodi 22, and whether your device meets the new platform requirements. A living-room system used every day benefits more from reliability than from an early feature.
Create a recoverable backup
Back up Kodi’s user-data folder, including databases, sources, favorites, keymaps, and add-on settings. Record your current Kodi version and the add-ons you depend on. A backup is useful only if you know where it is stored and can restore it after a failed upgrade.
Audit add-on compatibility
Remove abandoned repositories and test critical add-ons individually. Builds can hide dependencies, so users of customized packages should review our Redflix Kodi build installation guide for an example of the checks required before changing a working setup.
Use a staged upgrade process
- Update the operating system and confirm adequate free storage.
- Back up the working Kodi 21 profile.
- Install Kodi 22 from the official source for your platform.
- Launch once without adding new repositories.
- Test local playback, audio passthrough, library scanning, and remote control input.
- Restore or reconfigure only what is necessary.
Common upgrade problems
Add-ons show as incompatible
Wait for an official update or replace the add-on with a maintained alternative. Forcing incompatible code can create startup loops and database errors.
The library is empty
Confirm that storage paths and permissions are unchanged. Network shares may require credentials to be entered again after an operating-system or app update.
Video plays without sound
Recheck audio device, channel count, and passthrough settings. Major upgrades sometimes reset hardware-specific options.
When should you wait?
Wait if the device is mission-critical, the release is still beta, or a required add-on has not announced compatibility. Follow the latest practical guides on the Kodi17 home page and upgrade when the benefits outweigh the migration risk.