Recommended Free Tools
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Kodi 22 “Piers” Beta 1 was released on June 28, 2026, and is available from Kodi’s official download page under Prerelease. It is not the first public Kodi 22 release: Alpha 1 arrived on August 29, 2025. Nor is Beta 1 the stable release. If you rely on Kodi every day, Kodi 21.3 “Omega” remains the safer choice shown in Kodi’s downloads; try Piers Beta 1 only if you can tolerate bugs and restore a backup.
What has actually been released?
“Piers” is the codename for Kodi version 22. The release names describe stages in that major version’s development, not different products: an alpha is an early public preview, a beta is a later prerelease, and neither label means the software is finished. Team Kodi’s Beta 1 announcement describes the build as prerelease software and warns users to expect rough edges, regressions, and breakages.
The first public preview of Kodi 22 was Alpha 1, released August 29, 2025. Beta 1, released June 28, 2026, is the first beta—not Kodi 22’s first release and not its stable launch. The Kodi 22 release formally announced in the sources available here is Beta 1; later files labelled as beta development builds in a platform test directory do not, by themselves, establish a new official public release.
- Alpha 1 — August 29, 2025, the first public preview.
- Alpha 2 — December 19, 2025.
- Alpha 3 — April 1, 2026.
- Beta 1 — June 28, 2026, the first beta.
A stable Kodi 22 release is not confirmed by these release announcements. Kodi’s download page distinguishes recommended stable releases from prerelease and development builds; the platform pages reviewed identify Kodi 21.3 “Omega” as the recommended stable version.
#1 Best Overall
- Advanced 4K streaming - Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our best-selling 4K stick, with improved streaming performance optimized for 4K TVs.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Wi-Fi 6 support - Enjoy smooth 4K streaming, even when other devices are connected to your router.
Where to download Kodi 22 Beta 1
- Start at Kodi’s official download page.
- Choose your platform, then look for the Prerelease section rather than Recommended.
- Select Kodi 22 “Piers” Beta 1 if it is listed for your platform, and choose the package that matches your device and operating-system architecture.
- Back up your Kodi data before installing. Use Kodi’s official site or its official mirrors, not a third-party repackaged installer or unofficial APK site.
Platform pages include Windows, Android, Raspberry Pi, and macOS; Linux, iOS, tvOS, and webOS are linked from the main downloads page. Availability and installation steps vary by platform. Raspberry Pi users, for example, are directed to installation guidance rather than a standard desktop-style installer.
Check architecture before downloading. The Android page lists ARMv7A 32-bit and ARMv8A 64-bit packages. Windows offers 32-bit and 64-bit choices. The macOS page lists Intel x86_64 and Apple Silicon ARM64 builds and specifies macOS 10.14 or later. An Android TV device may also restrict sideloading, and an APK built for the wrong architecture may not install or run correctly. The device’s operating system and hardware decoding support affect playback independently of Kodi.
Avoid unofficial “Kodi builds,” piracy-oriented download portals, and repackaged installers. Kodi is a media-player application; it does not ship with copyrighted media or provide a streaming subscription. Team Kodi says it does not endorse paid-content piracy. Add-ons from outside the official project should not be assumed safe simply because they run in Kodi.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #2
- Upgrade your TV, instantly – Fire TV Stick HD is our fastest HD streaming stick ever, with a streamlined navigation that jumps straight to your movies, shows, and live TV. Take your entertainment on the go with the new ultra-portable profile. And watch it all come to life with crisp Full HD and Wi-Fi 6 support.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- All your apps in one place – Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and thousands more. It’s easy to find what to watch from hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including free, ad-supported content. Subscription fees may apply.
- Our most portable stick – Thin and light, without extra clutter. Connects directly to your TV's HDMI port without blocking other ports.
- Easier than ever to set up – Now with Direct Power, it's powered by your TV with the included USB-C cable and eliminates the need for a wall adapter.
What is new in Beta 1?
Team Kodi’s Beta 1 changelog spans playback, library management, networking, embedded Linux, and platform fixes. The release emphasizes stability and performance work as Kodi 22 moves beyond its alpha stage; the listed changes are not a promise that every device will play every file faster or better.
Playback, audio, and subtitles
Beta 1 updates FFmpeg to 8.1.2 and includes live bitrate labels, improved chapter handling and chapter-change accuracy, better tempo controls, and improved seeking at 1.6× playback speed. The changelog also lists fixes involving AV1 playback, DVD on-screen display, DTS-HD playback crashes, and AC3/EAC3 passthrough delay.
Subtitle work includes better visibility and timing, improved handling of ASS/SSA script headers, and a display of the current subtitle codec during playback. Actual results still depend on the media, subtitle file, device, and audio/video configuration.
Rank #3
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Elevate your entertainment experience with a powerful processor for lightning-fast app starts and fluid navigation.
- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Enjoy the show in 4K Ultra HD, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
Library and media management
The release adds a Media Details dialog, audio language on media badges, and additional HDR formats exposed in the interface. It also improves Blu-ray .nfo and playcount handling, Movie Version scanning, complex episode ranges, and folders named with Roman numerals.
