Prepare movie folders for reliable Kodi library matching

The useful distinctions

• Kodi documents Title (Year) naming for movie files and folders.
• Individual movie folders support adjacent NFO and artwork files.
• Filename IDs require Kodi v21 or later and a supporting scraper.

Resolve the identity first

A library match starts with deciding which work the file represents. Two releases can share a name, and a recording date is not necessarily a release year. Make a short inventory before renaming anything: current path, intended title, intended year and the metadata provider you plan to use. This gives you a reversible record if a later scan selects the wrong entry. Keep technical labels after the identity rather than making them the only meaningful filename.

Keep related files together

For a fictional title called Harbour Lantern, place the film in its own directory and reserve that directory for the matching subtitles, artwork and metadata. A consistent bundle is easier to move and inspect than unrelated assets spread across the source root. Do not populate a made-up database ID just to satisfy a naming pattern. A believable-looking number is still the wrong identity and can make an incorrect match harder to understand.

Check a small sample

Try the layout with two titles before reorganising hundreds of files. Include one title whose name is ambiguous so the test exercises the reason for adding a year. A useful result is that the library title, year and playable file all refer to the same work. Cover art alone is weak evidence because visually similar editions can use similar posters.

A focused way to proceed

1. Create one folder per authorised movie beneath the Movies source.
2. Name its main file and folder with the correct title and release year.
3. For supported v21 scrapers, add only a verified ID from the selected provider.
4. Check the source uses separate movie folders before scanning one test item.

Worked example · synthetic

Fictional works; no external IDs invented.

Movies/Harbour Lantern (2024)/Harbour Lantern (2024).mkv
Movies/Harbour Lantern (1998)/Harbour Lantern (1998).mkv

Read the comparison

A correct match establishes library identity, not codec support or playback quality.

When to stop or ask for help

If one item still mismatches, record the scraper name, its intended identity and the exact local path; inspect that item before rescanning everything.