8 Best Kodi Screensavers for Photos, Video, Clocks, and More

Quick answer: For most Kodi libraries, Picture Slideshow Screensaver is the easiest all-around pick. Choose Video ScreenSaver for moving clips from your own sources, Aerial for dramatic travel footage, or Digital Clock Screensaver when you want practical information on screen. The eight picks below cover photos, video, animation, time, and power saving.

These are recommendations by use case, not a claim that every add-on works on every box. As of October 27, 2026, Kodi 21.3 “Omega” is the current stable release; Kodi 22 “Piers” is at Release Candidate 1. Add-on availability can vary by Kodi version and device, so check the repository built into your installation before you install anything. See the Kodi 21.3 release note and the Kodi 22 RC announcement.

8 Kodi screensavers worth considering

1. Picture Slideshow Screensaver — best for your own photos

   Use a custom image folder or artwork from your music and video libraries. The add-on supports multiple transition effects, making it a good choice for family photos, travel pictures, or a media room that should feel personal. Kodi’s older add-on called simply “Slideshow” is marked broken; the wiki points users to this replacement.

2. Aerial — best for cinematic scenery

   Aerial brings Apple TV-style aerial screensaver footage to Kodi. It is a strong fit when you want a moving landscape instead of a sequence of stills. Since it plays video, confirm that it runs smoothly on your Kodi device and network before leaving it as the default.

3. Bing: Photos of the Week — best for fresh photography

   This add-on displays images from Bing’s homepage collection, so the screen changes without you having to maintain a local photo folder. It is a simple option for people who want varied photography. Because it depends on an online source, use a local slideshow if you need the screensaver to work without network access.

4. Digital Clock Screensaver — best for at-a-glance information

   The clock can show the date, now-playing details, weather information, or a background slideshow, with several layout and appearance controls. It is the most functional pick here when Kodi sits in a shared living space. Keep the display dim and uncluttered if it will remain on for long periods.

5. Video ScreenSaver — best for your video library

   Build a screensaver from Kodi video sources, including local content, smart playlists, plug-ins, or UPnP servers. This is more flexible than a fixed set of aerial clips, but choose content that is appropriate to appear automatically when playback stops.

6. Unsplash Photo Screensaver — best for curated-style photos

   This option brings free photography into a photo-based screensaver. It suits users who want polished images without first organizing a local folder. Check the add-on’s current settings and availability in Kodi before relying on it, especially on a device with limited network access.

7. Matrix View — best for animated visuals

   Matrix View offers the familiar falling-code look for a more graphic, less photographic screen. It is a lightweight change of mood for a media room, though it does not provide the useful information of a clock or the personal touch of your own photos.

8. Turn Off — best when you want the display to go dark

   Turn Off is designed to switch off a display to save power. Its add-on listing also describes options for managing device power, logging out, or muting audio. Those controls depend on platform support, so test them on your setup. If the television ignores Kodi’s request, use the TV’s own sleep or screen-off control.

How to install and set one up

1. In Kodi, open Settings and choose Add-ons.
2. Select Install from repository, open the Kodi add-on repository, then browse Look and feel > Screensavers. Choose an add-on and select Install. Kodi recommends using its built-in add-on browser; the exact labels can vary slightly with the skin and platform.
3. Open Settings > Interface > Screensaver. Under Screensaver mode, select the add-on you installed.
4. Use Settings to adjust its options, set the Wait time, and select Preview to check the result. Kodi’s default Dim mode assists in preventing screen burn-in. The current audio option is Disable screensaver when playing audio; when enabled, it keeps the saver from interrupting music or other audio.

For step-by-step details, see Kodi’s current screensaver settings reference, its official repository guide, and the Omega screensaver catalog.

Older favorites to treat carefully

Some names from older Kodi lists are no longer dependable recommendations. Kodi’s wiki marks the Google Earth screensaver as broken because its web endpoint closed. The original Slideshow add-on is also marked broken in favor of Picture Slideshow Screensaver. System 47, Feedreader, and QLock appear in older repository documentation, but should not be assumed to work in a current Omega installation. Avoid installing old ZIP files just because a legacy guide links to them; first look for the add-on in Kodi’s official repository and confirm it matches your version.