Preparing for the Fresh Start
Backing Up Kodi (Optional but recommended)
Before diving in and making significant changes to your Kodi setup, it’s crucial to plan. While clearing data often provides substantial benefits, it also has the potential to erase custom configurations, settings, and installed add-ons. Taking a few precautionary measures can make the process much smoother.
Backing up your Kodi configuration is a good practice. It protects your important files and settings from being lost when clearing old data or making significant changes. Although it’s not a strict requirement, it’s a worthwhile step, particularly if you’ve spent a considerable amount of time customizing your Kodi setup.
There are various ways to back up your Kodi data. The simplest method uses Kodi’s built-in backup function. Navigate through Kodi’s interface to the settings menu and look for the “File manager” or “System” settings area depending on your version. Within those settings, you should locate an option for backups or add-ons. If you find an add-on related to “Backup,” it’s often the preferred method, as it backs up almost everything. Once you install this backup add-on, configure it to choose the destination where you wish to store your backup data. Usually, this is an external hard drive, flash drive, or cloud storage. Once the destination is chosen, the backup process can begin.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party add-on specifically designed for backups. These add-ons often offer advanced features, such as the ability to back up specific components of your Kodi setup. Several addons are available, and these can usually be found by exploring the “Add-on browser” inside of Kodi.
A third option is manual backup, which is best if you’re comfortable with file management. You can manually back up the Kodi data folder, usually found in a location like `.kodi` or `Kodi` in your user directory (the exact location depends on your operating system: check on Kodi’s official website). Copy this entire folder to a safe location. This manual method provides the most granular control over what you back up, but it can be more time-consuming.
Understanding the Data You’re Clearing
When you clear data from Kodi, you’re essentially resetting the application to a default or near-default state. Understanding what data is affected by this process is important.
When you clear old data, you’re primarily targeting the following aspects of Kodi:
- **Add-ons and Their Settings:** This includes all add-ons you’ve installed, such as streaming add-ons for movies, TV shows, music, or utilities like weather or news. Clearing this data removes these add-ons and resets their individual settings, effectively returning them to their default configuration.
- **Scraped Media Information:** Kodi uses scrapers to gather information about your media files (movies, TV shows, music). It fetches details such as titles, descriptions, cast, artwork, and other metadata from online databases. Clearing old data wipes this scraped information from Kodi’s library.
- **Database Information:** This includes the databases that track the watched status of media, the progress of TV show episodes, playlists, and other library information. Clearing this data erases your viewing history, playlists, and any changes you’ve made to your media library.
- **Customizations:** Any custom settings you’ve made, such as changing the skin (the visual theme), modifying settings, configuring the layout, or altering navigation will be affected. The goal is to return Kodi to its default skin and configurations.
In most cases, clearing data *doesn’t* touch your actual media files (the movies, music, or photos you’ve added to Kodi). The core data clearing processes focus on Kodi’s internal settings and database, not the underlying media themselves. However, be careful if you delete your entire “userdata” folder. This directory contains *all* of the configuration data, and deleting it will also wipe out your sources, which *will* require you to re-add your media folders.
Methods to Clear Old Data
There are a few different approaches to clearing old data from Kodi, each with its own pros and cons. The method you choose depends on the severity of the issues you are encountering and how drastic a reset you need.
Clearing from within Kodi
Clearing old data from within Kodi itself is usually the most convenient and often the most effective way to resolve performance or add-on related issues. It is the option most users should start with, as it preserves your underlying media files and allows you to quickly restore your settings and configuration.
The method involves deleting specific folders within Kodi’s data directory. The location of this directory varies depending on your operating system, but it is typically located in a hidden directory. A common path is `.kodi` for Linux or macOS and in the `AppData\Roaming\Kodi` folder in Windows (you may need to show hidden files and folders). In Android, it is normally found in the Android device’s data directory.
The process is relatively straightforward:
- First, navigate to Kodi’s File Manager (from the home screen, select Settings, then File Manager).
- Find the Kodi data folder in the file manager.
- The key folders to target include:
- *addons* : This removes installed add-ons and their settings. This is a great way to clean up add-ons that are causing problems.
- *database*: This clears library information, watched status, and other database-related data.
- *userdata*: This clears settings, customizations, and other user-specific data. You should be very careful when deleting this.
- Other folders like *thumbnails* and *temp* can be emptied to remove temporary files and cached image thumbnails, which can contribute to performance problems. Deleting these won’t erase your settings but can free up space and help speed things up.
