Kodi 17.6 "Krypton" is the current release that's available through the Windows Store and the Kodi website But work on next version of the popular media server software is progressing. In a break from the normal routine of choosing names with the community, Kodi 18 will be known as "Leia," in honor of everyone's favorite princess who sadly left us.
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It hurts our hearts to have lost a great woman and actress and, with her, the character she portrayed, the princess we grew up with. It feels fitting, then, to announce that Kodi 18 will be named 'Leia' in honor of the late Carrie Fisher, as a tribute to one of the characters that defined an industry, and as a celebration of the whole Star Wars universe.
It's still pre-release right now, but there are some things to talk about regarding Kodi 18.
When will Kodi 18 Leia be available?
At this point, it doesn't have an official release date.
What's new?
It's still in development, so the final feature list isn't publicly revealed. The best place to keep tabs on new features is the Kodi 18 Leia changelog on the official Kodi Wiki.
One of the latest big developments is that there will finally be a 64-bit Windows version of Kodi with version 18, and that the Xbox One version of the app is now available in alpha.
Kodi 18 Leia changelog_FAQ)
Can I try it yet?
Absolutely! If you're OK with being on the bleeding edge and dealing with bugs, you can already get the latest nightly builds for version 18. Hit the link below to get started. You'll also now find an installer for the 64-bit version of the Kodi 18 nightly builds.
Download Kodi 18 Leia nightly builds
Do I need to uninstall Kodi 17 to try the new nightly builds?
No. If you're using the Kodi 17 app from the Windows Store, for example, the nightly installer will place the new version on your machine alongside it.
Is it good enough for my main build right now?
Probably not, you should stick with the release version of Kodi 17 if you absolutely depend on it. Leia is still pre-release, and some things don't work properly.
Does it look the same?
Yes! The stock skin was updated from Kodi 16 to Kodi 17, from the old "Confluence" skin to the new, more modern looking "Estuary." There's nothing to suggest that will change for version 18, but you can always install your own skins.
What about Xbox One?
Absolutely and it's available in alpha form right now! It appeared out of the blue and is the first look also at the UWP app for Kodi. It's also only available on the Xbox One right now, downloads from Windows 10 PCs will still get v17.6.
As an alpha it's still a fair way off from completion and while the core functionality seems to be solid, there are many things that as yet do not work. Thankfully, the dev team is pretty handy at letting us know what's happening.
Kodi team details Xbox One alpha launch and limitations
If you want to try it out though, hit the link below to get in on the action.
Download Kodi for Xbox One from the Microsoft Store
Which versions of Windows will be supported?
As of version 18 Kodi will no longer support Windows Vista. Users on Vista will still be able to use version 17 without issue, with the only potential problems coming with the compatibility of add-ons in the future. The main Kodi system, however, will keep on keeping on.
That means you'll need Windows 7, 8 or 10 to use Kodi 18. The first two will be delivered through the Kodi website, the latter through the site and through the Windows Store. For more on the decision to drop Vista, check out the official blog post.
Is there anything big to talk about yet?
Not in terms of features, but there are already some important updates. The biggest deal for Windows fans is the arrival of a 64-bit client for the first time as well as a Store bound UWP for Windows 10 and Xbox One.
New features are being discussed, and the developers are highlighting them to the community through "dev journals," with some recent highlights including voice search and recommendation integration for the Android TV build of Leia.
There's still much development to happen, and much new hotness to be revealed, and that will happen all in good time. If you have questions, drop them into the comments below. Hopefully, we can help with some answers.
Updated December 29, 2017: We've added new details on Kodi for Xbox One, available now in alpha.
