Kodi 20 Nexus: Exhaustive analysis of What’s New

The Kodi Foundation has finally released Kodi 20 “Nexus” to the public, the latest edition of the popular media center. The software comes with many new features and improvements on Kodi 19 Matrix, which was released back in February 2021.

However, Kodi’s overall look and feel remain the same, so you may need to go through the list of changes to know the enhancements to expect. This Kodi 20 guide lists all new functionalities and changes, updates, download links, and everything else you need to know before using the latest version of Kodi.

Kodi 20 Nexus changes and new features

Multiple Instances of Binary Add-ons

Kodi can now load multiple instances of a binary add-on. For example, TVHeadend users can now run more than one instance of the add-on to connect to multiple back-end TVHeadend servers, with individual settings like channel groups and hidden channels maintained per add-on instance. Although not all add-ons can currently support the functionality, developers are expected to introduce the capability to their projects soon.

AV1 Video Support

Several Kodi platforms now allow hardware decoding of AV1 media. The Inputstream API has been updated to support AV1, allowing add-ons using input stream adaptive to play AV1 streams.

Subtitles Rework

Kodi 20 Nexus has seen a massive rework of the subtitle system. The new changes make subtitle formats more consistent for development and maintenance and enable previously impossible features. For example, Kodi now supports dynamic positioning of fonts, changing of border and background colors, subtitle positioning, improved multi-language support, and more.

Game (libretro) Savestate Support

This feature allows you to save the game state at any time, even if games do not provide native savestate features themselves. Great news for gamers.

Windows HDR Support

Full HDR support for the Windows Desktop platform has been implemented, and many improvements have been made throughout the Windows (DXVA/2) video pipeline. HDR is not available on non-Desktop, i.e. UWP Store (Xbox) versions. Improvements to allow more accurate ACES Filmic and HABLE tonemapping make even SDR video look better, and these capabilities are implemented for both UWP and Desktop versions of Kodi.

NFSv4 Support

Some changes have been made to support NFSv4, as previously, the platform only supported NFSv3. However, you must explicitly select either NFSv4 or NFSv3 for a source.

Context Menu Consistency

Improvements to right-click/long-press context menu handling were made in numerous areas. This makes the context menu function much more consistent over different windows, and enables some new capabilities like the playback of albums directly from widgets, series resume, etc., to be added.

Behind the Scenes

Kodi 20 Nexus saw 4,600 commits since v19 “Matrix” was released, but most of the changes are “under the hood.” They are meant to improve Kodi’s performance, stability, and safety.

Some examples of these are:

• API changes to evolve Python and Binary add-ons and bring new skinning features.
• Updates to Kodi dependencies on most, if not all, Kodi platforms.
• Fixes from regular use of code static-analysis tools
• Database migration fixes for a smoother update.

To know more about these, you can look at the development release announcements from Nexus Alpha to RC2. You can also review the GitHub changelog.

What is the Impact of Kodi 20 Nexus on Addons?

The last major Kodi update, which involved jumping from Kodi 18 Leia to Kodi 19 Matrix, saw a major shakeup in the add-ons scene. Kodi 18 addons would not work on Kodi 19, as the former used Python version 2, whereas the latter was updated to Python 3. As a result, many addons had to be reprogrammed or redeveloped, which meant waiting for several weeks or months.

However, Kodi 20 Nexus continues to rely on Python 3, and Python 4 isn’t coming out any time soon. This means that Kodi 19 Matrix addons are compatible with Kodi 20 Nexus; no reprogramming is needed. You can smoothly migrate to Kodi 20 Nexus with your favorite Kodi addons.

⚠ Caution: Stream Safely!

Kodi is mainly used with third-party Kodi addons, and these addons often provide access to copyrighted content illegally. This is quite dangerous as ISPs and governments actively monitor internet activities, and you can end up with a copyright infringement notice.

👉 To stay safe, it’s advisable that you use a reliable VPN every time you want to stream on Kodi.

How to Install Kodi 20 Nexus

You can install Kodi 20 Nexus from the Kodi download page, or the various app stores/repositories.
The software is available for:

• Windows
• Linux
• Android
• Raspberry Pi
• macOS
• iOS (jailbroken)
• tvOS

You can also sideload Kodi 20 Nexus on Firestick (link coming soon).

How to upgrade to Kodi 20

When you upgrade Kodi from a previous or older version, it’s like if you install the software for the first time. On the new version, you’ll only find the default settings and official addons.

To avoid installing the way you used all over again, you’ll need to take some extra steps. To know those steps, visit the guide on upgrading Kodi without losing your already installed addons and settings.

