Kodi is a free, open-source application that lets you play your favorite videos. Whether it be your recordings, movies, TV shows, or other types of video content, Kodi is the perfect application. The best part about this app is that it is available on all smart devices, such as phones, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles, PCs, etc.
However, open-source applications like Kodi may be more prone to issues like losing the audio or having corrupted files. If you cannot play the sound on your favorite video using the Kodi app, we are here to help. We will present the four most common no-sound issues with Kodi and teach you how to fix them quickly.
In this article
What Causes the Kodi No Sound Issue?
Numerous reasons may lead to your videos not having sound on the Kodi app. Let’s check out some of them:
- Audio cables – if you are using external speakers on your device, they may be causing the no-sound issue.
- Add-ons – installing too many add-ons on your Kodi app may cause it to lag.
- Outdated app versions – using an outdated version of the Kodi app may affect your experience.
- Settings – the wrong settings may cause your videos to lose sound.
- Connections – if you have connected your device to another one via Bluetooth, you may lose audio due to a poor connection.
- Hardware acceleration – using hardware acceleration may cause issues with video-audio synchronization.
These are some of the most common issues you may encounter with your audio on the Kodi app.
4 Situations When Kodi Might Not Have Sound
Below are four situations when Kodi videos might not have a sound.
Situation 1: Hardware Issues
Your hardware may lead to problems with audio on the Kodi app. For instance, if you are using older speakers or Bluetooth devices, you may end up with low-quality or no audio. You should first eliminate possible hardware issues before trying any software solutions.
Situation 2: Software Crash
In most cases, software aspects affect your Kodi audio. Whether it be issues with the app or with your device’s software, they will influence your experience. Numerous software issues may stand in the way, but we will discuss these issues in a minute.
Situation 3: Poor Audio Settings
When setting up the Kodi app, you must also set up the settings. Create a combination suitable for your device for the best results. However, you may be left with poor audio files if you don't take this step.
Situation 4: Corrupted Video
Corrupted videos may be the easiest to recognize but the hardest to solve. Such files will affect your video’s visual and audio aspects. You can see some of the most common causes of corrupted videos and the most reliable solutions in the table below.
Causes | Fixes |
Virus and malware | Using antivirus software |
Bad sectors and hardware issues | Repairing the videos with Repairit |
Incompatible file formats | Convert the files via the VLC Media Player |
Unreliable downloads | Use Repairit or reinstall the video |
How to Fix Hardware Issues
As mentioned above – you should first check for hardware issues before doubting the software aspect. Here’s how to detect and fix hardware issues to make your Kodi videos audible again.
Fix 1: Reconnect Ports
Before suspecting more significant hardware issues, check your audio ports first. For instance, if you use an HDMI cable to transmit audio to your TV, you should ensure the cable is securely attached to the port. You can also disconnect and reconnect the cables to ensure they are correctly inserted.
Fix 2: Check/Replace Audio Cables
If the audio isn’t working after reconnecting ports, you should check whether your cables are working properly. You can do that by playing another video on your device or connecting your audio devices to another source you know is working. For instance, connect your speakers to your PC and play a video to ensure the cables function properly.
If your cables are working, you should check for other issues. If not, you should replace the audio cables and give your audio devices a fresh start.
Fix 3: Check Your Speaker Bluetooth Connection
Many people use Bluetooth speakers for convenience and ease of use – you can connect them to any device that supports Bluetooth and listen to your favorite audio files. Since technology advanced immensely, some Bluetooth speakers may even be better than cable devices.
However, you may lose your Bluetooth connection at some point, leading you to believe there’s an issue with your Kodi app or other software features. Check the connection first and reconnect the speaker to ensure it works perfectly. You can also try connecting the speaker to another device to check whether your speaker is in fine condition.
Fix 4: Check if Your Kodi Box Is Working & Repair
After checking all the issues mentioned above, it is time to check your Kodi Box. This small device may wear out over time, causing more harm than good. If your videos are lagging, the Kodi app has trouble loading, or you are experiencing any other issues with the app, you should see whether the device is the problem.
You can do so by connecting the box to another device – if you are experiencing the same issues, the box needs repairing. The best advice is to take your box to the shop and have professionals take care of it.
