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To install Kodi 22 “Piers” RC1, back up your Kodi data folder, open Kodi’s official download page, select your platform, and choose RC1 under Prerelease. RC1 is a test build, not the recommended choice for most users. If you later return to stable Kodi, install the stable package for your device—but do not assume you can restore the entire RC1 data-folder backup over an earlier major version. Kodi’s Wiki cautions against using a full data-folder backup to transfer between major versions.
As of October 13, 2026, Kodi’s Wiki identified Kodi 21.3 “Omega” as the current stable release. Check Kodi’s official download page when you follow these steps, because that designation and the available packages can change.
Before you install Kodi 22 RC1
Know what “RC1” means
Kodi announced Piers RC1 on October 10, 2026. A release candidate comes after beta testing, when the project considers a release close to final and wants to find remaining problems. “Close to final” does not mean bug-free: Kodi’s development-build guidance warns that these versions may be unstable. A test build can behave differently across operating systems, devices, add-ons, and libraries.
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That makes RC1 a reasonable choice if you want to test its changes and can tolerate problems or a return to stable software. Kodi recommends stable releases for normal users. If you rely on Kodi for everyday viewing and do not need an RC1 fix or feature, staying on the stable version is the lower-risk option.
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Decide whether testing is worth the recovery work
The main decision is not simply whether your device can run the installer. Consider whether you can manage a possible bug and whether you have a safe way to recover your setup. Kodi’s major-version backup warning matters here: a copied data folder is useful protection, but it is not a promise that a complete profile can be moved back from v22 to v21.
- Consider RC1 if you specifically want to test its changes, understand that prerelease software can be unstable, and can keep a separate backup while you work out any migration.
- Prefer stable Kodi if you need a dependable everyday setup, do not want to troubleshoot new-feature bugs, or cannot afford to rebuild your add-ons and library configuration.
RC1’s release notes highlight HDR and video playback improvements, Blu-ray detection and navigation, RetroPlayer changes, and other platform updates. These are areas the release announcement calls out; they are not a guarantee that every device will see an improvement.
Think through four practical questions before choosing. First, are you willing to encounter prerelease bugs? Second, is there a particular RC1 feature or fix you need to try, rather than a general hope that a new version will be better? Third, is an RC1 package listed for your platform? Fourth, can you preserve your current setup and accept that restoring a whole v22 profile to v21 is not a supported assumption? If the answer to the last question is no, waiting for a stable release is the safer choice.
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Team Kodi’s RC1 announcement explicitly says, “And take a backup first!” Copy the Kodi data folder to a separate location before installing the test build. Kodi’s Wiki describes this folder as the useful backup target and lists manual copying and an add-on from the official Kodi repository as backup options.
What the Kodi data-folder backup contains
The folder can contain the parts of your Kodi setup that are difficult to recreate: add-ons, skins, library databases, playlists, artwork cache, settings, and other changes made after installation. A copy can help with recovery within the same major Kodi version, subject to the Wiki’s guidance for that version.
Your actual video and music files are not stored in this Kodi data-folder backup. They remain wherever you keep them outside Kodi. If you need those media files protected too, back them up separately using the method appropriate to their storage location.
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Keep the distinction clear: a Kodi profile backup protects Kodi’s own data, not every file Kodi can access. It may preserve library information and artwork cache, but it does not copy the films, shows, or music represented by entries in the library. Likewise, backing up the media files alone does not preserve your Kodi add-ons, settings, or playlists. Consider both separately if both matter to you.
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The data-folder location differs among Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, LibreELEC, and other platforms. Use the path listed in Kodi’s official Wiki for the operating system or appliance you actually use; do not assume a path from another platform applies. The Wiki pages consulted for this guide are marked as updated for v21, so recheck the applicable Kodi instructions as v22 evolves.
- Identify the device and operating system running Kodi, including whether it is a desktop installation, app-store version, Android package, or appliance distribution.
- Look up the corresponding Kodi data-folder location in the official Wiki, then copy that folder to a separate place before installing RC1.
- If practical, keep another copy in a different location. A removable drive is one possible destination, but it is optional; Kodi does not require a particular storage device or brand.
- Keep the original backup intact while testing. Do not use your only copy as the working folder for a different major version.
Before proceeding, make sure the copy is separate from the Kodi data folder that the application will use. A backup stored only inside that same folder would not be a dependable independent recovery copy if that folder is altered. A second location can reduce the chance that one mistaken overwrite removes both the working data and the backup. Kodi does not specify a required storage device or capacity; choose a destination that can hold the folder and that you can access from your device.
