diff --git a/resources/lib/PlexAPI.py b/resources/lib/PlexAPI.py
index 7a6ce0c6..ac205fbc 100644
--- a/resources/lib/PlexAPI.py
+++ b/resources/lib/PlexAPI.py
@@ -2553,14 +2553,14 @@ class API():
             if "\\" in path:
                 if not path.endswith('\\'):
                     # Add the missing backslash
-                    check = exists_dir(tryEncode(path + "\\"))
+                    check = exists_dir(path + "\\")
                 else:
-                    check = exists_dir(tryEncode(path))
+                    check = exists_dir(path)
             else:
                 if not path.endswith('/'):
-                    check = exists_dir(tryEncode(path + "/"))
+                    check = exists_dir(path + "/")
                 else:
-                    check = exists_dir(tryEncode(path))
+                    check = exists_dir(path)
 
         if not check:
             if forceCheck is False:
diff --git a/resources/lib/artwork.py b/resources/lib/artwork.py
index 54e1d9a3..1a310921 100644
--- a/resources/lib/artwork.py
+++ b/resources/lib/artwork.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from xbmc import executeJSONRPC, sleep, translatePath
 from xbmcvfs import exists
 
 from utils import window, settings, language as lang, kodiSQL, tryEncode, \
-    thread_methods, dialog, exists_dir
+    thread_methods, dialog, exists_dir, tryDecode
 
 # Disable annoying requests warnings
 import requests.packages.urllib3
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class Artwork():
         if dialog('yesno', "Image Texture Cache", lang(39251)):
             log.info("Resetting all cache data first")
             # Remove all existing textures first
-            path = translatePath("special://thumbnails/")
+            path = tryDecode(translatePath("special://thumbnails/"))
             if exists_dir(path):
                 rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
 
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ class Artwork():
             path = translatePath("special://thumbnails/%s" % cachedurl)
             log.debug("Deleting cached thumbnail: %s" % path)
             if exists(path):
-                rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
+                rmtree(tryDecode(path), ignore_errors=True)
             cursor.execute("DELETE FROM texture WHERE url = ?", (url,))
             connection.commit()
         finally:
diff --git a/resources/lib/entrypoint.py b/resources/lib/entrypoint.py
index f690bc01..4745afea 100644
--- a/resources/lib/entrypoint.py
+++ b/resources/lib/entrypoint.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from xbmc import sleep, executebuiltin, translatePath
 from xbmcgui import ListItem
 
 from utils import window, settings, language as lang, dialog, tryEncode, \
-    CatchExceptions, JSONRPC, exists_dir, plex_command
+    CatchExceptions, JSONRPC, exists_dir, plex_command, tryDecode
 import downloadutils
 
 from PlexFunctions import GetPlexMetadata, GetPlexSectionResults, \
@@ -489,7 +489,6 @@ def getVideoFiles(plexId, params):
     except:
         log.error('Could not get file path for item %s' % plexId)
         return xbmcplugin.endOfDirectory(HANDLE)
-    path = tryEncode(path)
     # Assign network protocol
     if path.startswith('\\\\'):
         path = path.replace('\\\\', 'smb://')
@@ -502,14 +501,14 @@ def getVideoFiles(plexId, params):
     if exists_dir(path):
         for root, dirs, files in walk(path):
             for directory in dirs:
-                item_path = join(root, directory)
+                item_path = tryEncode(join(root, directory))
                 li = ListItem(item_path, path=item_path)
                 xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(handle=HANDLE,
                                             url=item_path,
                                             listitem=li,
                                             isFolder=True)
             for file in files:
-                item_path = join(root, file)
+                item_path = tryEncode(join(root, file))
                 li = ListItem(item_path, path=item_path)
                 xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(handle=HANDLE,
                                             url=file,
@@ -537,7 +536,8 @@ def getExtraFanArt(plexid, plexPath):
 