How to Fix Software Crash Issues on Kodi
After discarding all hardware aspects that may be related to the Kodi no-sound problem, you can jump to the software. Here are a couple of solutions.
Fix 1: Update Kodi to the Latest Version
Using an outdated version of the Kodi system may impact the quality of your video and audio files. You may not be able to play your files, or you may experience lags, black screens, and other frustrating issues. You should ensure your Kodi app is up-to-date to avoid such scenarios. Here’s how to update your app.
Fire Stick
Step 1: Install and set up the Downloader app.
Step 2: Once you open the app, input the https://kodi.tv/download/android URL in the URL box and press the Go button.
Step 3: In the next window, choose the ARMV7A (32BIT) option.
Step 4: Select Install to complete the process.
PC
Step 1: Open a web browser and head to https://kodi.tv/download/.
Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Windows icon.
Step 2: Choose the version according to your Windows (32-bit or 64-bit).
Step 3: Once you download the installation file, double-click on it to open it.
Step 4: Follow the onscreen instructions to install the update.
Android
Step 1: Open the Play Store on your phone/tablet.
Step 2: Click on your profile icon.
Step 3: Head to Manage Apps & Device.
Step 4: Click on your Kodi app.
Step 5: Click the Update button to finish the process.
macOS
Step 1: Head to the official website (https://kodi.tv/download/) in your browser of choice.
Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the macOS option.
Step 2: Click the Installer 64 BIT option to start the process.
Step 3: After downloading the installation file, double-click on it.
Step 4: Drag the Kodi icon to the Applications icon to complete the process.
iPhone/iPad
Step 1: Head to the Cydia app.
Step 2: Tap the Changes>Upgrades buttons.
Step 3: Tap the Upgrade button.
Step 4: Restart your device afterward.
Xbox
Step 1: Press the Xbox button.
Step 2: Head to My Games & Apps.
Step 3: Select Updates from the left part of the screen.
Step 4: Select the Kodi app.
Fix 2: Remove Recently Installed Addons
Although Kodi can support a wide range of addons, it may not be a good idea to overcrowd your app. Addons may not always be the best solution, especially if they impact Kodi’s performance. These additions may slow down your app, or even cause it to lag and lose audio features. Thus, try to remove recently installed add-ons that may be causing the issue by following the guide below:
Step 1: Open the menu and head to Add-ons.
Step 2: Choose My Add-ons in the left tab.
Step 3: Select All to view all add-ons.
Step 4: Find the add-on you want to delete and right-click on it. Choose Information.
Step 5: From the next window, select the Uninstall option.
Step 6: Go back to the main menu and click the Gear icon.
Step 7: Choose Media Settings and head to General. Make sure that the Show Hidden Files and Directories option is turned on.
Step 8: Go back to the main menu, select the Gear icon, and head to File Manager.
Step 9: Click on the addon_data file. Scroll down the list and find the uninstalled add-on.
Step 10: Right-click on the add-on and select Delete.
This will permanently delete the add-on from your Kodi app.
Fix 3: Update Graphics Driver
Your graphics driver may stand in the way of your video experience. If the driver is not updated, the audio and video files may not be in sync, leading to the audio issue on Kodi. Thus, update your drives with this step-by-step guide to solve the issue:
Step 1: Open Device Management on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Click Display Adapters and find your graphics driver.
Step 3: Right-click on the driver and select Update.
If you are using a Mac device, you will need to download software updates to update your graphics driver. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Head to Apple Menu>System Settings.
Step 2: Select General and head to Software Update.
Step 3: Download the update.
Fix 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration
Although Hardware Acceleration may be useful in some scenarios, it is an obstacle for your Kodi video experience. It can mess with video-audio synchronization or may not even recognize the audio, leading to the no-audio issue. Make sure to disable this feature for the best experience:
Step 1: Right-click on your screen and head to Display Settings.
Step 2: Click on the Advanced Display Settings option in the next window.
Step 3: Click on Display adapter properties for Display 1.
Step 4: In the next window, select Troubleshoot>Change Settings.
Step 5: Move the switch to None next to the Hardware Acceleration option.
Step 6: Click OK.
How to Fix Poor Audio Settings on Kodi
Since audio settings may be one of the most common causes behind the no-sound issue on Kodi, you can check out some of the solutions we have prepared for you.
