How to Uninstall a Kodi Build and Start Fresh

If you want to remove a Kodi build completely, close Kodi, back up anything you want to keep, and reset Kodi’s data folder. Kodi has no universal “uninstall build” button because builds can change the skin, add-ons, repositories, sources, and profile settings. Moving the data folder aside lets Kodi create a clean one the next time it starts.

What a Kodi reset removes

Kodi stores user changes in its data folder, including installed add-ons and skins, library databases, playlists, and settings. A full reset removes the build’s customizations along with your own Kodi preferences and library entries. It does not normally delete video or music files stored elsewhere on your device. If you manually saved media inside Kodi’s data folder, move those files first so they are not caught in the reset.

Back up what you want to keep

For a full rollback, copy the entire Kodi data folder to a different drive or location before changing it. Kodi’s backup guide explains that a full copy preserves the add-ons, skins, library databases, playlists, and settings. Restoring that full backup will also restore the build, so keep it only as a safety copy if your goal is a clean start.

If you mainly want to preserve video-library details, use Kodi’s library export and choose Separate Files. Kodi writes NFO metadata files alongside the media, which can be read again when you scan those folders after the reset. The video library export guide describes the options. Also note where your media folders and network shares are located; you will need to add those sources again.

Find the Kodi data folder for your device

Use the path for your installation type. Kodi’s data-folder reference lists additional platforms and notes that Android paths can vary.

Reset Kodi on Windows, macOS, or Linux

1. Quit Kodi completely. Do not rename or remove its data folder while Kodi is running.
2. Open the folder listed above. On Windows, press Win + R, enter %APPDATA%, and press Enter to find the desktop-installer folder. For the Store version, open its full path from the table in File Explorer. On macOS, use Finder’s Go > Go to Folder and enter the path. On Linux, show hidden files to see .kodi.
3. Rename the Kodi data folder. Use a name such as Kodi-backup on Windows and macOS or .kodi-backup on Linux. Renaming is reversible and leaves the backup outside Kodi’s active folder name. For a portable Windows installation, rename portable_data in the Kodi installation location.
4. Start Kodi again. Kodi will create a fresh data folder and open with its default setup. You do not need to uninstall the Kodi application itself just to remove a build. Kodi documents this clean-start method in its Windows installation guide.

Reset Kodi on Android TV or Fire TV

1. Stop Kodi from the device’s app settings. Then open Settings > Apps > Kodi > Storage or Storage & cache.
2. Choose Clear data or Clear storage, then confirm. Menu names vary by device. Android Help says clearing storage permanently deletes an app’s data; Clear cache only deletes temporary data, so it will not reset the build.
3. Open Kodi again and complete the first-run setup. If your device does not offer a clear-storage option, consult its app-management instructions or use the documented Kodi data-folder path if your file manager can access it. Android may restrict access to Android/data.

Android Help: clear an app’s cache and data

Set Kodi up again without restoring the build

After the reset, the default-style home screen should appear without the old custom skin or add-ons. If the build is still there, Kodi may still be open or you may have renamed a different data folder; check the installation type and repeat with Kodi fully closed.

Add your local or network media folders again and scan them into the library. If you exported separate NFO files, Kodi can use them during its normal scan. Reinstall only the add-ons you still need from sources you trust; do not copy the entire old data folder back if you want to keep the build removed.

To undo the reset, quit Kodi, move its newly created data folder aside, and restore your saved folder under the original name. Kodi advises keeping a full-data restore on the same operating system and major Kodi version.