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Common issues

This page covers common issues you may encounter while using the Cricfy Kodi plugin and how to resolve them.

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Problem

The plugin ZIP file won’t install or shows an error during installation.

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Solutions

  1. Verify the ZIP file
    • Ensure you downloaded the correct ZIP file from the Releases page
    • Make sure the file is named plugin.video.cricfy.zip and hasn’t been corrupted during download
    • Don’t extract the ZIP file - Kodi needs to install from the ZIP directly
  2. Enable Unknown Sources
    • Go to Settings > System > Add-ons
    • Enable “Unknown sources”
    • Try installing again
  3. Check Kodi version
    • Ensure you’re running a compatible version of Kodi
    • The exact menu labels may vary between Kodi versions, but “Install from zip file” is common to all modern releases
  4. Check for dependency issues
    • The plugin requires Inputstream Adaptive to be installed
    • Kodi should automatically install dependencies, but you can manually install Inputstream Adaptive from the official Kodi repository if needed

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Problem

Channels won’t play or show a playback error.

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Solutions

  1. Check your internet connection
    • Ensure you have a stable internet connection
    • Test your connection by opening a browser and loading a website
    • Some streams require higher bandwidth - ensure your connection is fast enough
  2. Try another provider or stream
    • Some channels may be temporarily offline or unavailable
    • Browse to a different provider from the main menu
    • Try playing a different channel to see if the issue is specific to one stream
  3. Verify Inputstream Adaptive is installed
    • The plugin requires the Inputstream Adaptive add-on for HLS and DASH streams
    • Go to Add-ons > My add-ons > VideoPlayer InputStream > InputStream Adaptive
    • If it’s not installed, install it from the official Kodi repository
  4. Check for DRM compatibility
    • Some streams use Clearkey DRM protection
    • Ensure your device supports DRM playback
    • Android devices and most modern platforms support Clearkey DRM

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Problem

The provider list is empty, or no channels appear when you select a provider.

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Solutions

  1. Check network connectivity
    • The plugin needs internet access to fetch providers and channels
    • Verify your device is connected to the internet
    • Check if your firewall or network security is blocking Kodi
  2. Wait for cache to refresh
    • Provider data is cached locally
    • If the cache is corrupted or outdated, restart Kodi to refresh it
    • Channel lists are cached for 1 hour - wait for the cache to expire or restart Kodi
  3. Check Kodi logs
    • Enable debug logging (see section below)
    • Look for error messages related to fetching providers or channels
    • Common errors include network timeouts, decryption failures, or invalid URLs
  4. Verify provider URLs
    • Providers without valid HTTP URLs are filtered out
    • If all providers are missing, the remote API may be temporarily unavailable
    • Try again later or check the plugin’s GitHub page for updates

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Problem

You’re seeing outdated providers, stale channel lists, or want to force a refresh.

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Solutions

  1. Understand caching behavior
    • Provider list is cached indefinitely until manually cleared
    • Channel lists are cached for 1 hour (3600 seconds)
    • Caching improves performance by reducing network requests
  2. Clear the cache
    • The simplest way to clear cache is to restart Kodi
    • Alternatively, wait for the 1-hour TTL to expire for channel caches
    • Provider cache persists until Kodi is restarted or cache is manually cleared
  3. Force provider refresh
    • To force a provider list refresh, you can clear Kodi’s add-on data:
    • Go to Settings > System > Add-ons > Manage dependencies
    • Or restart Kodi to clear all caches
  4. Cache location
    • Cache data is stored using Kodi’s built-in caching system
    • Provider cache key: cricfy_providers
    • Channel cache key: channels_<hashed_provider_url>

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Problem

You see an “Invalid provider URL” error when trying to view channels.

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Solutions

  1. Provider validation
    • The plugin validates that each provider has a valid catLink URL
    • URLs must start with http:// or https://
    • If a provider’s URL is malformed, it won’t be accessible
  2. Try a different provider
    • Return to the provider list and select a different provider
    • Some providers may have outdated or incorrect URLs
    • Report the issue if a specific provider consistently fails
  3. Check for updates
    • The plugin fetches provider data from a remote API
    • Provider URLs may change over time
    • Check for plugin updates on the GitHub releases page

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Problem

Playback fails with “Failed to resolve channel URL” when trying to play a channel.

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Solutions

  1. Common causes
    • Network timeout while fetching the channel list
    • The channel was removed from the provider’s playlist
    • Corrupted cache data
    • Temporary server issues
  2. Troubleshooting steps
    • Return to the provider list and re-select the provider
    • Try playing a different channel from the same provider
    • Clear the cache by restarting Kodi
    • Check your internet connection stability
  3. Network timeout issues
    • The plugin uses a 15-second timeout for network requests:
    response = fetch_url(
  f"{url}/cats.txt",
  timeout=15,
)
    • If your connection is slow or unstable, requests may time out
    • Try again when your connection is more stable

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Enable debug logging in Kodi

For persistent issues, enabling debug logging can help identify the root cause:

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Enable debug logs

  1. Go to Settings > System > Logging
  2. Enable “Enable debug logging”
  3. Optionally enable “Component-specific logging” for more detailed logs
  4. Reproduce the issue (try to install, browse providers, or play a channel)
  5. Access the log file

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Access Kodi log files

Log file locations vary by platform:
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Kodi\kodi.log
  • macOS: ~/Library/Logs/kodi.log
  • Linux: ~/.kodi/temp/kodi.log
  • Android: /sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/temp/kodi.log

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What to look for in logs

Search for entries related to Cricfy:
  • [plugin.video.cricfy] - General plugin messages
  • ERROR - Error messages
  • [Cache Miss] - Cache-related messages
  • Error fetching - Network-related errors
  • Error parsing - Data parsing errors
Example log entries from the plugin: 
INFO: [plugin.video.cricfy] providers: [Cache Miss] Fetching providers from remote URL
INFO: [plugin.video.cricfy] providers: Providers cached successfully
ERROR: [plugin.video.cricfy] main: Error fetching channels: Connection timeout
Log files may contain sensitive information. Be careful when sharing logs publicly - redact any personal information or credentials.

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Getting help

If you’ve tried the solutions above and still experience issues:
  1. Check the GitHub repository
    • Visit the plugin repository
    • Check existing issues to see if others have reported the same problem
    • Search closed issues for solutions
  2. Report a new issue
    • Create a new issue on GitHub with:
      • Description of the problem
      • Steps to reproduce
      • Your Kodi version and platform (Windows, Android, etc.)
      • Relevant log excerpts (with sensitive info redacted)
    • The maintainers will help investigate
  3. Check for updates
    • Visit the Releases page
    • Install the latest version if available
    • Check the release notes for bug fixes and improvements
This is an unofficial plugin. Use at your own risk. The plugin is not affiliated with Cricfy or Kodi.

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