Overview
The next version of Kodi v19 (codename Matrix) was released in January. Since then, we’ve been working on bringing this up for OSMC. There have been a number of technical challenges, but we now should have a release that is of the standard you would expect from us.
Just over a month ago, we outlined a list of things you need to know before considering upgrading to this version. We will release this as a stable build with the Kodi v19.1 release, which we expect to be made available at the end of the month.
Supported platforms
This release supports:
- Raspberry Pi 2 (all models and Compute Modules)
- Raspberry Pi 3 (all models and Compute Modules)
- Raspberry Pi 4 (all models and Pi 400)
Support for Raspberry Pi 0 / 1 has now been discontinued, as the platform has reached end of life status. We will continue to keep older images on the website available for download.
How to update
Updating from a stable version of OSMC
If you’re running a stable version of OSMC, then you should be able to update from a compatible platform without issue. Please make sure that you system is up to date first by going to My OSMC → Updates and initiating an update check; installing any outstanding updates.
Updating via the command line
To install the update:
- Login via the command line
- Edit the file
/etc/apt/sources.list - Add the following line:
deb http://apt.osmc.tv buster-devel main
Go to My OSMC → Updates again, and initiate an update check. Install the updates when prompted.
Fresh installation
Installation images are available here for the following platforms.
As we haven’t released any images for Pi 4 / 400 in the past, you can only upgrade to Kodi v19 if you are using a Raspberry Pi 2 / 3.
Please note that these images enable the buster-devel repository by default. You may wish to change this back to busterif you do not want to receive experimental updates.
Also note that even though you’ve installed a fresh image, we are pushing updates regularly, so we’d recommend checking for updates immediately after installing.
Tracking releases
There are outstanding issues, so we plan to push some further test builds over the coming days. You may wish to keep the modification to /etc/apt/sources.list, but we would recommend keeping this active until the final release is made available. When we do this, we’ll make a clear announcement on the forums and blog.
Known issues
Currently, we are aware of the following issues:
- Firstly, please see the regressions section here: Kodi v19 Matrix is here. Here's what you need to know - OSMC.
- Videos that change resolution during playback can cause the decoder to get stuck
- Aspect ratio issues when playing some videos
I’ll update this section as more issues are discovered.
Frequently asked questions
Q: I’ve installed the update and now I only have a black screen or a sad face loop, how do I fix this?
A: It’s possible that your Kodi userdata is causing an issue with the new version. The first recommendation would be to move it away and allow Kodi to generate a new userdata directory. This can be done by executing the following commands after accessing the command line:
sudo systemctl stop mediacenter
mv ~/.kodi ~/.kodi-backup
sudo systemctl start mediacenter
Before attempting this, you may wish to try a more conservative approach, and delete ‘Addons.db’ only, as reports from users suggest that add-on migration is the problem
Q: I only see a black screen / hang on migrating add-ons, what should I do?
A: If you encounter this problem and a consider amount of time (more than half an hour) has passed, you should log in to the system and execute the above instructions from the previous question.
Q: I am using a shared library? Has the database version changed?
A: Yes. You should check that your other Kodi clients are compatible with Kodi Matrix before upgrading.
Q: Are add-ons supported by Kodi Leia supported in Kodi Matrix?
A: Not necessarily. Kodi has now moved to using Python 3 as the add-on interpreter, so add-ons which only support Python 2.x and haven’t been updated won’t work.
Q: I can’t find my add-ons anymore
A: To ensure compatibility where possible, Kodi disables any non-official add-ons by default when a new major version is released. You should be able to enable them manually under Settings. Note that this does not necessarily mean they be compatible with the new version of Kodi. Kodi will also disable add-ons that are not Python 3 compatible.
Q: Will my current skin work with Kodi Matrix?
A: The new version of Kodi has reworked the skinning system extensively, and as such, only a handful of skins are currently ready for Kodi Matrix. You should check with the developer of the skin to see if there is a Matrix compatible version available
Q: My add-ons are not working, what can I do?
A: You should notify the developer of this add-on and ask them if there is a version compatible with the new version of Kodi. Unfortunately OSMC cannot do anything about this.
Q: How can I downgrade?
A: Unfortunately, downgrading is not trivial. However we will maintain Leia images on our website for some time. If you discover a bug or issue, we are more interested in fixing it, as there will be users in a similar position, rather than having users downgrade.
Q: I don’t see all of my skin’s menus. What can I do to resolve this?
A: Please wait a few moments for the skin menus to be rebuilt. This may take a while to update if you have a number of add-ons on your system. If the issue persists, you should check that your skin is indeed compatible.
Q: CEC has stopped working, what can I do?
A: Power off your TV and device at the mains for 60 seconds, including your AV receiver if you have one. This usually resolves CEC issues.
Q: My question is not answered and I am experiencing an issue, what can I do?
A: Please start a new forum post, with detailed information so that we can assist you with your problem.
Q: Can I update my Pi 2 or Pi 3 and boot the SD card in a Raspberry Pi 4 / 400?
A: This is not possible. We have specific optimisations for the Pi 4 / Pi 400 hardware and intentionally prevent booting Pi 2 / Pi 3 images on Pi 4 / Pi 400 hardware as a result.
Changelog
- 15/04/2021: initial release
- 28/04/2021: updated to top of Matrix upstream tree; fixed add-on dependency issues.
- 17/06/2021: updated build
- 21/06/2021: fix hang on exit.
- 15/07/2021: build updated to expected v19 final.
Let me know how you get on
Cheers
Sam
