The latest version of Kodi, version 17.5, was released yesterday. The Kodi team recommends that everyone updates to the new version because it contains several bug fixes, but you might actually want to hold off on updating or even skip this version entirely. Several people (1, 2, 3) are reporting that version 17.5 crashes immediately when launched on Fire TV devices.
Most Kodi users, including myself, are not having issues with the latest update. That said, enough people are having issues that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to hold off on updating until we know more about why the app is crashing for some people. The issues seem to be limited to Android devices, but are not limited to just Fire TV devices. Android TV users, like Mi Box and NVIDIA Shield TV users, have also been reporting crashes with version 17.5 of Kodi.
This latest update mostly contains bug fixes and updates the FFmpeg video library. The list of changes also says that version 17.5 includes a “more robust way of handling audio output on [a] variety of Android devices.” Since it seems like crashes are limited to Android devices, the Android audio changes seem like a likely culprit to why the new version is crashing.
If you’ve updated to Kodi 17.5 and are experiencing issues, you’ll need to downgrade to version 17.4. The easiest way to do that is to uninstall Kodi 17.5 completely and then reinstall version 17.4. Doing so will delete all of your user data, like your library and add-ons, so you’ll want to back up your user data before uninstalling version 17.5 and restore it after reinstalling version 17.4. If you don’t know how to do that, I’ll write a guide later today on how to downgrade Kodi on a Fire TV device without losing your user data.
Let us know in the comments if you’re having issues with Kodi 17.5. Be as descriptive as possible, including what device model you’re using and what your configuration is like, to help us determine what could be the cause of the crashes.
Update
The guide for how to downgrade Kodi and not lose your data and settings can be found here.
Update 2
Kodi version 17.5.1 has been released with a fix for the crashes.
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No issues update from 17.4 on my amazon tv 1. All smooth process
I was running the 17.0 beta for ages on two Amazon TV 1s and it proved very stable. Recently upgraded to 17.4 and it’s been very unstable. Have issues with not being able to come out of Kodi without having to press the Home button. I then have to kill the process before I can go back in again. Once in Kodi it quite often doesn’t load the libraries or allow me into the settings. I think I’ll try 17.5, or if that’s worse a fresh install of 17.4.
I do not know if you are having the same issue as I, but if I wait sometimes up to 60 seconds it does finally shut off. I know it is not ideal fix but my Kodi always closes even though I sometimes have to take a coffee break just to wait for it to do so.
Heheh, thanks, I’ve not been that patient so far!
pressing the power button in kodi at least 10x or more forces it to close as it should
If it ain’t broken, why update?
Asking myself the same question now… Main reason was moving my SQL server to my NAS, seemed like a good opportunity to get to the ‘stable’ release…
I had the issue, and solved it by essentially re-installing 17.5. I deleted the cache and the datafiles and then 17.5 would load and run. I had to re-install all my addons and redo all my customizations in settings.
Thanks for the info. I don’t use any addons and my library is in SQL, so I’ll give this a go later.
You should backup your entire build that way you won’t have to redo setting you just go to Ares Wizard and extract the files. I’m using an Android TV box I don’t know what device you are on but trust me that would be faster. My Android TV Box automatically updated it and I didn’t have to do a thing nor did I lose my build and have to redo any settings.
I’m still running 17.3 as the 17.4 update caused the Extended Info Add-on to crash which I use in my build so curious if 17.5 resolves this (doubtful). Anyway, I’m also of the opinion “if it ain’t broke….”
17.5 install was perfectly fine with a Fire TV 2 here.
I can’t get it to load on the new fire tv. What is the url that you used
update came automatically I guess. Tried to open it and it crashes in 2 seconds. How can I back up my data if I can’t open the program?
No problem on FTV1 for me.
My Sony TV now crashes on launching 17.5 (I had no choice but to update)
it refuses to launch (android tv)
any solution?
I updated sticks version 1 and 2 and they appear to be fine so far . Both operating builds.
likewise, Kodi 17.3 and 17.4 was 30-45 seconds shutting down after i clicked the power button. Fox ticker would stop immediately, so knew something was happening, but the wait was at times irksome. Just loaded 17.5, no issues yet.
Just updated two first-gen Fire TVs and a Windows 10 box, each with 100+ add-ons, custom skins, etc. installed, without apparent issue.
Issues on Shield TV. Crash when I start the apk
Remove/disable external peripherals (mouse/pad/joystick)
On a somewhat related note, can anyone explain to me why DD and DTS passthrough stopped working on the FTV 1 with Kodi 17.X? SPMC and Jarvis work great via optical, but every version of Krypton just gives me stereo. Is it something that might get “fixed” with a future release (say 17.5?) or is an incompatibility with the older Amazon hardware?
It’s explained in detail on the kodi site, but basically they use standard Android APIs, which is a problem since the chinese chip people don’t implement them (not needed for phones)
Thanks Max, I’ve tried following the Android passthrough thread on the Kodi forums, but I’m not smart enough to understand it. Between your comments and what I’ve gleaned re-reading the forums, I see now that it was the hacks that let previous Kodi versions work on the broken firmware of the AFTV1. I’m going to try one of the linked “sh*&&y” builds and if that doesn’t work I’ll consider putting a new AVR on my Christmas list!