     # We need to store the images locally for this to work
     # because of the caching system in xbmc
-    fanartDir = translatePath("special://thumbnails/plex/%s/" % plexid)
+    fanartDir = tryDecode(translatePath(
+        "special://thumbnails/plex/%s/" % plexid))
     if not exists_dir(fanartDir):
         # Download the images to the cache directory
         makedirs(fanartDir)
@@ -550,19 +550,19 @@ def getExtraFanArt(plexid, plexPath):
         backdrops = api.getAllArtwork()['Backdrop']
         for count, backdrop in enumerate(backdrops):
             # Same ordering as in artwork
-            fanartFile = join(fanartDir, "fanart%.3d.jpg" % count)
+            fanartFile = tryEncode(join(fanartDir, "fanart%.3d.jpg" % count))
             li = ListItem("%.3d" % count, path=fanartFile)
             xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(
                 handle=HANDLE,
                 url=fanartFile,
                 listitem=li)
-            copyfile(backdrop, fanartFile)
+            copyfile(backdrop, tryDecode(fanartFile))
     else:
         log.info("Found cached backdrop.")
         # Use existing cached images
         for root, dirs, files in walk(fanartDir):
             for file in files:
-                fanartFile = join(root, file)
+                fanartFile = tryEncode(join(root, file))
                 li = ListItem(file, path=fanartFile)
                 xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(handle=HANDLE,
                                             url=fanartFile,
diff --git a/resources/lib/librarysync.py b/resources/lib/librarysync.py
index 336d5d5e..6d4571ed 100644
--- a/resources/lib/librarysync.py
+++ b/resources/lib/librarysync.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from xbmcvfs import exists
 from utils import window, settings, getUnixTimestamp, sourcesXML,\
     thread_methods, create_actor_db_index, dialog, LogTime, getScreensaver,\
     setScreensaver, playlistXSP, language as lang, DateToKodi, reset,\
-    tryDecode, deletePlaylists, deleteNodes
+    tryDecode, deletePlaylists, deleteNodes, tryEncode
 import downloadutils
 import itemtypes
 import plexdb_functions as plexdb
@@ -1507,7 +1507,7 @@ class LibrarySync(Thread):
                 # Also runs when first installed
                 # Verify the video database can be found
                 videoDb = v.DB_VIDEO_PATH
-                if not exists(videoDb):
+                if not exists(tryEncode(videoDb)):
                     # Database does not exists
                     log.error("The current Kodi version is incompatible "
                               "to know which Kodi versions are supported.")
diff --git a/resources/lib/utils.py b/resources/lib/utils.py
index bfbc983e..396488ea 100644
--- a/resources/lib/utils.py
+++ b/resources/lib/utils.py
@@ -111,12 +111,12 @@ def exists_dir(path):
     Safe way to check whether the directory path exists already (broken in Kodi
     <17)
 
-    Feed with encoded string
+    Feed with encoded string or unicode
     """
     if KODIVERSION >= 17:
-        answ = exists(path)
+        answ = exists(tryEncode(path))
     else:
-        dummyfile = join(path, 'dummyfile.txt')
+        dummyfile = join(tryDecode(path), 'dummyfile.txt')
         try:
             with open(dummyfile, 'w') as f:
                 f.write('text')
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def exists_dir(path):
             answ = 0
         else:
             # Folder exists. Delete file again.
-            delete(dummyfile)
+            delete(tryEncode(dummyfile))
             answ = 1
     return answ
 
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ def reset():
         # Remove all existing textures first
         path = xbmc.translatePath("special://thumbnails/")
         if exists(path):
-            rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
+            rmtree(tryDecode(path), ignore_errors=True)
         # remove all existing data from texture DB
         connection = kodiSQL('texture')
         cursor = connection.cursor()
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ def reset():
               line1=language(39603)):
         # Delete the settings
         addon = xbmcaddon.Addon()
-        addondir = xbmc.translatePath(addon.getAddonInfo('profile'))
+        addondir = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(addon.getAddonInfo('profile')))
         dataPath = "%ssettings.xml" % addondir
         log.info("Deleting: settings.xml")
         remove(dataPath)
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ def sourcesXML():
 
 def passwordsXML():
     # To add network credentials
-    path = xbmc.translatePath("special://userdata/")
+    path = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath("special://userdata/"))
     xmlpath = "%spasswords.xml" % path
 
     try:
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ def playlistXSP(mediatype, tagname, viewid, viewtype="", delete=False):
     """
     Feed with tagname as unicode
     """
-    path = xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/playlists/video/")
+    path = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/playlists/video/"))
     if viewtype == "mixed":
         plname = "%s - %s" % (tagname, mediatype)
         xsppath = "%sPlex %s - %s.xsp" % (path, viewid, mediatype)
@@ -810,12 +810,12 @@ def playlistXSP(mediatype, tagname, viewid, viewtype="", delete=False):
         xsppath = "%sPlex %s.xsp" % (path, viewid)
 
     # Create the playlist directory
-    if not exists(path):
+    if not exists(tryEncode(path)):
         log.info("Creating directory: %s" % path)
         makedirs(path)
 
