Introduction
Kodi, the renowned open-source media center, is a favorite among home entertainment enthusiasts. Its ability to organize and play various types of media – from movies and TV shows to music and photos – makes it an invaluable tool. One of Kodi’s most compelling features is its customizable interface, or skin. These skins drastically alter the look and feel of the application, offering a personalized viewing experience.
While Kodi constantly evolves with new versions and features, some users find themselves nostalgic for the simpler, more familiar aesthetic of older iterations. Specifically, many users who upgraded to Kodi seventeen, code named Krypton, miss the appearance of the previous version, Kodi sixteen, nicknamed Jarvis. The default skin in Kodi sixteen, Estuary, was widely praised for its clean layout, ease of navigation, and overall user-friendliness. In contrast, Kodi seventeen introduced a redesigned Estuary skin, which, while offering improvements in some areas, didn’t resonate with everyone.
This article will guide you through the process of transforming your Kodi seventeen Krypton installation to resemble the Kodi sixteen experience. We’ll explore practical methods to bring back that familiar look and feel, focusing on two primary approaches: utilizing a compatible skin that closely mimics the original Estuary, or venturing into advanced customization techniques for those who want more granular control. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the knowledge to tailor your Kodi seventeen to your preferences, effectively recreating the comfort and simplicity of Kodi sixteen.
Understanding the Differences
Before diving into the practical steps, it’s helpful to understand the key visual differences that define Kodi sixteen’s Estuary skin. The older skin featured a horizontal menu system with large, easily identifiable icons. The focus was on simplicity and direct access to your media libraries. The overall color scheme was generally darker, creating a comfortable and immersive viewing environment.
In contrast, the redesigned Estuary in Kodi seventeen adopted a more modern, vertical menu system. While it offered improved responsiveness and optimized navigation for remote controls, some users found it less intuitive than its predecessor. The color palette was also brighter, which, depending on personal preference, could be seen as either an improvement or a detraction. The newer skin also incorporated more information on the home screen, which some users felt cluttered the interface.
Some users prefer Kodi sixteen’s Estuary for several reasons. Some find it more straightforward and easier to navigate, especially with a remote control. Others simply prefer its aesthetic, valuing its simplicity and darker color scheme. Performance can also be a factor. On older hardware, the lighter design of Kodi sixteen’s Estuary might provide a smoother experience.
Method One: Using a Compatible Skin
The easiest and most recommended approach to recreating the Kodi sixteen experience is to install a skin that closely resembles the original Estuary. While the exact Estuary skin from Kodi sixteen isn’t directly available in Kodi seventeen’s repository, many community-created skins capture its essence and provide a similar look and feel.
It’s important to understand that skin compatibility can vary. A skin designed for an older version of Kodi might not function perfectly on a newer version. However, many developers actively maintain their skins, ensuring they work across different Kodi releases.
Finding a suitable skin involves exploring Kodi’s official repository or searching online for user-created skins. A skin called Confluence which was the skin for kodi thirteen to kodi fifteen may also be an option, but may not have full functionality and design support for modern kodi add-ons.
Installing a Skin is straightforward. First, open Kodi. Navigate to the Settings menu, which is typically represented by a gear icon. Within Settings, select Interface Settings. On the Interface Settings screen, you’ll find a Skin option. Click on Skin, and then select Get More. This will open Kodi’s official skin repository.
Browse through the available skins until you find one that catches your eye and closely resembles Kodi sixteen’s Estuary. Pay attention to screenshots and descriptions to get a sense of the skin’s layout and features. Once you’ve found a suitable skin, click on it and select Install. Kodi will automatically download and install the skin.
After the installation is complete, Kodi will prompt you to switch to the new skin. Confirm your selection, and Kodi’s interface will immediately transform to reflect the new skin’s design.
Configuring the skin may involve adjusting certain settings to fine-tune its appearance. Many skins offer options to customize color schemes, font sizes, menu layouts, and other visual elements. Explore the skin’s settings menu to see what options are available and adjust them to your liking. Aim for settings that replicate the look and feel of Kodi sixteen’s Estuary.
Method Two: Advanced Skin Customization
For advanced users who want more granular control over Kodi’s appearance, the alternative method is to modify the skin files directly. This approach involves delving into the inner workings of Kodi’s skin system and editing XML files. While it offers the greatest level of customization, it also requires some technical knowledge and carries the risk of causing issues if not done carefully.
Warning: Modifying skin files directly can lead to instability or even prevent Kodi from launching. Always back up the original skin files before making any changes. This will allow you to revert to the original configuration if something goes wrong.
To access skin files, you’ll need to locate Kodi’s data directory on your operating system. The location of this directory varies depending on the OS.
On Windows, it’s typically located at `%APPDATA%\Kodi\userdata\guisettings.xml`. Locate the guisettings.xml file. Then, find the “skin.path” tag. The location contained within this tag is the folder containing the skin files.
On macOS, it’s `~/Library/Application Support/Kodi/userdata/guisettings.xml`. Locate the guisettings.xml file. Then, find the “skin.path” tag. The location contained within this tag is the folder containing the skin files.
On Linux, it’s `~/.kodi/userdata/guisettings.xml`. Locate the guisettings.xml file. Then, find the “skin.path” tag. The location contained within this tag is the folder containing the skin files.
Once you’ve located the skin directory, you’ll find a collection of XML files that define the skin’s layout, colors, fonts, and other visual elements. The specific files you’ll need to modify will depend on the aspects of the skin you want to change. Some of the most commonly modified files include `colors.xml`, which defines the skin’s color palette; `Font.xml`, which controls the fonts used throughout the interface; and `Home.xml`, which defines the layout of the main menu screen.
Modifying XML files requires a text editor that supports XML syntax highlighting. Open the desired XML file in your text editor and carefully examine the code. Look for specific elements that correspond to the aspects of the skin you want to change. For example, to change the background color, you might need to modify the `background` tag in `colors.xml`. To change the font size, you might need to adjust the `size` attribute in `Font.xml`.
It is helpful to copy the content of the files from your active skin into a Kodi sixteen skin, and compare the two files. This can help you find the exact values of the things that you wish to change to recreate the Kodi sixteen look.
Before making any changes, back up the original file by creating a copy with a different name. This will allow you to easily revert to the original file if something goes wrong.
Make small, incremental changes and test them frequently. After making a change, save the file and restart Kodi to see the effect of your modifications. If something goes wrong, you can easily revert to the original file by replacing the modified file with the backup copy.
Troubleshooting and Common Issues
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.
If the skin isn’t displaying correctly after installation, it might be due to incompatibility issues or corrupted files. Try reinstalling the skin or switching to a different skin. If that doesn’t work, try clearing Kodi’s cache and restarting the application.
If Kodi starts crashing or freezing after modifying skin files, it’s likely due to errors in the XML code. Revert to the original skin files by replacing the modified files with the backup copies. If the problem persists, try reinstalling Kodi.
To revert back to the default Estuary skin, navigate to Settings, Interface Settings, Skin, and select Estuary from the list of available skins. This will restore Kodi’s interface to its original appearance.
Conclusion
Customizing Kodi’s appearance is a rewarding way to personalize your media center and make it truly your own. Whether you prefer the simplicity of Kodi sixteen’s Estuary skin or want to explore other design options, Kodi offers a wide range of possibilities. By utilizing a compatible skin or venturing into advanced customization techniques, you can transform your Kodi seventeen installation to perfectly suit your preferences. Experiment, explore, and discover the look and feel that best enhances your home entertainment experience. Don’t be afraid to revert to the original if the new configuration is not what you desire, or causes unexpected issues.