HDR and embedded Linux
For DRM, GBM, and GLES systems—common in embedded Linux and some media-device configurations—the announcement describes a major rendering rewrite and brings GLES closer to feature parity with GL. The work includes an HDR pipeline covering decoding, colorimetry, GUI tonemapping, and 10-bit output, as well as 12-bit decoding, dithering, high-quality scalers, YUV 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 support, and VAAPI hardware decoding of HEVC 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 on GLES. Team Kodi also cites broader ARM hardware support and video-performance improvements. These are platform-specific capabilities, not a guarantee that all hardware exposes every feature.
Networking, databases, and security
Beta 1 includes fixes for NFSv4 file creation, NFS URL parsing, and DVD folders on NFS, along with an SMB session-exhaustion fix. The announcement notes the Windows desktop limit of 20 connections in the context of that fix. JSON-RPC gains texture-status reporting, and the release addresses potential web-interface cross-site scripting (XSS) and open-redirect issues.
Rank #4
- Essential 4K streaming – Get everything you need to stream in brilliant 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range 10+ (HDR10+).
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Make your TV even smarter – Fire TV gives you instant access to a world of content, tailor-made recommendations, and Alexa, all backed by fast performance.
- All your favorite apps in one place – Experience endless entertainment with access to Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and thousands more. Easily discover what to watch from hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes (subscription fees may apply), including free, ad-supported content.
- Getting set up is easy – Plug in and connect to Wi-Fi for smooth streaming.
The changelog also lists fixes for MySQL 9.6-and-later incompatibility and MariaDB 10.x remote databases, plus a new MySQL/MariaDB <connecttimeout> setting that defaults to five seconds. Those fixes do not make a shared-library migration risk-free: back up the database, and do not make a beta the first client to alter the only database used by a household.
Other platform changes
The announcement includes Android crash and JNI fixes, improved Linux remote-key support, webOS playback and aspect-ratio fixes, tvOS Siri Remote playback improvements, Python 3.14.6, and a Visual Studio 2026 build fix. Platform-specific improvements should be read as changes in the release, not proof that every device, remote, add-on, or operating-system version has been tested.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Known issue and compatibility cautions
Team Kodi lists a specific known issue: fullscreen video on some GBM/GLES platforms may show stale or flickering overlay graphics. That is a documented issue for some configurations, not a claim that all Kodi 22 users will see it. Other problems may vary with device, graphics driver, media format, skin, add-on, or network setup.
Best Value
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Do not assume all Kodi 21 add-ons and skins will work unchanged. Kodi 22’s Python and API changes may require add-on updates, and skins may need changes for new interface elements or media-detail behaviour. Check compatibility notes from each add-on or skin developer that matters to you. A shared MySQL or MariaDB library also deserves special care: clients on different major versions can complicate testing, and Beta 1’s database fixes do not certify every migration or configuration.
Should you install it?
| Your situation | Practical choice |
|---|---|
| Kodi is your everyday living-room player, or reliability matters most | Stay on Kodi 21.3 “Omega” until Kodi 22 is stable and your essential setup is confirmed compatible. |
| You have a spare device, a recoverable installation, and want to test | Beta 1 is reasonable if you back up first and accept that features, playback, or add-ons may fail. |
| You maintain a Kodi add-on or skin | Test against Beta 1 and report reproducible faults with a full debug log, as Team Kodi requests. |
| Your Kodi clients share a database | Do not experiment against the only production database. Back it up and use a separate test environment where possible. |
| You are interested in HDR, GLES, or embedded Linux changes | The beta may be worth testing on the specific hardware, but prepare to roll back; the documented overlay issue may be relevant. |
For most users, the question is not whether the new changelog sounds useful, but whether the value of early access outweighs the cost of troubleshooting. Beta 1 may be useful to testers and developers; it is not a routine upgrade recommendation for every Kodi 21.3 installation.
Back up and test before upgrading
Before installing, preserve the complete Kodi userdata/profile directory, add-on data, database files, advancedsettings.xml if you use it, and library metadata and playlists. Record which skins and add-ons are installed. Keep the pre-upgrade copy separate: a Kodi 22-upgraded data directory may not be safely interchangeable with an older Kodi installation.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Exit Kodi completely.
- Copy the full userdata/profile directory and back up databases, metadata, playlists, and any custom configuration.
- If possible, install Beta 1 on a separate device or in a separate test setup rather than replacing your only working installation.
- Test the things you depend on: playback, library scanning, remote control, subtitles, add-ons, and network shares.
- If the test fails, restore the untouched backup or reinstall Kodi 21.3. Do not rely on an upgraded beta data directory as your rollback copy.
Kodi’s platform-specific installation and download guidance is available on its official download page. Follow the instructions for your installation method rather than assuming a desktop installer, Android APK, and Raspberry Pi setup can be swapped in the same way.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