     # Only add the playlist if it doesn't already exists
-    if exists(xsppath):
+    if exists(tryEncode(xsppath)):
         log.info('Path %s does exist' % xsppath)
         if delete:
             remove(xsppath)
@@ -830,28 +830,22 @@ def playlistXSP(mediatype, tagname, viewid, viewtype="", delete=False):
         'show': 'tvshows'
     }
     log.info("Writing playlist file to: %s" % xsppath)
-    try:
-        with open(xsppath, 'wb'):
-            tryEncode(
-                '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>\n'
-                '<smartplaylist type="%s">\n\t'
-                    '<name>Plex %s</name>\n\t'
-                    '<match>all</match>\n\t'
-                    '<rule field="tag" operator="is">\n\t\t'
-                        '<value>%s</value>\n\t'
-                    '</rule>\n'
-                '</smartplaylist>\n'
-                % (itemtypes.get(mediatype, mediatype), plname, tagname))
-    except Exception as e:
-        log.error("Failed to create playlist: %s" % xsppath)
-        import traceback
-        log.exception("Traceback:\n%s" % traceback.format_exc())
-        return
+    with open(xsppath, 'wb'):
+        tryEncode(
+            '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>\n'
+            '<smartplaylist type="%s">\n\t'
+                '<name>Plex %s</name>\n\t'
+                '<match>all</match>\n\t'
+                '<rule field="tag" operator="is">\n\t\t'
+                    '<value>%s</value>\n\t'
+                '</rule>\n'
+            '</smartplaylist>\n'
+            % (itemtypes.get(mediatype, mediatype), plname, tagname))
     log.info("Successfully added playlist: %s" % tagname)
 
 def deletePlaylists():
     # Clean up the playlists
-    path = xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/playlists/video/")
+    path = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/playlists/video/"))
     for root, _, files in walk(path):
         for file in files:
             if file.startswith('Plex'):
@@ -859,7 +853,7 @@ def deletePlaylists():
 
 def deleteNodes():
     # Clean up video nodes
-    path = xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video/")
+    path = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video/"))
     for root, dirs, _ in walk(path):
         for directory in dirs:
             if directory.startswith('Plex-'):
diff --git a/resources/lib/variables.py b/resources/lib/variables.py
index fa3b8be5..95042299 100644
--- a/resources/lib/variables.py
+++ b/resources/lib/variables.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 import xbmc
 from xbmcaddon import Addon
 
-# Paths are in string, not unicode!
+# Paths are in unicode, otherwise Windows will throw fits
+# For any file operations with KODI function, use encoded strings!
 
 
 def tryDecode(string, encoding='utf-8'):
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ ADDON_VERSION = _ADDON.getAddonInfo('version')
 KODILANGUAGE = xbmc.getLanguage(xbmc.ISO_639_1)
 KODIVERSION = int(xbmc.getInfoLabel("System.BuildVersion")[:2])
 KODILONGVERSION = xbmc.getInfoLabel('System.BuildVersion')
-KODI_PROFILE = xbmc.translatePath("special://profile")
+KODI_PROFILE = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile"))
 
 if xbmc.getCondVisibility('system.platform.osx'):
     PLATFORM = "MacOSX"
@@ -70,8 +71,8 @@ _DB_VIDEO_VERSION = {
     17: 107,  # Krypton
     18: 108   # Leia
 }
-DB_VIDEO_PATH = xbmc.translatePath(
-    "special://database/MyVideos%s.db" % _DB_VIDEO_VERSION[KODIVERSION])
+DB_VIDEO_PATH = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+    "special://database/MyVideos%s.db" % _DB_VIDEO_VERSION[KODIVERSION]))
 
 _DB_MUSIC_VERSION = {
     13: 46,   # Gotham
@@ -81,8 +82,8 @@ _DB_MUSIC_VERSION = {
     17: 60,   # Krypton
     18: 62    # Leia
 }
-DB_MUSIC_PATH = xbmc.translatePath(
-    "special://database/MyMusic%s.db" % _DB_MUSIC_VERSION[KODIVERSION])
+DB_MUSIC_PATH = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+    "special://database/MyMusic%s.db" % _DB_MUSIC_VERSION[KODIVERSION]))
 
 _DB_TEXTURE_VERSION = {
     13: 13,   # Gotham
@@ -92,13 +93,13 @@ _DB_TEXTURE_VERSION = {
     17: 13,   # Krypton
     18: 13    # Leia
 }
-DB_TEXTURE_PATH = xbmc.translatePath(
-    "special://database/Textures%s.db" % _DB_TEXTURE_VERSION[KODIVERSION])
+DB_TEXTURE_PATH = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+    "special://database/Textures%s.db" % _DB_TEXTURE_VERSION[KODIVERSION]))
 
