Control Kodi with Voice: A Guide to Using Yatse
Enhancing Kodi Control with Yatse
While Kodi offers an official remote application named Kore, its functionality is somewhat limited. Yatse, a third-party application designed for Android, significantly expands Kodi’s capabilities. It introduces features like voice commands and PVR support, among many others. This guide details how to utilize Yatse effectively.
Alternative control methods, such as using an MCE remote or a Logitech Harmony remote, are available. These hardware solutions offer benefits like tactile feedback and ease of use for guests, eliminating the need for app installations.
However, your smartphone is typically readily accessible and provides functionalities beyond those of traditional remotes. Yatse capitalizes on this by offering a comprehensive control experience. Begin by downloading the application from Google Play and completing the initial setup process.
Provided both your smartphone and Kodi media center are connected to the same network, Yatse will automatically detect your media center upon launch. Simply select it to initiate the connection.
Basic Remote Functionality
Initially, Yatse presents a familiar interface similar to Kore, the official Kodi remote. It provides on-screen buttons that mirror the functions of a physical remote, allowing you to manage your media center.
The directional arrows and central button facilitate menu navigation, replicating the experience of using keyboard arrow keys and the enter key. While adaptation may be required, the functionality remains consistent with traditional remote controls.
Beyond basic button controls, Yatse offers a sidebar containing options to access your Movies, TV Shows, and Music libraries. Selecting any of these categories allows you to browse your media collection.
Media Browsing and Playback
Within the media libraries, you’ll find features like movie posters, plot summaries, and detailed information. This provides a convenient way to explore your video collection from any location within your home, even during active playback.
When content is playing, Yatse displays associated artwork, episode numbers, and plot summaries, accessible through scrolling.
Exclusive Yatse Features
While the core remote functions are valuable, Yatse truly distinguishes itself through its unique features.
Convenient Kodi Control with Yatse Widgets and Notifications
A notable feature is the ability to manage Kodi without directly launching the application.
Several widgets are available for placement on your phone’s home screens, providing quick access to Kodi controls. The process for adding widgets differs based on your Android launcher. Typically, a long press on an unoccupied area of your home screen will reveal a menu, where "Widgets" can be selected.
Locate "Yatse" within the widget list and tap and drag your chosen widget to the desired location on your home screen. These widgets display currently playing media and offer controls for pausing, playing, and skipping tracks.
Alternatively, an ongoing notification can be enabled within Android’s notification area, functioning similarly to standard media player notifications. Within Yatse, access the settings menu via the side menu, then navigate to "General Settings". Enable the "System Notification" option.
When media is actively playing on your Kodi system, the notification will appear. It provides information about the current content and allows for pausing or skipping, all without opening the Yatse application.
A key benefit of the notification system is its visibility on your phone’s lock screen. This allows for convenient control of your media, such as pausing music when leaving home or skipping tracks during a workout, without unlocking your device.
Voice Command Functionality for Kodi
We recently highlighted the possibility of controlling a television using an Amazon Echo for Kodi users. This feature is appealing, however, not all individuals wish to invest in an Echo device, nor navigate its setup process, solely for voice control of their TV. Fortunately, a viable alternative exists: Yatse incorporates native voice control capabilities.
This functionality is accessible within the Yatse application's sidebar. Begin by tapping the three horizontal lines located in the top-left corner to reveal the sidebar menu.
Within the sidebar, locate the microphone icon positioned adjacent to the label "Remote". Scrolling may be necessary to find this icon.
Selecting this icon enables voice input. You can then issue commands such as "Play Rural Alberta Advantage" or "Begin the subsequent episode of Game of Thrones", and Kodi will execute them accordingly. When functioning correctly, the experience is remarkably convenient. Should difficulties arise, consult the official documentation for a comprehensive list of supported voice commands.
However, navigating to the microphone within the application isn't the most streamlined process. Therefore, Yatse offers the option to intercept a standard Android gesture. Following the installation of Yatse, a long press on the Android Home button, coupled with an upward swipe, can be configured to launch Yatse.
Designate Yatse as the "Always" option, and you will gain rapid voice control access to your media center.
Accessing TV Listings and PVR Recordings on Your Smartphone
For users of NextPVR to view live television within Kodi, the Yatse application provides the functionality to navigate current TV schedules and your stored recordings directly from your mobile device.
This access is facilitated through the "PVR" section located in the sidebar of the Yatse interface. You are able to review presently airing programs, or investigate the broadcast schedule for a particular channel.
Exploring TV Schedules and Recordings
While scheduling new recordings isn't currently supported through Yatse, it serves as a convenient method to check program availability without disrupting your current viewing experience on your television.
Swiping to the right from the main PVR screen reveals a comprehensive list of your recorded shows. Selecting a show initiates playback on your connected home theater PC.
It’s important to note that even if only one of your home theater PCs is equipped with a TV tuner, these recordings can be streamed to any Kodi installation within your home network. 
Expanding Your Streaming CapabilitiesConsider exploring related resources for further information on streaming live TV from NextPVR to various computers throughout your home.
Related: How to Stream Live TV from NextPVR to Any Computer in the House
- Yatse offers remote access to your NextPVR content.
- You can browse both live TV listings and recorded programs.
- Playback of recordings is initiated on your home theater PC.
Explore Kodi Add-ons During Playback
Yatse extends beyond simply movies and television shows, enabling users to navigate their Kodi add-ons directly within the application itself, all without pausing content on their media center.
This functionality allows you to, for example, search for a subsequent YouTube video while simultaneously enjoying one with company, maintaining uninterrupted viewing.
Support isn't universal across all add-ons; only those utilizing Kodi’s standard interface are compatible.
Add-ons found under the "Programs" section within Kodi are unlikely to function, however, those categorized under "Video" or "Music" generally will.
Add-ons that lack compatibility will be visually indicated as greyed out within the Yatse interface.
Despite not being the formally endorsed application, Yatse is considered by many to be the premier remote control application for Kodi.
A significant number of the features detailed above are not replicated in competing remote applications.
Furthermore, once accustomed to voice control of Kodi through Yatse, reverting to other control methods can prove difficult.