Video

Clear Kodi Cache on Mac

Clearing the Kodi cache means emptying the Thumbnails folder, which holds artwork that the app rebuilds on its own. Your library databases, add-ons and settings stay in place. Clear it when that folder has grown to gigabytes after browsing large libraries or many add-ons.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

Clear the Kodi cache without guessing

Kodi data usually takes 500 MB – 10 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: Kodi
Typical data size: 500 MB – 10 GB
Category: Video
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Kodi

Kodi cache folders you can clear

These folders are rebuilt automatically, so removing them does not touch your own files.

~/Library/Application Support/Kodi/userdata/Thumbnails Cache · cached artwork and thumbnails Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Kodi/addons/packages Cache · downloaded add-on archives kept after install Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Logs/kodi.log Logs · Kodi log file Yes, rebuilt automatically

Locations are the standard macOS folders Kodi uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What the Kodi cache holds and when clearing it helps

Specific to Kodi

The app keeps add-ons, library databases and artwork under one folder, so only part of it is cache. The Thumbnails folder holds cached artwork and thumbnails, and it regenerates automatically. Your media files stay where they are, because the app only stores library data and artwork. Clearing helps most when the Thumbnails folder has grown to gigabytes.

What happens after you clear the Kodi cache

The app recreates the cached artwork automatically, so nothing needs restoring by hand. Your library databases, add-ons and settings are not part of the cache and stay in place. Deleting the app itself would not remove these folders either. Anything you move to the Trash can be restored until the Trash is emptied.

If the app has a cache option in its own settings, use that first.Quit Kodi completely before you remove anything from its folders.Move only the Thumbnails folder to the Trash, not the whole app folder.Open the app again and let it rebuild artwork as you browse.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower.

Will the Thumbnails folder come back after I clear it?

Yes, the app regenerates it automatically as you use it. You do not need to create it yourself.

Will clearing the cache affect my add-ons?

No. Add-ons and library databases are your setup and are not removed when you clear the Thumbnails folder.