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Troubleshooting

Most problems have one of three causes: the website changed and yt-dlp needs an update, the JavaScript runtime is missing, or the client cannot reach Kodi. This page goes from the most common to the rare ones.

First steps for any problem

  1. Update yt-dlp. Settings → yt-dlp → Update yt-dlp now. Websites change constantly and the fix is almost always a new yt-dlp. If the stable release doesn't help, switch the yt-dlp release channel to Nightly, which gets site fixes weeks earlier, and update again.

  2. Check the URL with yt-dlp outside Kodi. On any computer with yt-dlp installed:

    yt-dlp --simulate "<url>"   # can yt-dlp resolve it at all?
yt-dlp -g "<url>"           # the direct media URLs yt-dlp would pick

    If yt-dlp fails there too, the problem is in yt-dlp or the website, not in the add-on. Search yt-dlp's issues for the site; once yt-dlp fixes it, the add-on picks up the fix with its next update check.

  3. Read Kodi's log. The add-on logs every step and yt-dlp's full error message. The log file is kodi.log in Kodi's user data folder: ~/.kodi/temp/ on Linux, %APPDATA%\Kodi\ on Windows, ~/Library/Logs/ on macOS, /storage/.kodi/temp/ on LibreELEC and CoreELEC, and reachable through Kore or the Kodi web interface on Android. Search for plugin.video.sendtokodi. The Kodi wiki explains how to enable debug logging for more detail.

"Could not resolve the url, check the log for more info"

yt-dlp could not get stream information for the URL. The log has the yt-dlp error right above this message. Typical reasons:

Message in the log Cause and fix
Unsupported URL yt-dlp has no extractor for this site. Check the supported sites. Direct links to media files (.mp4, .m3u8) still play.
Sign in to confirm you're not a bot YouTube's bot check. Update yt-dlp (try Nightly). If it persists, pass browser cookies through a yt-dlp config file with --cookies.
Requested format is not available, No video formats found Often a missing JavaScript runtime on YouTube: see YouTube doesn't play. Otherwise a yt-dlp update.
Video unavailable, Private video, This video is available to members only The site refuses; cookies of a logged-in account may help for private and member content.
HTTP Error 403 The site blocks the request. Usually fixed by a yt-dlp update; sometimes by cookies or a different --extractor-args client.
Could not load yt-dlp config The config file has an invalid option. The log names it.
yt-dlp import failed, yt-dlp is unavailable See yt-dlp is unavailable.

YouTube doesn't play

YouTube needs a JavaScript runtime since 2025. Check Settings → JavaScript Runtime:

  • JavaScript runtime mode must not be disabled.
  • Installed Deno version must show a version. If it shows not installed, press Update Deno now and watch the log for download errors (no internet, no GitHub access, no Deno build for the platform).
  • On a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 with a 32-bit OS, or another ARMv7 device, Deno is not available; use QuickJS, see ARMv7 devices.
  • Update yt-dlp as well. YouTube changes often and Nightly usually has the fix first.

Only up to 720p plays, or the quality is low: the high qualities need the DASH manifest builder and InputStream Adaptive. Turn on Use DASH manifest builder in Settings → Adaptive, run Check if my Kodi supports adaptive streaming and raise Maximum resolution if you capped it.

yt-dlp is unavailable

The add-on could not import yt-dlp:

  • With the Stable or Nightly channel: the download failed. The log shows why (no internet access, GitHub unreachable, no space in the profile folder). Press Update yt-dlp now to retry. If auto-update is off and you declined the download dialog, the add-on asks again after a day; pressing Update yt-dlp now installs immediately.
  • With the System channel: Kodi's Python cannot import yt_dlp or one of its dependencies. Install the package for the Python Kodi uses, or switch to Stable.

Playback starts but stops, stutters or has no sound

  • No sound or no picture on YouTube: the manifest builder combined streams Kodi cannot decode, for example an AV1 video on a device without AV1 decoding. Lower Maximum resolution (lower resolutions use H.264 more often) or turn on Ask which stream to play and pick an avc1/mp4a combination.
  • Audio-only HLS stream is silent: keep Audio-only HLS: disable Opus for native m3u streams on; Kodi's HLS demuxer cannot play Opus.
  • Playback stops after a pause or a seek: stream URLs expire. The DASH builder regenerates its manifest after the idle timeout; a lower DASH MPD server idle timeout makes it refresh sooner.
  • Stutter at high resolutions: the device cannot decode or the network cannot deliver it. Cap Maximum resolution, or choose Adaptive so InputStream Adaptive adapts to the bandwidth.
  • Stream fails after a few seconds with a 403 in the log: the site checks headers. A yt-dlp update usually fixes it; make sure Use original manifest is on, so ISA gets the site's manifest with the matching headers.

Adaptive streaming checks fail

Settings → Adaptive → Check if my Kodi supports adaptive streaming runs InputStream Helper. If it reports that InputStream Adaptive is missing or disabled, enable it under Add-ons → My add-ons → VideoPlayer InputStream; on Linux distributions it may be a separate package (kodi-inputstream-adaptive). Without ISA only progressive formats play, which means lower quality on most sites.

ARMv7 devices (Raspberry Pi 2 and 3, 32-bit)

Deno has no 32-bit ARM build, so YouTube does not play with the default runtime on a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 running a 32-bit OS (LibreELEC for RPi2/3, Raspberry Pi OS 32-bit), or on other ARMv7 boxes. Options:

  • Use a 64-bit OS if the hardware allows (Raspberry Pi 3 with 64-bit LibreELEC or Raspberry Pi OS), then Deno works.
  • Use QuickJS. Install a qjs binary for your platform (from your distribution's packages or a build of QuickJS), set JavaScript runtime mode to quickjs and enter the path under QuickJS binary path. In auto mode the add-on also prefers QuickJS on ARMv7 as soon as a path is set.

Android (Android TV, Fire TV)

Deno has no Android build, so the add-on does not download it on Android. YouTube needs a JavaScript runtime for its challenges, so YouTube plays on Android only with a QuickJS binary that Kodi is allowed to execute: set JavaScript runtime mode to quickjs and enter the path under QuickJS binary path. Newer Android versions may block running binaries from app storage. Other sites without JavaScript challenges are not affected.

Earlier versions of the add-on downloaded the Linux build of Deno on Android, which cannot run there. That download is removed automatically.

The client cannot reach Kodi

If the browser extension, the Shortcut or Kore cannot connect, the problem is in Kodi's web server, not in the add-on:

  • Settings → Services → Control → Allow remote control via HTTP must be on, with a username and password.
  • The port is 8080 by default; a firewall on the Kodi device may block it.
  • The client and Kodi must be on the same network, and the IP address must be current (give the Kodi device a fixed IP in your router).
  • Kodi only speaks HTTP. Use HTTPS in a client only if a reverse proxy with a certificate sits in front of Kodi.

The browser extension's troubleshooting page covers its error messages one by one.

Kore remembers a preferred add-on for shared links. Open Kore's settings and set SendToKodi as the add-on for shared YouTube (and other) links.

Reporting a bug

Before opening an issue, check that the URL works with yt-dlp outside Kodi (see above). If it does and Kodi still fails, open an issue with:

  • The URL (or a similar public one, if the original is private)
  • Kodi version and platform (for example Kodi 21 on LibreELEC 12, Raspberry Pi 4)
  • The add-on version and the installed yt-dlp and Deno versions from the settings
  • The relevant part of Kodi's log, with debug logging on, as a code block or a paste link

If the URL fails with yt-dlp outside Kodi as well, report it to yt-dlp instead; the add-on will pick up the fix automatically with its next yt-dlp update.