The backup’s value is that it preserves a recovery point. Its existence alone does not establish that every file or database inside it can be restored into a different Kodi major version. The Wiki specifically cautions against using a full data-folder backup to transfer between major versions.
Download and install Kodi 22 Piers RC1
Use the official platform selector
- Open Kodi’s official download page.
- Select the platform that matches the device where Kodi will run.
- Choose the Prerelease section and locate Kodi 22 Piers RC1 for that platform.
- Download the matching package and follow the installation process for that operating system or device type.
The exact installation sequence depends on the platform. The RC1 announcement directs users to the platform selector and the Prerelease section; it does not define one set of installer clicks that applies to Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, app stores, and appliance distributions alike. Use the instructions applicable to your selected package rather than treating a desktop installer procedure as universal.
Before downloading, check that you have selected the actual device’s platform and package type, not merely a package with a familiar name. The official page presents platform-specific options, and availability or installation methods can differ. If the page does not offer an RC1 package for your setup, do not substitute an installer intended for another system. Use the instructions and package route provided for your own platform.
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Windows 64-bit package example
At the time of the official Windows x64 mirror index consulted for this guide, it listed kodi-22.0-Piers_rc1-x64.exe, dated 2026-Oct-10. The same index listed kodi-21.3-Omega-x64.exe, dated 2025-Nov-23. These entries show that both Windows x64 packages were listed at that time. They do not describe the installation or rollback process for other platforms, and the index may change.
This example is useful for identifying the package names that appeared in that Windows x64 index, not as a universal download path or a promise that the same files will remain listed. Do not use the two filenames as instructions for Android, Linux, macOS, LibreELEC, an app-store installation, or another device. For those setups, return to Kodi’s platform selector and use the relevant package or platform guidance.
What is different in RC1—and what may go wrong
Kodi’s announcement describes work on reported issues and polishing, while noting that tracked bugs are mostly contained to new features. It also reports that RC1 upgrades FFmpeg to v9.0.2. That is a component-version change, not evidence of a particular speed, quality, or compatibility improvement on every system.
| Release-note item | What Kodi states | Practical qualification |
|---|---|---|
| HDR and video playback | The announcement highlights improvements. | This is a release-note statement, not a guarantee for every device, video, or display configuration. |
| Blu-ray | The announcement highlights detection and navigation changes. | The release note does not establish that every disc or drive will work. |
| RetroPlayer | The announcement lists changes. | Check the release notes and your platform’s behavior if you rely on this feature. |
| Matroska tagging | Kodi lists a known issue in which tagging degrades back to v21 if Kodi is provided without Kodi’s patched TagLib 2.3.1. | The stated condition matters: do not generalize this issue beyond builds provided without that patched TagLib version. |
| Linux HDR interface | Kodi lists a known issue where some GUI or OSD elements may become too transparent, washed out, or fuzzy. | The announcement identifies Linux HDR playback; it does not say this affects every platform or every Linux setup. |
Release notes help identify what to watch for, but they do not replace testing on the hardware and software combination you actually use. If a problem appears after installing RC1, note the platform, the feature involved, and the conditions under which it occurs before deciding whether to keep testing or return to stable Kodi.
These notes are most useful when read narrowly. The Matroska tagging issue is tied to Kodi being provided without its patched TagLib 2.3.1; it is not a general statement that every RC1 installation will change every Matroska file. The Linux interface issue is described in relation to HDR playback and certain GUI or on-screen display elements, rather than as a defect on every Linux system. FFmpeg v9.0.2 is a release component version, not a claim that playback will be faster or that a specific format will work on a particular device.
How to return to a stable Kodi release
Returning to stable software has two separate parts: installing the stable package and deciding what to do with the data created or changed while using RC1. Installing stable Kodi does not, by itself, guarantee that add-ons, settings, playlists, or library databases from RC1 can be restored intact.
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- Check which stable release is currently offered. Open Kodi’s official download page, select your platform, and choose the stable release. The Wiki consulted on October 13, 2026 identified v21.3 Omega as current stable, but that is a time-sensitive label rather than a permanent target.
- Preserve your RC1 backup. Keep the copy you made before installing v22 separate and unchanged. Do not overwrite your only backup while trying another major version.
- Install the stable package for your platform. Use the official platform-specific option and follow its applicable installation instructions. Packages and installation methods can differ for desktop systems, app stores, Android, and appliance distributions.
- Plan data recovery as a migration. Before restoring add-ons, settings, or library databases, confirm that the method is compatible with the target major version and your platform. The Kodi Wiki warns against using a full data-folder backup to transfer between different major versions.
