Everything You Need to Know About Upgrading to Kodi 19.1 Matrix

Have you heard about the latest Kodi 19.1 release and wondering if you should upgrade? As a long-time Kodi user and expert, let me walk you through everything you need to know about this new incremental update.

In this guide, we‘ll cover:

• What‘s new in Kodi 19.1 and why you should upgrade
• How to update on each device
• What‘s working and compatible
• Tips for troubleshooting issues
• And much more to help you transition smoothly!

Upgrading any software can be nerve-wracking, but I‘ll be with you every step of the way. Let‘s dive in!

What is Kodi 19 Matrix? A Major Leap Forward

First, some background. Kodi 19 Matrix represents a major leap forward as the first stable 64-bit version of Kodi, bringing improved performance and stability.

Matrix also migrates Kodi from Python 2 to Python 3. This modernization of the codebase paves the way for better features down the road.

But as you can imagine, such huge changes under the hood caused growing pains, with many add-ons and systems struggling to keep up.

Enter Kodi 19.1…

Kodi 19.1 Focuses on Squashing Bugs and Improving Stability

The Kodi team has now released Kodi 19.1 to address many of the early issues reported by users after upgrading to 19.0 Matrix.

Rather than flashy new features, Kodi 19.1 focuses entirely on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements for stability.

Over 200 pull requests went into this release to squash crashes across the codebase.

Some key areas improved include:

• PVR/Live TV – Fixed missing channel logos, recordings not saving properly, and other bugs

• Music Library – Fixes only first track being added from cuesheets

• Networking – Improved reliability for SMB, NFS, and HTTP streams

• Subtitles – Better support for ASS/SSA styling and fonts

• Disc Playback – Fixed DVD issues on Linux and Blu-ray chapter bugs

And much more – see the full changelog for details.

In summary, Kodi 19.1 makes the leap to Matrix far more stable and smooth for most users.

But what about add-on compatibility? Let‘s tackle that next…

Add-on Compatibility Challenges After Python 3 Migration

One of the biggest challenges in moving to Kodi 19 is the switch from Python 2 to Python 3.

After Python 2 reached end-of-life, Kodi had to modernize. But Python 3 breaks backwards compatibility, so most add-ons need updates from developers.

While Kodi 19 was in alpha/beta testing, only about 30% of add-ons worked fully. Many leaned on deprecated old Python 2 code.

The good news is developers have been working hard over the past year to port their add-ons to Python 3 and Kodi 19 compatibility.

Here are some of the most popular add-ons that now work on Matrix:

• The Crew – Excellent Exodus fork for movies and TV
• Venom – Great Exodus alternative for scraping streams
• Ezra – Reliable Exodus/Covenant fork by Ethan
• Seren – Premium streaming through Real-Debrid
• The Oath – Scraper for tons of movie/TV sources

And builds like:

• Xanax – Lightweight build great on lower-powered devices
• Xenon – Full-featured build with many customizations
• Streamz – Simple Netflix-style interface

Check Kodi 19 compatible add-ons for an always updated list.

While Python 3 compatibility has come far, some add-ons like Exodus Redux still only work fully on Kodi 18 for now.

I recommend checking if your "must-have" add-ons work before upgrading to avoid headaches.

If you rely on certain legacy add-ons, staying on Kodi 18 for a bit longer may be best. Now let‘s go over the upgrade process itself.

How to Update Kodi to 19.1 on Any Device

One of the great things about Kodi is upgrading to the latest version is fast and easy on any platform.

Here are the steps to update to Kodi 19.1:

1. Open Kodi and go to Settings > System > Add-ons > Check for updates

2. When it finds Kodi 19.1, click OK to download and install.

3. Once complete, Restart Kodi. Make sure to exit completely rather than just closing the window.

And that‘s it! The process is identical whether you use a Windows PC, Firestick, Apple TV, Android, Raspberry Pi, or any other device.

Kodi‘s auto-update makes staying up-to-date a breeze.

Some tips for specific platforms:

• Fire TV – I recommend installing Downloader to grab the latest APK if you have problems updating directly.

• Linux – Use your package manager and Kodi‘s Ubuntu PPA to update.

• LibreELEC/OSMC – Check for updates via the Settings menu to get the latest OS/Kodi version.

• Xbox One – Kodi auto-updates from the Microsoft Store if you have this enabled.

And if you notice issues after updating, don‘t panic. Let‘s talk troubleshooting…

Troubleshooting Problems and Bugs After Upgrading

With a major Kodi upgrade like 19.1, some things can break or act wonky at first.

Based on my experience, here are some tips for troubleshooting common problems:

• Add-ons not working – Check if the add-on works on Kodi 19. If not, you‘ll have to wait for the dev to update it or rollback to Kodi 18.

• Library issues – Try refreshing your media libraries and cleaning the databases. Update your content scrapers.

• Crashes or instability – Make sure all add-ons are updated. If issues persist, a clean install rather than update may help.

• Playback problems – Toggle between different video output methods like Auto/DXVA/VAAPI in Playback settings.

• Kodi freezing/slowing – Enable logging in System settings and check the logs after a freeze. Identify culprit add-on.

• Music library disappearing – This is a known bug in 19.1 – workaround is to rescan and let it fully complete.

Don‘t hesitate to shoot me a comment below if you run into specific problems during or after upgrading to Kodi 19.1. We‘ll get them figured out together!

The Road Ahead: What‘s Next for Kodi 19 and 20?

Now that Kodi 19.1 has addressed a ton of pressing bugs, the team‘s attention will shift towards new features and improvements coming down the pipeline.

Here‘s a quick look at what‘s ahead:

• Python 3 migration ongoing – More add-ons ported over the coming months.

• Improved controller support – Better navigation for remotes/gamepads.

• DVR improvements – PVR/live TV getting more stable and flexible.

• Metadata scraping upgrades – Better local artwork/data lookup.

• Standardization of add-ons – Less reliance on piracy-focused add-ons in the future.

• Wayland support – For non-X11 Linux desktops like Gnome.

And much more! Kodi 20 "Nexus" is already in early development, with Python 3 compatibility being the major hurdle.

The team doesn‘t rest on its laurels – Kodi‘s open-source nature means constant evolution.

While Kodi grapples with legal concerns around some add-ons, the core goal remains developing an incredible open media hub for HTPCs and tech enthusiasts.

The improvement from Matrix to Nexus will be massive. Exciting times ahead!

Wrapping Up: Make the Upgrade to Kodi 19.1 Today

Phew, that was a lot of info to cover! Here are my key takeaways:

• Kodi 19.1 fixes tons of bugs – Well worth upgrading for increased stability.

• Add-on compatibility is improving – But check yours work before upgrading.

• Updating is quick and easy – Two clicks and you‘re on the latest!

• The future looks bright for Kodi – With Python 3 done, great new features ahead.

I hope this guide helped demystify Kodi 19.1 and made you feel confident about upgrading. Have fun enjoying stable 64-bit power!

As always, drop any questions below. I‘m always happy to help out fellow Kodi users!