-DB_PLEX_PATH = xbmc.translatePath("special://database/plex.db")
+DB_PLEX_PATH = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath("special://database/plex.db"))
 
-EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH = xbmc.translatePath(
-    "special://profile/addon_data/%s/temp/" % ADDON_ID)
+EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+    "special://profile/addon_data/%s/temp/" % ADDON_ID))
 
 
 # Multiply Plex time by this factor to receive Kodi time
diff --git a/resources/lib/videonodes.py b/resources/lib/videonodes.py
index b3c10ee4..12aed035 100644
--- a/resources/lib/videonodes.py
+++ b/resources/lib/videonodes.py
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@
 import logging
 from shutil import copytree
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as etree
-from os import remove, listdir, makedirs
-from os.path import isfile, join
+from os import makedirs
 
 import xbmc
 from xbmcvfs import exists
 
 from utils import window, settings, language as lang, tryEncode, indent, \
-    normalize_nodes, exists_dir
+    normalize_nodes, exists_dir, tryDecode
 import variables as v
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -63,9 +62,10 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
             dirname = viewid
 
         # Returns strings
-        path = xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video/")
-        nodepath = xbmc.translatePath(
-            "special://profile/library/video/Plex-%s/" % dirname)
+        path = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+            "special://profile/library/video/"))
+        nodepath = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+            "special://profile/library/video/Plex-%s/" % dirname))
 
         if delete:
             if exists_dir(nodepath):
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
         # Verify the video directory
         if not exists_dir(path):
             copytree(
-                src=xbmc.translatePath("special://xbmc/system/library/video"),
-                dst=xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video"))
+                src=tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+                    "special://xbmc/system/library/video")),
+                dst=tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+                    "special://profile/library/video")))
 
         # Create the node directory
         if mediatype != "photos":
@@ -290,7 +292,7 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
                 # To do: add our photos nodes to kodi picture sources somehow
                 continue
 
-            if exists(nodeXML):
+            if exists(tryEncode(nodeXML)):
                 # Don't recreate xml if already exists
                 continue
 
@@ -377,8 +379,9 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
 
     def singleNode(self, indexnumber, tagname, mediatype, itemtype):
         tagname = tryEncode(tagname)
-        cleantagname = normalize_nodes(tagname)
-        nodepath = xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video/")
+        cleantagname = tryDecode(normalize_nodes(tagname))
+        nodepath = tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+            "special://profile/library/video/"))
         nodeXML = "%splex_%s.xml" % (nodepath, cleantagname)
         path = "library://video/plex_%s.xml" % cleantagname
         if v.KODIVERSION >= 17:
@@ -391,8 +394,10 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
         if not exists_dir(nodepath):
             # We need to copy over the default items
             copytree(
-                src=xbmc.translatePath("special://xbmc/system/library/video"),
-                dst=xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video"))
+                src=tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+                    "special://xbmc/system/library/video")),
+                dst=tryDecode(xbmc.translatePath(
+                    "special://profile/library/video")))
 
         labels = {
             'Favorite movies': 30180,
@@ -406,7 +411,7 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
         window('%s.content' % embynode, value=path)
         window('%s.type' % embynode, value=itemtype)
 
-        if exists(nodeXML):
+        if exists(tryEncode(nodeXML)):
             # Don't recreate xml if already exists
             return
 
diff --git a/service.py b/service.py
index ec8ca54a..601a2a59 100644
--- a/service.py
+++ b/service.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ sys_path.append(_base_resource)
 
 ###############################################################################
 
-from utils import settings, window, language as lang, dialog, tryEncode
+from utils import settings, window, language as lang, dialog, tryEncode, \
+    tryDecode
 from userclient import UserClient
 import initialsetup
 from kodimonitor import KodiMonitor
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ class Service():
 
         window('plex_logLevel', value=str(logLevel))
         window('plex_kodiProfile',
-               value=translatePath("special://profile"))
+               value=tryDecode(translatePath("special://profile")))
         window('plex_context',
                value='true' if settings('enableContext') == "true" else "")
         window('fetch_pms_item_number',
@@ -170,12 +171,12 @@ class Service():
         counter = 0
         while not __stop_PKC():
 
-            if tryEncode(window('plex_kodiProfile')) != kodiProfile:
+            if window('plex_kodiProfile') != kodiProfile:
                 # Profile change happened, terminate this thread and others
                 log.warn("Kodi profile was: %s and changed to: %s. "
                          "Terminating old PlexKodiConnect thread."
                          % (kodiProfile,
-                            tryEncode(window('plex_kodiProfile'))))
+                            window('plex_kodiProfile')))
                 break
 
             # Before proceeding, need to make sure: