Widget: Kodi / XBMC Remote

Former Member
Former Member
Kodi Remote is a widget that lets your watch act as a remote for your Kodi / XBMC media player.

You can find Kodi Remote here: https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/0d111315-c613-4ece-b90f-500c0a6af103



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Requirements
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  • Kodi / XBMC media player;
  • Garmin device with at least Connect IQ 1.2
  • Android or iOS device running Garmin Connect Mobile


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Settings up your media player
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Enable remote control via HTTP on your media player:
  • Start your media player;
  • Go to System>Settings>Services>Web server;
  • Make sure the checkbox after "Allow remote control via HTTP" is checked;
  • If you get a message Web Server: "Failed to start", you probably have some other service running on port 80. In that case change the number and try again;
  • Write down the number after "Port", you'll need that later.


Now you have enabled remote control, you'll need to know the address of you media player. Typicly you'll want to control your media player from whithin your home network. If you want, you can setup your media player for remote control over the internet. In that case I'll assume you know what you're doing and you won't need my explanaition.

Find the address of media player running on Windows computer:
  • Type "Windows-key" + "cmd" to open a command prompt;
  • Type "ipconfig";
  • Write down the value after "IPv4 Address", which typicly looks something like "192.168.xxx.xxx". This is the address of your media player.


Find the address of media player running on other device (ie Raspberry Pi):
  • Go to you internet router (you can find the address by typing the commands above and looking for the value after "Default Gateway");
  • Most routers have a web interface that can tell you the ip-address of all connected machines. Look up that address for your media player


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Settings up your Garmin watch
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Your Garmin watch will control the media player through your phone. This means that, assuming you're setting this up for remote control within your home network, your phone needs to be connected to your WiFi network for this to work.

You can set up up to 3 Kodi / XBMC media players using the Connect IQ app settings You can find a general explanation about app settings here: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?332843-How-to-App-Settings

To set up a media player you have to provide an URL and a name and optional username and password:
  • For name, type anything you like;
  • The URL should have the form "http://{address}:{port}/". If port is 80 (the default), you don't need to provide the port.
    Examples: "http://192.168.0.5/" or "http://192.168.0.5:8001/"
  • If you've setup your Kodi / XBMC media player with a username and password, you'll need to enter them, else leave these settings empty;
  • If you have more than 1 Kodi / XBMC media player, you can add them also. In that case you need to set the checkboxes to enable them.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.

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Version history
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V1.2:
  • Added ability to control Kodi with username/password protection;
  • Added multiple configurations for button selection order for non touch screen devices

V1.1: Added support for all other devices
V1.0: Initial version, only for touch enabled devices (Vivoactive, Epix, FR630)
  • Unfortunately I don't think that's possible. A widget has a timeout and there's no way around that. For that reason I'll probably change this widget into a watch app, because I agree that it's annoying to have to restart the widget every time.


    Sounds good, thanks!

    How do updates to Connect IQ apps work? Will I get a notification from Garmin Connect? Will it just automatically update? Or do I have to explicitly go and install the new version? Will you post to this thread when a new version is available?
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 9 years ago
    Sounds good, thanks!

    How do updates to Connect IQ apps work? Will I get a notification from Garmin Connect? Will it just automatically update? Or do I have to explicitly go and install the new version? Will you post to this thread when a new version is available?


    In Garmin Express there's an option to automatically update connect IQ apps when you sync your device. GCM unfortunately does not update your apps automatically (yet). I'm not sure whether automatic update works when the app type changes (I think it does).
    When I indeed do make this change, I'll post about it in this thread. If possible I recommend updating the app using GE, because if you do it with GCM (by removing and then re-installing the app), you'll lose the settings and will have to reconfigure the app.
  • I noticed there was a new release on Feb 3rd, but no updates to the release notes. Are there any noteworthy new features in the latest release?
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 8 years ago
    Great app

    Hi, this is great app, nice work.
    For those who doesnt have touch watch like 630, could you please make remote only with function left, right, up, down and enter (or whatever button it is). I would love to choose (in app settings) if I want to have all buttons or only those 5.

    Thank you :-)
  • Planning to buy Germin Vivoactive HR. Does anybody know if this helpful app works with this model? Thanks!
  • Dear TeunMo,

    great idea to control Kodi via watch!
    Unfortunately it doesn't work for me.

    Read and followed all your detailed manual and advices. Read all the forum entries.

    I can enter URL like: "192.168.0.5:8080" and save (watch says: media player not found) but as soon as i enter "http://192.168.0.5:8080/" and click Save an error message appears (see screenshot):
    "Access Denied
    You don't have permission to access "apps.garmin.com/.../edit" on this server.
    Reference #18.2d3d1002.1529832450.1da6179" (Reference # changing from try to try)
    and input is not saved.

    Any idea?

    My configuration:
    - device: fenix Chronos
    - Connect IQ version: 2.4.4
    - Kodi on Raspberry with LibreElec
    - Remote control of Kodi over Kodi Remote App on Mobile Phone running perfectly

    Thank you in advance!
    community.garmin.com/.../1366643.png