---
id: pykodi
version: "0.2.7"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pykodi — An async python interface for Kodi over JSON-RPC.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 73.7K/mo

## What it is and what it does

PyKodi is an async Python client library for controlling Kodi media centers remotely via JSON-RPC. It abstracts the JSON-RPC protocol into a Python API, allowing you to send commands (play, pause, volume control) and query properties (application name, version) from your own Python code. The library supports both HTTP and WebSocket transports and is built on aiohttp, jsonrpc-async, and jsonrpc-websocket for non-blocking I/O.

The package was designed primarily for integration with HomeAssistant but can be used standalone to automate or monitor Kodi instances. It requires Python 3.7 or above and handles connection setup, session management, and async communication internally. The API is straightforward: create a connection, connect asynchronously, wrap it in a Kodi object, and call methods like ping(), play(), pause(), or get_application_properties().

Use it for:

- Integrate Kodi playback control into a HomeAssistant automation or dashboard.
- Build a custom remote control application that sends play/pause/volume commands to Kodi over the network.
- Query Kodi application properties or media state from a monitoring or logging script.
- Automate media playback sequences across multiple Kodi instances in a home network.
- Develop a lightweight CLI tool to control Kodi without a web browser or official remote.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

PyKodi provides an async Python interface to control Kodi media centers remotely over JSON-RPC, supporting both HTTP and WebSocket connections.

Yes, if you need to control Kodi from Python and are willing to accept that the package has not been updated since October 2021. Install friction is low and the MIT license is unencumbered. Verify compatibility with your Kodi version and HomeAssistant version (if applicable) before relying on it in production.

## Install

pip install pykodi
uv add pykodi
poetry add pykodi

## Installing pykodi

Before you install: Low install friction with pure-Python dependencies. Maintenance is active with recent commits, though the latest release is from October 2021.

License in practice: MIT license is permissive and imposes no significant restrictions on use, modification, or distribution.

Quickstart:

pip install pykodi

from pykodi import get_kodi_connection, Kodi

kc = get_kodi_connection(host, port, ws_port, ssl, timeout, session, user, password)
await kc.connect()
kodi = Kodi(kc)
await kodi.ping()

Requires Python 3.7 or above; async/await syntax requires an event loop context.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package remains compatible with modern Kodi versions beyond its last release in October 2021.
- Whether HomeAssistant integration (its primary design target) continues to work with current versions.
- Active maintenance status despite recent commits—whether the repository is accepting contributions or in maintenance-only mode.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 73.7K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

kodi remote control python, async kodi json-rpc client, kodi home automation integration, kodi media center api, python kodi websocket, kodi http rpc interface, media-center-control, home-automation

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/pykodi) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pykodi/)