After deleting these folders (or their contents), close Kodi and restart it. Kodi will rebuild necessary files and reset to the default settings.
This method gives you a clean slate while retaining your media sources.
Resetting via Kodi’s Reset Function
Some Kodi builds or devices come with a built-in reset functionality. This feature offers a more streamlined approach to clearing data. It automatically handles the deletion of essential data and reverts Kodi to a default state.
To utilize this reset function:
- Go into the settings area. This can usually be found by selecting “Settings” from the home screen, often indicated by a gear icon.
- Navigate to “System” and/or “Add-ons”, though the exact location may vary depending on your Kodi version.
- Look for an option that mentions a reset or factory reset. If this setting is not available, move to a different way to clear data.
- Carefully follow any on-screen prompts and confirm your decision.
This reset is usually the easiest method. The main downside is its availability is device-dependent.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling Kodi
If the problems are severe or the other methods don’t work, you might need to uninstall and reinstall Kodi. This removes the software entirely and can fix corrupted files.
To uninstall and reinstall Kodi:
- First, uninstall Kodi from your operating system. The method varies depending on your operating system. On Windows, go to “Control Panel,” then “Programs and Features,” find Kodi, and uninstall it. On Android, go to the device settings and uninstall Kodi as you would any other app. If the uninstall fails to remove all the files, you may also need to manually delete the Kodi data directory.
- After uninstalling, download the latest version of Kodi from the official Kodi website.
- Reinstall Kodi onto your device.
- If you made a backup, you can restore your settings and configuration after reinstalling.
This approach delivers the cleanest reset, but it’s the most time-consuming. Also, it will lose any custom settings if you don’t have a backup.
After Clearing Data: The Fresh Start and Customization
Once you’ve cleared old data, it’s time to set up Kodi again. This involves several steps to personalize the experience.
- Choosing a skin. After resetting, Kodi will default to the Estuary skin. You can select a different skin by navigating to the settings and appearance area. Experiment with different skins to find one that matches your preferences.
- Configuring media sources. You’ll need to add your media folders again so that Kodi can access your movies, TV shows, music, and photos. From the “File Manager” within Kodi, add the source locations by browsing to your media folders (network drives, external hard drives, local storage).
- Installing new add-ons. If you used add-ons before, you can reinstall your favorites or try new ones. Use the add-on browser to search and install add-ons.
- Adjusting video and audio settings. Fine-tune your video and audio settings to optimize the playback quality for your device and setup.
Importing Your Media Library
In Kodi, the library management is key. The scraping process gathers metadata (covers, descriptions, actors, etc.) for your media files.
- First, to set up scrapers go to the “Video” or “Music” section (depending on the type of media).
- Then click “Files” and navigate to the location of your media folders.
- Right click on the source and choose “Set content”. You’ll need to specify what type of content is in the folder.
- Next select a scraper and set the appropriate settings.
- Then, initiate the scraping process. Kodi will scan your media files and gather the associated metadata to populate your library.
Tips for Maintaining a Clean Kodi Installation
Keeping Kodi clean and well-maintained ensures optimal performance and minimizes the need to clear data again.
- Regularly remove unused add-ons. Get rid of add-ons that you don’t use.
- Clear the cache periodically. Kodi stores cached data, which can accumulate over time. From the settings menu, look for a way to clear the cache.
- Update Kodi and add-ons. Regularly update Kodi to the latest version to benefit from bug fixes, performance improvements, and security enhancements.
- Be cautious when installing add-ons from unknown sources. Always check the add-on’s reputation.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter problems after clearing data or setting up Kodi, there are some common troubleshooting steps to try.
- **Kodi not starting after a reset:** Double-check that you have the correct file paths and folders, and make sure your media sources are accessible.
- **Missing media:** Ensure that your media folders are correctly added and that the scrapers are set up correctly to fetch the media data.
- **Where to seek help:** Kodi has a very active community. The official Kodi forums are a valuable resource. You can also find support on Reddit and other online communities.
Conclusion
Clearing old data from Kodi is a powerful tool for maintaining a smooth and enjoyable media center experience. By following the steps in this guide, you can effectively resolve performance issues, eliminate troublesome add-ons, and start fresh with a clean slate. Whether you choose to reset from within Kodi or uninstall and reinstall, the result is a faster, more responsive, and more user-friendly Kodi setup. Remember the importance of backups to prevent loss of important files and settings. Finally, to maintain a healthy Kodi installation, regularly prune unused add-ons and keep the software updated. Now you are prepared to clear out the old and make the most of your Kodi setup. Enjoy your fresh start!