I have upgraded a stick and two boxes with no issue. I always do an adb backup first of just one of them so I can restore if needed. I use the adb backup to keep all 3 in sync when I add something or remove.
Version 17.5.1 for both 32 and 64 bit systems is out on the official Kodi site. Upgrading from 17.5 to 17.5.1 resolved the crash issues I was having on my FireTVs.
I’d recommend sideloading 17.5.1 before downgrading.
According to kodi.tv’s Facebook page – issue is caused by peripheral joystick or other. Following this lead – disabled TVs Bluetooth which stopped Kodi crashes. I have a Sony trackpad remote connected via BT.
Upgraded from 17.4 to 17.5 on FTV1 with an Allied build and it crashed then wouldn’t start up. Had to uninstall Kodi 17.5 and install 17.4 and it’s running fine. I’d wait to install 17.5 for 1st gen.
Immediately crashed upon update. Kodi went through the splash screen and crashed every time. Tried clearing cache, no luck. Updated Bios on my Mecool BB2 running Android 6, no luck. Uninstalled Kodi 17.5 and reinstalled. Worked once and then went back to crashing. So I uninstalled and went back to 17.4. Total pain in the a**!!
my sony tv automatically updated to kodi 17.5 (it always updates my apps)
but this time kodi will not launch and a screen tells me that kodi has stopped and gives options to close app or restart…just will not restart.
So l deleted kodi and reinstalled it from Google play…this new one opens ready to install addons etc. so l tried to install One Alliance…can not get past install ….just says failed to install
NVidia Shield Kodi 17.5 with Apollo crashes. had to go and install Ares USA. it works fine.
Disabling blutooth on tv worked.
Have been trying to get Fire TV/2015 to even boot since the update. All I get now is “Amazon” white letters on black ground. White flashing light (slow) and then it quits. Have tried several way to reboot with no luck.
Still trying as of this writing.
Just found this article.
Major
I have a new fire TV gen 3 with Kodi 17.5 and I’m having very poor frame rates that make the movies unwatchable. The movies can get as low as 12 FPS and even 20-22 FPS is bad. It’s not a bufferring issue. I think I read it’s something to do with 4:3 pulldown if the below link is correct. I tried all the settings for dynamic framerate, etc
http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-working-on-cinema-mode-for-fire-tv-to-sync-frame-rate-between-video-and-tv/
Anyone else have this issue. I dont have this issue on my Firestick Gen 2 running kodi 17.4. Any suggestions?
17.5 kodi on new fire tv 3rd gen streaming is jittery.
Been through many websites tried different settings still the same using build no limits magic internet is 180 down 20 up.
Any reccomendations
Just bought the the fire tv 3 and I have the same issue all video files in Kodi have a judder. Is there any settings to change?
The only fix I have found is to go into the secret menu and change the system to 1080p and 24 Hz. Of course this defeats the purpose of a 4k HDR box. Hold rewind and up to get to this menu.
Is then when the video is playing? I changed the settings with in the display settings to 1080p 60hz seems to have stopped the judder but your right defeats the object of a 4K box
No, this is on main menu of Amazon shun screen. Does 60hz also look ok when in 1080p? 60hz is default for Amazon and I know it looks hideous in Auto mode for both 4k and 1080 content (even 720p)
*amazon hub screen
60hz 1080p seems ok to be honest. The judder seems to have gone on Kodi. I managed to change it to 25hz and I still had stutter. Wish I stuck with the 2nd gen now to be honest
So should we abandon kodi all together or abandon amazon, what device should we use and what replacement for kodi
what is the best you tube to follow to jailbreak your fire stick? I’ve tried several times without success. I don’t have a problem downloading kodi, but can’t seem to download the portion that’s necessary to get free movies and tv channels. After kodi is downloaded and I follow the instructions on how to download the portion needed to get free movies things will freeze up. Seems like it starts with the zip files. Must not be uploading from the zip files. Maybe I damaged the fire stick by factory resetting it about six times? Any assistance would be helpful.
its really bad,
i had to change to 1080p 60mhz to be able to see the full kodi screen.
i dont fine the amazon fire tv 3 stable.
i will return this product, so should all fire tv 3 holders. and buy the second generation instead.
kodi is absolute no good for amazon fire tv 3
I am in the process of returning mine already. It’s not easy to find a Fire TV 2 and I really wantes the HDR
I bought the Ethernet adapter and that appears to have improved Kodi no end. I no longer get the stutter I did previously.
If you are considering buying an AFTV AND using Kodi Krypton AND you are going to be using audio passthrough, then I’d really suggest you read at least the first post in this thread before buying: https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=289735
Don’t shoot the messenger…
I really need help asap. I bought a fire tv from someone and he didn’t help set it up. So first off I know it says I have a 17.5 kodi. What I did was I de registered the user name and now I went on YouTube to try and set it up to live tv using the noobsand. Not sure of the rest and I followed the video when I got to the second parti clicked on ares and 2 dots showed up in file manager. So I went back and I just held down the select button and I clicked edit source and enter master lock. I don’t want to loose the data and I don’t know what to do. Can someone please help me. All I want is live tv. For some reason kodi shortcut was removed. Please help