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How to Fix Web Request Failed Kodi Error With These 2 Easy Ways
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You’re in the middle of watching a live stream of your favourite sport, and suddenly you get a web request failed error, and you’re howling wondering if your team scored that crucial goal.
In this guide we cover what a web request error is, why they happen and outline 2 easy fixes as well as one that a lot of people forget to cover.
What is a Web Request Failed Error?
A web request error is also known as a 400 Bad Request Error, is a status code from an HTTP. Basically, it means that the server was unable to process your connection request.
The request error though could come from either client-side or server-side. As there may be nothing wrong with your request, the server just isn’t able to handle it at the time.
Why Does it Happen?
There are a couple of reasons why you get a web request error. Firstly, they are almost always associated with viewing IPTV, or Live TV streamed through a device. So, your device is constantly requesting an updated data stream from a server that is streaming a live show. So, this would be common with live sports.
The 2 main reasons for getting a web request error are:
-
High Volume of Traffic:
This is common if you are trying to watch a popular sporting event for free. Like a big boxing fight, or an NFL match. Lots of other people are requesting data from the server at the same time. Other people, as well as bots and scripts. A server can become overloaded with the number of requests. If the requests reach a critical level, the server will start rejecting requests, by throwing out web request failed errors. Though many providers get around this by forcing users to verify their details through Captcha
-
Region Restricted Content:
Online content is often restricted by the region your IP address is registered too. Netflix is the best example of this. If you are in the US you can only access US Netflix, not France or Japan. If you are in the US and trying to watch a stream from the UK of a Premier League Football match then you may keep getting web request failed errors, because your IP shows that you are based in a different country. Like the first reason, allowing request processing by region is another way for servers to protect themselves against a high number of requests.
YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED
ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.
Currently, your IP 44.200.122.214 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.
Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:
- Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
- You can access additional movies and TV streams.
- ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
- Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.
A VPN works be replacing your ISP-assigned IP address and creating an encrypted tunnel. We recommend the no log service offered by IPVanish. It works well on a Firestick and offers the fastest possible speeds.
Common Fixes
There are some easy fixes, which should remedy any web request errors you get, so you don’t have to miss out on that crucial point in your next live sports event.
Enable RTMP Input
By far the most common fix is going into your settings and enabling RTMP, before we cover how, let’s just clear up a bit of jargon and explain what it is.
What is RTMP?
RTMP stands for Real Time Messaging Protocol. Without RTMP your device will download and cache a file based upon a standard bit rate, set by the device. Problem is if your internet has a bad connection, or for some other reason there is a mismatch between client and server, then you’ll either get endless amounts of the streaming circle of death, or just get a web request error.
RTMP allows your device to adjust your streaming quality to the quality of your internet. So, if you have great speed broadband, you get full quality, but poorer connections mean a lower quality but a consistent picture.
This is great for reducing bandwidth and increasing connectivity.
How do I Enable RTMP?
To enable RTMP we need to download a specific Add On:
- Navigate to the Kodi main menu
- Click Add ons
- Go to Video Player Input Stream
- Enable RTMP Input
- Enable Input Stream Adaptive
- Restart Kodi
With RTMP installed, this should fix most of your web request errors, by adjusting your bitrate speed.
Reinstall the Add On
Sometimes an addon one you have downloaded and installed may be corrupted. Whenever you download add ons make sure that it comes from an official source which you can find in one of our guides or just by looking around Google.
Downloading add ons from unofficial sources could also lead to your device being infected with Malware.
Your addon could also just need to be reinstalled with the most up-to-date version.
Simply go to Kodi add ons, uninstall the add on that are giving you trouble, and reinstall it using an official source URL.
Are You Using a VPN?
This is a less common fix but one worth thinking about.
First, you shouldn’t be using Kodi without a VPN. It allows you to browse and stream potentially illegal content in a way that keeps you protected and anonymous.
A trusted VPN client will keep you anonymous by encrypting your connection between your device and their DNS server, meaning that your Internet Service provider will not be able to tell what you are doing, or what target URLs you are visiting.
This also means that your data can’t be logged, or your activities tracked by either your ISP or other third parties.
Plus, another major benefit of using a VPN is that you can circumvent region-restricted content. VPNs like Surfshark will give you access to thousands of servers based across 60+ countries, which means you can connect to a server based in the country that you want to stream content from.
So, if you are on holiday in France and want to watch the NBA game, you simply connect to a US-based server through your VPN and then stream the game through your Kodi addon. If you want to know more about this VPN, kindly read our Surfshark Review.
Here are the reasons why it is our VPN of choice:
- Bypass restrictions and geo-blocks to access lots of content.
- This VPN service has a total of 3,200 VPN servers in 65 worldwide locations.
- Military-grade AES-256 encryption follows FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) that oversees the handling of sensitive data.
- It follows a strict No-Logs Policy
- No Bandwidth limits – you can enjoy a full-speed VPN connection without any throttling.
- It makes your internet speed faster and works on all devices
- 24/7 customer support.
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How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick
If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.
1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.
2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.
3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.
4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.
5. Press the Download (You own it) button.
6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.
7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.
8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.
9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.
10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.
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Find a New Source
If you continue to get persistent web request errors, then the source may simply be overrun with requests and you might be better off searching for a better source, or even paying for an IPTV provider like Streams for Us which starts at $7 per month and gives you access to 8,000+ channels, or Sports TV which starts at $14.95 per month, and also gives you access to over 8,000 channels.
Like a lot of things with Kodi. Free is good. But paying even a little bit extra can make a massive difference if quality and speed are important to you. As well as stability.
