Clear Cache Kodi: Steps for Every Device

Clearing the cache in Kodi fixes playback stutters, slow menus, and add-on errors by removing temporary files that have piled up. You can clear Kodi’s cache in under a minute using a built-in maintenance add-on, a file manager, or by deleting the cache folder manually—here’s exactly how on every major device.

What Kodi’s Cache Actually Does

Kodi stores three kinds of temporary data: thumbnails (artwork for your library), texture database (a database mapping those images), and add-on cache (short-term data add-ons save to avoid re-downloading). The cache lives inside Kodi’s userdata folder, not in the app’s program files. On Windows that’s %APPDATA%\Kodi, on Android it’s Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi, and on macOS it’s ~/Library/Application Support/Kodi.

When the cache grows too large—often after months of browsing artwork-heavy add-ons—it can slow down library scans, cause thumbnails to load slowly, or trigger “Failed to retrieve directory” errors. Clearing it forces Kodi to rebuild the texture database from scratch, which usually fixes those issues.

Method 1: Use the Built-In Maintenance Add-On

The simplest way is to install a maintenance add-on. Kodi has no native “clear cache” button, so most users install the official Maintenance Tool add-on from the Kodi repository.

1. Open Kodi and go to Add-ons (left sidebar).
2. Select the open box icon at the top (Add-on browser).
3. Choose Install from repository → Kodi Add-on repository.
4. Scroll to Program add-ons → Maintenance Tool → Install.
5. Go back to Add-ons → Program add-ons → open Maintenance Tool.
6. Select Clear Cache (or “Clear cache and thumbnails” if available).
7. Confirm when prompted. Kodi will close and restart.

This method also clears the texture database, which is the part that usually causes artwork problems. If you only want to clear add-on cache, use the Clean Cache option in the same tool—it keeps thumbnails intact.

Method 2: Clear Cache via File Manager

If you don’t want to install an add-on, you can use Kodi’s built-in file manager to delete the cache folder contents manually.

1. Go to Settings (gear icon) → File Manager.
2. Click Add source → browse to profile (this points to your userdata folder).
3. Navigate to Database and delete Textures13.db (or Textures14.db on newer versions).
4. Go back and open Thumbnails folder → select all files and delete them.
5. Restart Kodi. It will rebuild the texture database on next launch.

This is more thorough than the maintenance add-on because it removes every thumbnail file. It’s the best option if you suspect corrupted artwork files. Note: this does not clear add-on cache—that’s stored in addons\packages and addons\cache.

Method 3: Manual Deletion on Specific Devices

For users comfortable with file explorers, you can delete cache folders directly from the device’s file system. This is the only way to clear cache on devices where Kodi’s file manager can’t access the right paths (like some Android TV boxes).

• Android/Android TV: Use a file explorer app (like X-plore) to navigate to Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/cache and delete everything inside. Also delete Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/thumbnails.
• Windows: Press Win+R, type %APPDATA%\Kodi, then delete the cache and thumbnails folders.
• macOS: In Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G and go to ~/Library/Application Support/Kodi, then delete the same folders.
• Linux: Navigate to ~/.kodi/ and delete cache and thumbnails.

Always close Kodi completely before deleting files, or the changes may be overwritten. On Android, you may need to force-stop Kodi first.

How Often Should You Clear Cache?

There’s no fixed schedule—clear it only when you see problems. Heavy users who browse many add-on libraries might clear it monthly; casual users may never need to. Signs it’s time to clear:

• Library scans take noticeably longer than before.
• Thumbnails appear blank or load slowly.
• Add-ons throw “Failed to retrieve directory” errors.
• Kodi uses excessive RAM or storage (check via device settings).

Clearing cache will not delete your library, watched status, or add-on settings. It only removes temporary files that can be rebuilt. Your Kodi login information and customizations stay intact.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

A frequent mistake is clearing the system app cache from Android settings (Settings → Apps → Kodi → Clear Cache). That clears the Android-level cache, not Kodi’s internal cache, and can sometimes reset your Kodi settings if you also tap “Clear Data.” Always use Kodi’s own methods.

Another misconception: clearing cache fixes buffering during streaming. It does not. Buffering is caused by network speed, server load, or insufficient memory, not by Kodi’s cache. If you have buffering issues, check your internet connection and adjust the add-on’s buffer settings instead.

Some users think clearing cache removes add-ons. It doesn’t—add-ons are installed in the addons folder, which is separate from cache and thumbnails. Your add-on settings are in userdata/addon_data, also untouched.

What About Clearing Add-On Cache Specifically?

Some add-ons (like YouTube or streaming add-ons) maintain their own cache inside addon_data. If a specific add-on misbehaves, you can clear just that add-on’s cache:

1. Go to Settings → Add-ons → Manage dependencies (or just browse to userdata/addon_data via file manager).
2. Find the folder named after the add-on (e.g., plugin.video.youtube).
3. Delete files like cache.db or any *.cache files inside.
4. Restart Kodi.

This is more targeted than clearing the global cache and is useful when only one add-on is acting up. Be careful not to delete settings.xml in that folder—that holds your add-on preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing Kodi cache delete my movies or TV shows?
No. Your library is just a database of file paths—the actual media files stay on your hard drive or network share. Clearing cache only removes thumbnails and temporary data; your library will repopulate when you rescan.

Why does Kodi use so much storage?
Usually it’s the thumbnails folder, which can grow to gigabytes if you have a large library or browse many add-ons. Clearing cache and thumbnails frees that space. You can also disable artwork storage in Settings → Media → Artwork to prevent future bloat.

Can I clear cache without losing my add-on settings?
Yes. Cache and thumbnails are separate from add-on configuration. Your settings live in userdata/addon_data and are never touched by cache-clearing methods described here.

Is there a way to auto-clear cache?
Yes, the Maintenance Tool add-on has a scheduler under its settings. You can set it to clear cache every X days automatically. Or you can use a Kodi startup script that deletes cache files on boot, but that’s more advanced.

What if Kodi won’t start after clearing cache?
This is rare, but if Kodi crashes on launch, the texture database may have been corrupted during deletion. Fix it by renaming Textures13.db to Textures13.db.bak (via file manager) and letting Kodi rebuild it. If that fails, restore a backup of your userdata folder.

Does clearing cache improve streaming quality?
No. Streaming quality depends on your internet speed, the server’s capacity, and the add-on’s buffer settings. Clearing cache won’t change bitrate or buffering. If streams buffer, try lowering the add-on’s video quality or increasing its buffer size.

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