Kodi 20 Nexus Latest Updates

Kodi 20 RC 2

Database

• Resolved database migration issues from version 19
• EPG database migration fixed
• Fixed Database migration error on Microsoft UWP platforms (Xbox and Windows Desktop)

General

• Fixed playlist detection for both audio and video

Linux

• Fixed issue with DRMPrime; hardware formats like Broadcom 8-bit (SAND128) and 10-bit (P030) can now be rendered correctly using the latest Mesa 3D

macOS

• Kodi 20 Nexus now runs on macOS 10.13 (it’s still suggested to use version 10.14 or newer).
• Resolved regression reading actual disks.
• Fixed “libcdio” driver, enables disk usage von Apple Silicon native builds.

Windows

• Fixed crashes on Windows debug builds (does not affect regular users).

PVR

• Fixed issue around multiple resume dialogs.

Teletext

• Teletext issue fixed; increased reliability and safety.

Kodi 20 RC 1

Addons

• Significant API change introduced for “VideoStreamDetails” and “InfoTagVideo” (more information on GitHub).
• Several bundled addons have been updated.

General

• Support for action “play” to more items, such as widgets and favorites on homescreen.
• Fixed regression regarding duplicate/incorrect context menu entries.
• Fixed an error that caused the “continue watching” context menu not to show the resume time.
• Several fixes regarding memory leaks.
• Subtitles and Linux-specific areas improved.
• Fixed logging message when a scraper searches an empty directory.

Scrapers

• TMDB TV show scraper only works with RC 1 and further releases; an update from previous Kodi Nexus versions is required.
• Fixed issue with Python TV show scrapers when adding new episodes to an existing TV show in your library (as described on GitHub).
• Updated TMDB TV shows and TV Maze scrapers.

Games

• Fixed crashes on Linux when starting games.
• Fixed black screen issue with standalone games.

Music

• Fixed crash when queuing multichannel audio files.
• The default fallback image is no more relevant to a music item anymore.

Android

• Kodi available in Google Play Store again (currently test channel).
• Several cleanups and fixes for Kodi Nexus on Android.
• Bumped SDK target to 31.

macOS

• Fixes to the macOS native windowing implementation.
• Speech-to-text service implementation added.

Windows & Xbox

• Kodi Nexus RC 1 has been submitted to Microsoft Store as an update.

Skinning

• Fixed crash when an include has an empty condition.
• Fixed crash that could occur when a textbox was too small for a font.

Estuary Skin

• Users can now use the play button (on the remote control, keyboard, etc.) to start playback of items shown on home screen.
• Extended context menu functionality for video and music.
• Ability to play albums directly from home screen.
• PVR: New home screen widget for saved searches.
• PVR: Reworked home screen widgets for timers.
• PVR: Smaller visual changes to OSD and home screen widgets.

Subtitles

• Fixed regex for Sami subtitles.

Teletext

• Crash and usability issues resolved.
• Flashing Teletext fixed.

UPNP

• Fixed crashes occurring on startup when UPnP items were shown on homescreen widgets.

Video

• It’s now possible to “continue watching” (resume) certain video folders from the context menu (more information on GitHub).

PVR

• Multi-instance support for PVR client addons.
• Persistent EPG searches.
• Automatic cleanup of texture database and stale image files.
• New function to refresh logos in the channel manager.
• Selection of items to delete when resetting PVR database.
• Performance optimizations.
• Code refactoring.

Favorites

• New favorites window, different views, and other improvements.

Kodi 20 Beta 1

Addons

• Fixed binary addons – imagedecoder, screensaver, vis.
• Fixed “multi-instance” GUI settings for addons.
• ID3 Tag metadata stream support for PVR radio addons.
• New “SetVideoResolution” – “Adjust refresh rate” now works correctly with InputStream addons.

Video

• Inputstream support for AV1 codec.
• When software decoding is enforced no attempts for hardware AV1 decode anymore; fixes AV1 thumbnail generation on devices that don’t support AV1 decoding.

General

• Kodi on Android and Apple platforms now comes with Python 3.11.
• Fixed bookmark resume for .strm files.
• Fixed “jsonrpc Player.GetProperties” response when playback from a widget is started.
• Fixed “CJobmanager” causing crashes.
• Very old code refactored for better management.
• Assorted improvements.
• Correct duration to tracks in M3u playlists.
• Header inclusions improved for better build times of future releases.

Database

• Fixed Clean DB, which was broken in previous Kodi Nexus builds.

