Home theater enthusiasts, take note: a new version of Kodi is hear. Kodi 22 “Piers” Alpha 2, the next generation of the popular media center software, was released recently, building on the first “Piers” build from four months ago, released on August 22, 2025.
A Sneak Peek at the Future of Kodi
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The latest alpha release brings a host of improvements to video playback, library management, and more, but remember-it’s still a work in progress.
- Kodi 22 “Piers” alpha 2 introduces upgrades to FFmpeg and adds support for HEIF/HEIC image formats.
- Improvements have been made to audio handling and subtitle selection.
- Users can now run multiple Kodi instances concurrently on windows.
- The release includes fixes for Daylight Saving Time issues and enhancements for LG webOS.
The Kodi team acknowledges that stepping from version 21 to 22 represents a significant leap forward, but cautions that, as an Alpha build, users should anticipate encountering bugs alongside the exciting new features.
Video and Audio Enhancements
For those who prioritize a pristine viewing experience, Kodi 22 Alpha 2 delivers several key updates. The software has been upgraded to FFmpeg 8, and now supports HEIF/HEIC image formats. Playback issues with streams containing over 256 audio, video, and subtitle tracks have been resolved, and audio channel handling has been refined. Subtitles, particularly “forced_only” subtitles, now offer improved selection.
Library and Source Management Improvements
Managing your media library is about to get easier. The new build introduces “Season Plot” functionality, allowing for more detailed season details. Users can now specify the original language of movies and TV shows. A bug present in Alpha 1,which prevented scanning when local NFO files were present,has been fixed,and video version importing has been improved.
PVR and Weather Updates
Kodi’s PVR (Personal Video Recorder) functionality benefits from fixes addressing Daylight Saving Time switching issues. The Weather feature receives a new Skinning API,along with various fixes and improvements for the Home widget and Weather window.
Python and Platform-Specific Changes
Under the hood, kodi 22 Alpha 2 has been upgraded to Python 3.13.7, and now allows users to set available fanart. Several platform-specific improvements have also been implemented:
- Windows: Multiple Kodi instances can now be run concurrently.
- Android: A new dialog explains microphone permission requests.
- macOS: High CPU usage in the background has been addressed.
- LG webOS: Improvements have been made to the new Media Pipeline, and issues with overly shining subtitles and GUI elements during HDR/DolbyVision content playback have been resolved. subtitle display problems have also been fixed.
Kodi 22 Alpha 2 is available for download here. Users are directed to the Prerelease section to obtain the new build for their platform of choice. The team emphasizes, “expect some breakage, don’t use this as your daily installation unless you know how to get things working again.”
Have you given Kodi 22 alpha 2 a try? Share your experiences and feedback in the comments below.