Fix 1: Check All Settings
Kodi has very specific settings depending on your audio source. Thus, you should make sure you adapt the settings to fit your devices. Below is a table of the desired settings on Kodi:
Kodi Settings | PC Speakers (2.0) |
PC Speakers (5.1) |
TV | TV (AC3)[1] |
AVR SPDIF (AC3/DTS)[2] |
AVR HDMI (no HD Audio)[3] |
AVR HDMI (HD Audio)[4] |
Audio Output Device | Speakers | Speakers | HDMI/SPDIF | HDMI/SPDIF | SPDIF | HDMI | HDMI |
Number of channels | 2.0 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | N/A | 7.1 | 7.1 |
Output configuration | Best Match | Best Match | Best Match | Best Match | Best Match | Best Match | Best Match |
Stereo upmix | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
Normalize levels on downmix | Enabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
Resample quality | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Keep audio device alive | 1 min | 1 min | 1 min | 1 min | 1 min | 1 min | 1 min |
Enabled passthrough [5] | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled |
Passthrough output device [6] | N/A | N/A | N/A | HDMI/SPDIF | SPDIF | HDMI | HDMI |
Dolby Digital (AC3) capable receiver | N/A | N/A | N/A | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled |
Enabled Dolby Digital transcoding | N/A | N/A | N/A | Enabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
DTS capable receiver | N/A | N/A | N/A | Disabled | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled |
TrueHD capable receiver | N/A | N/A | N/A | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Enabled |
DTS-HD capable receiver | N/A | N/A | N/A | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Enabled |
You can check your settings by heading to System Settings>Audio.
Fix 2: Reinstall Kodi
The no-sound problem may be a lag on the Kodi app. If none of these fixes seem to work, you can try reinstalling Kodi and trying once again. Delete the application from your device, and head to the official website to download the app once again.
How to Repair Corrupted Videos
Corrupted videos may be the most complex cause of the no-audio issue. You may not even be able to play your videos if the files have become corrupted. Thus, you should act fast and try out some of these solutions to fix corrupted videos.
Option 1: Use Repairit Video Repair
Wondershare Repairit is one of the best, most reliable repair tools on the market. It covers numerous corruption scenarios and almost all video types. You can also use the Advanced Repair option to improve the quality of your audio and video files.
Wondershare Repairit can help you fix any issues with your videos, so you should download it as soon as possible and start your repair journey. Once you have downloaded the program, follow the steps below to repair corrupted files:
Step 1: Open the program and choose Video Repair. click the Add button. Select the videos you want to repair.
Step 2: Click the Repair button to start the process.
Step 3: After the program finishes repairing, you will see a dialogue box notifying you about a successful repair. Click OK to continue.
Step 4: Preview the repaired files.
Step 5: Click Save and choose where to save the repaired files.
If you don’t want to take up space on your PC, you can use the online repair option from Wondershare Repairit. It is as effective and successful as the desktop version – the only difference is in the environment.
Option 2: Use VLC Media Player
Although VLC Media Player is designed to make the video streaming experience supreme, you can also fix your corrupted files with this program. However, you can only fix some minor issues, so you should opt for a more efficient tool if your videos lag too much or aren’t playable.
Below is a guide on how to use VLC Media Player to fix minor corruption issues:
Step 1: Open VLC and click the Media tab.
Step 2: Choose the Convert/Save option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Add the video you want to repair by clicking the Add button and selecting Convert/Save.
Step 4: Click the Profile tab to choose an input codec.
Step 5: Click the Start button.
Additional Tips to Follow When Using Kodi:
We have prepared some tips that will help you avoid the no-sound and other stressful scenarios. Let’s check out some of them:
- Keep your Kodi app updated.
- Make sure your audio settings are compatible with your audio output device.
- Don’t miss out on graphics driver updates.
- Keep your hardware safe and handle it with care.
Conclusion
Kodi is one of the most amazing apps for streaming your favorite shows, movies, and other video content. However, you may sometimes experience issues with your Kodi app, leading to the no-sound issue. If you cannot hear the audio in your videos, check out the solutions mentioned above. These methods will surely help you on your repair journey.