Disc

• “libbluray” updates to version 1.3.2.
• Fixed a “double free” issue when a disk is being ejected.
• Improved handle of “BD_EVENT_DISCONTINUITY”.

Filesystem

• UPNP fixed for picture handling.
• Improved support for subtitle formats when accessed via UPNP DLNA.

Input

• Mouse cleanup.

Network

• Support for HTTPS proxies.

Filesystem

• UPNP fixed for picture handling.
• Improved support for subtitle formats when accessed via UPNP DLNA.

Windows

• The window position is now remembered when Kodi is running in windowed mode.
• New setting to allow settings for the peak luminance for a display.
• Fixed cmake error.
• Fixed slow Python usage on the UWP platform (e.g. Xbox).

Android

• New build process for Android builds.
• Several improvements overall.
• Added more class parameters.

macOS

• Fixed crash on exit.

TVOS

• Reduced the Sensitivity of the remote.
• Tooltip and settings more intuitive.

PVR

• EPG search fixes.
• New function to browse available PVR addons from PVR settings.
• Channels and recordings can now be sorted by provider.
• Various improvements in terms of performance and fixes.
• Considerable refactoring improvements.

Favorites

• New favorites window with different views and enhancements.

Skinning

• New infobool “System.Setting(hideunwatchedepisodethumbs)”.

Estuary Skin

• PVR channel manager redesigned.
• The PVR home screen section icon now opens the channel window.
• Smaller changes to PVR OSD.
• Extended music context menu; ability to play albums from the home screen.
• Extended video content menu.

Subtitles

• Fixed 3D MVC subtitles not appearing correctly when frame packed.

Kodi 20 Alpha 3

Addons

• Fixed some crashes during addon installations and repository checks.
• New feature allowing multiple instances of the same binary addon (e.g. two instances of a PVR addon using different providers).

Database

• Optimized db wrappers for better performance.

DVD

• Fixed DVD Menu indicators for DRMPrime.

Filesystem

• Fixed NFS for Windows after some recent NFS updates.
• Multiple NFS improvements and cleanups.
• NFS4 implementation.

Font / Glyph

• Several improvements around the Font/Glyph handling, especially useful on low-power machines.
• Harbuzz glyph caching improvements.
• Fixed errors and bugs with RTL languages and certain skinning components.

Games

• Improvements and cleanups regarding controllers.
• Fixed crashes when controller info files don’t contain correct information.

General

• Obsolete addons from Core Kodi install removed.
• Fixed the wrong player playlist type for STRM file playback.

Input

• Mouse fixes when dragging and dropping some controls.

Windows

• Fixed incorrect window positioning when transitioning from fullscreen and back.

Linux GBM

• HDR Output can be set.

MacOS

• OSX arm64 (Apple Silicon) now finds appropriate binary addons from repositories.

PVR

• Ongoing updates, improvements, and fixes regarding all things PVR by Kodi user ksooo.

Estuary Skin

• When the “Flatten Hierarchy” setting is enabled, titles are now shown.

Video

• Fixed 3D MVC Playback.

Kodi 20 Alpha 2

Android

• Fixed stutter when opening Kodi Android app, closing it, and opening it again.
• TrueHD fix – buffers reduced for optimized data throughput.
• More local app icons render fully.
• Fixed packaging error for binary python modules (pycryptodome).

Xbox

• Fixed crashes when playing H.265 videos.

Python

• Android and Apple received Python updates to version 3.9.13. CPython developers have fixed issues reported by the Kodi community.

Filesystem

• Fixed a bug that caused thumbnails not to appear when accessed from “remote” filesystems (e.g. WebDAV).

Subtitles

• Multiple WebVTT fixes.

Closed Captions

• Fixed the instance of Closed Captions not working.

Blu-rays

• Fixed resume issues when playing Blu-rays.

Thumbnail images

• Reduced quality of thumbnail creation (advanced setting is available for users who wish to alter the default, see Kodi wiki).

Skinning

• Introduction of a few skinning changes.
• player.DisplayAfterSeek removed.
• Skip border infill.
• Moving speed.
• Diffuse fading animations.
• VideoPlayer.Art(type) and positional variants.

Kodi 20 Alpha 1

Video

• AV1 hardware decoding for Android and The NewUx (via VAAPI).
• Bump to FFMPEG 4.4.

