Applies to: Rolling official backup guide; exact data path depends on installation
The useful distinctions
- Kodi stores user changes in its data folder.
- The installation directory contains core program files and is not the user-state backup target.
- The full data folder includes add-ons, skins, databases, playlists and settings.
- The described Kodi backup does not include externally stored media.
Define the recovery goal
A backup should answer what you expect to get back. Recovering a poster wall, restoring a customised remote and preserving the original recordings are different goals with different data owners. Make a short inventory before a major change. Include unusual external databases or storage arrangements in that inventory rather than assuming that every dependency lives inside one directory.
Capture a quiet state
Use a clean application exit before the manual copy so database and settings files are not changing during the operation. Give the backup a date and a short reason such as before-keymap-change. Keep it outside the live data folder so it is not confused with active configuration. A backup stored only beside the files being edited is convenient for reversal but does not address failure of that storage device.
Prove recovery with a rehearsal
A successful copy message is weaker evidence than a controlled restore rehearsal. Check the expected playlists, source definitions and a few known library records in a separate test context. Record the version used for that rehearsal because a later release can introduce migration behavior. Keep the original backup untouched while testing; work from a second copy so the recovery source remains a stable checkpoint.
A focused way to proceed
- Identify the actual data folder for this Kodi installation.
- Exit Kodi cleanly before making a consistent manual copy.
- Copy the full data folder to a dated backup location.
- Back up media separately and record Kodi version and installation type.
- Rehearse restoration in a separate test installation or disposable profile context.
Worked example · synthetic
Checkpoint: kodi-before-keymap-2026-11-08
Include: complete actual Kodi data folder
Record: Kodi version, install type, external database use
Separate backup: /media/original-recordings/Read the comparison
A data-folder backup can restore application state; original media and external services need their own recovery plans.
When to stop or ask for help
If the installation uses external databases or restricted platform storage, follow the corresponding official procedure before assuming a folder copy is complete.