The cited Kodi guidance does not provide one universal downgrade procedure for every device, app-store policy, appliance distribution, or custom installation. If you need to preserve a complex setup, verify a target-version-compatible recovery route before changing or overwriting data. If you cannot verify one, keep the backup untouched and treat restoring that profile as unresolved rather than assuming a full-folder copy will work.
What “return to stable” does—and does not—promise
The stable installer gets you back to the stable software package you selected; it does not settle the separate compatibility question for your v22 data. A clean stable installation and a restored RC1 profile are not interchangeable outcomes. The first avoids assuming a cross-major restore; the second should be attempted only through a method confirmed for the target version and platform.
For Windows x64, the mirror index consulted listed both the v22 RC1 and v21.3 Omega installer files named above. That provides evidence of package availability on that index at the time, not proof that installing the older package will automatically make an RC1 profile usable. It also says nothing about rollback steps on Android, Linux, macOS, LibreELEC, or another device.
In practice, separate the rollback decision into two questions: which stable installer is currently appropriate for this device, and how will you handle the Kodi data? The official download page can help with the first question. For the second, the cross-major warning means you should not treat the pre-RC1 full-folder copy as an automatic restore for v21. Keep it preserved while you identify a compatible route. Reinstalling stable software and recovering a full profile are distinct tasks, and the sources do not establish a single sequence that safely combines them for every platform.
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| Question | Testing Kodi 22 RC1 | Staying on stable Kodi |
|---|---|---|
| Risk tolerance | Suitable only if you can accept potential prerelease instability and troubleshoot problems. | Kodi recommends stable releases for normal users. |
| Reason to choose it | You want to try the release-note changes or fixes on your own setup. | You do not need to test RC1-specific changes and prioritize routine use. |
| Platform availability | Select the platform, then look under Prerelease on Kodi’s official download page. | Select the platform’s current stable package on the official download page. |
| Recovery planning | Make and preserve a data-folder backup first; a full restore across major versions is not assured. | Do not assume that an RC1 full-folder backup can be transferred back to an earlier major version. |
If you proceed with RC1, treat the pre-install copy as a safeguard, not a downgrade button. If you return to stable, verify both the current stable package and a compatible data-recovery method separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install Kodi 22 RC1?
Back up the Kodi data folder first. Then open Kodi’s official download page, choose the platform that matches your device, select Prerelease, and download Kodi 22 Piers RC1 for that platform. Follow that platform’s installation instructions; there is no single installer sequence that applies to desktop systems, Android, app stores, and appliance distributions alike.
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How do I go back to Kodi 21 stable?
Check Kodi’s official download page for the stable release currently offered for your platform, then install that platform’s stable package using its applicable instructions. Kodi’s Wiki identified v21.3 Omega as current stable on October 13, 2026, but check again because versions change. Keep your RC1 backup intact and treat profile recovery as a separate migration question.
Will my Kodi backup work if I downgrade?
Do not assume a full Kodi data-folder backup from v22 RC1 can be restored into v21. The Kodi Wiki cautions against using a full data-folder backup to transfer between major versions. Preserve the copy and use only a recovery or migration method confirmed as compatible with the target version and platform; the available Kodi guidance does not establish one universal downgrade restore procedure.
Does the Kodi data-folder backup include my movies and music?
No. The Kodi data folder can contain add-ons, skins, library databases, playlists, artwork cache, settings, and other Kodi changes, but your actual video and music files remain wherever you store them outside Kodi. Back up those media files separately if you need them protected.
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Its location varies by platform, including Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, and LibreELEC. Identify the exact operating system or appliance you use and follow the corresponding path in Kodi’s official Wiki. Do not assume that a path for one platform applies to another.
Is Kodi 22 RC1 recommended for everyday use?
Kodi recommends stable releases for normal users, and its development-build guidance warns that prerelease builds may be unstable. RC1 is better suited to people who specifically want to test its changes and can tolerate troubleshooting. If routine reliability matters more than testing, remain on the current stable release.
Can I follow the Windows rollback example on Android or Linux?
No. The listed Windows x64 filenames only show that RC1 and v21.3 installers appeared in the official Windows x64 mirror index at the time it was checked. They do not explain installation or rollback on Android, Linux, macOS, LibreELEC, app-store versions, or other devices. Use Kodi’s platform selector and the instructions for your specific setup.
The Bottom Line
Install Kodi 22 Piers RC1 only if you want to test a prerelease and can tolerate possible issues. Back up the Kodi data folder first, download RC1 from the official platform selector’s Prerelease section, and keep your backup separate. If you return to stable Kodi, confirm the current package for your device and do not assume a complete RC1 profile can be restored across major versions.
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