Subtitles

• Subtitle settings can now be changed during video playback.
• New font style settings, e.g. border size/color, background type/color/opacity, etc.
• Support for dynamic positioning of subtitles (position tags).
• Underlined and strikethrough text style support.
• New color palette in color settings.
• New setting to change text alignment for closed caption subtitles.
• Subtitle metadata can be overwritten (like style and position).
• Improved the font size that matches point/pixel proportions.
• Subtitles are displayed correctly when Kodi is in window mode.
• Improved VPlayer for better reading of a multiline text.
• Improved SAMI format; better support for multiple languages.
• Improved TX3G format to support multiple styles, colors, and alpha channels.
• ASS/SSA subtitles are now displayed without flickering.
• Improved image-based subtitle rendering for better aspect ratio.
• Support for WebVTT subtitle format type.
• Improved font list settings, actual names of fonts are now displayed.
• Support for OpenType font type (OTF).
• Improved calibration window, possible to reset calibration settings.

Discs

• Fixed resume of Blu-rays and DVD ISOs in file mode.
• Fixed playback of some optical discs on Linux (incorrect mapping mount points).
• Optical media is now mounted by default on Linux (via udisks).
• Code cleanup and platform split of disc drive handling.
• Skin cosmetics.
• Fixed duplicated context menu items.

Edit Decision List (EDL)

• Fixed EDL mute sections and EDL cuts.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

• Independent volume settings for GUI sounds.
• Password reveal button in keyboard dialog.
• Fixed wrap lists.
• Fixed HitRect on auto-sited buttons.
• Fixed context menu options that are not triggering the respective built-in action.

Input

• Support for built-in Steam Deck controller.

Skinning

• New Color Picker window dialog, which displays a list of colors.
• Improved image control to support the read of dynamic $INFO data to “colordiffuse” tag
• Improved Player Process Info window with new information added, grouped by context.
• New media flags for HDR videos: detect, store, and process the type of HDR in a video file.
• Skin developers can now define modal dialogs if their visibility depends on boolean condition evaluation.
• Introduction of new info labels, deprecation of old ones (e.g. Player. Editlist, Player.Cuts, etc.).

Estuary / Estouchy Skin

• PVR Home Screen: New widget for timers (replaces old current/next recording widget).
• PVR Home Screen: Add percentage played progress bars to recent channels and recordings widgets.
• PVR Home Screen: Changed default click action to open TV guide window.
• Improved display of EDL markers on default skin (EDL mutes are now shown, and cut sections are identified).

Games

• Savestate manager for Retroplayer with captions describing the state of the game (provided by website RetroAchivements.org).
• In-game Port Setup dialog to change between game controllers.

UNIX Family Platforms

• Implementation of WS-Discovery (SMB) for *ix platforms (Android / Linux / Apple).

iOS / tvOS

• Improved Siri Remote handling.
• Improved “Now Playing” Info.

macOS

• Support for Apple’s M1 SoC, including native windowing/input handling (Kodi developers do not provide prebuilt M1 DMG files).
• Extended game controller support to OSX
• Many code cleanups, refinements, and refactors

Android

• Updated Android build to use Gradle for signing/aligning/packaging.

Linux

• ACES / Hable Tonemapping for GLES.
• More BiCubic Shaders for GLES.
• Pipewire support.

Windows

• New setting to use a 10-bit swapchain for SDR videos, which improves video quality and more precise color conversions, even applying if video output is limited to 8-bit RGB by the system or GPU driver.
• Improved DXVA2 performance (hardware video decoding) by sharing decoding and rendering surfaces; avoids video copy operations and reduces video memory usage on NVIDIA and AMD GPUs using recent drivers.

i8n support

• Harfbuzz rendering for scripts with open-type font shaping features.

PVR

• Channels and recordings can specify a PVR provider.
• Support for read-only recordings.
• Saved search requests and new Estuary PVR Home Screen widget for EPG search.
• Possibility to refresh all channel logos in the channel manager.
• PVR settings: New feature to specify which data to delete when resetting the PVR database.
• Automatic cleanup of cached PVR images (cached image files and texture.db).
• Improvements when using multiple PVR addons.
• Performance improvements, especially when using a large channel list.

Date / Time

• Many updates and changes to use std::chrono, affecting the complete code base.

Addons

• Support for adding video HDR-type info to a video list item.
• New color picker feature.
• Color button settings.
• Function for removing orphaned dependencies recursively.

Wrap up

Clearly, Kodi, as the most popular media manager, player, and streamer, came to stay, mostly thanks to the dedicated official team and its huge and active community. In fact, since Kodi 17, every year, a new version has been released, and this year, we have the most awaited one – Kodi 20 Nexus. BestDroidplayer made its homework by bringing an exhaustive analysis to you. So, upgrading or not to the new version is up to you. Just remember,