How to Reset Kodi on Firestick or Fire TV and Start Fresh (2022)

As one of the most popular media centers, Kodi is used on over 30 million devices worldwide. But over time, issues like buffering, broken addons, and crashes can accumulate. Resetting Kodi restores it to factory settings so you can start fresh. This guide will walk you through how to quickly reset Kodi on Firestick and Fire TV.

Why Reset Kodi on Firestick/Fire TV?

There are a few common reasons you may want to reset the Kodi app on your Firestick or Fire TV:

• Buffering or playback issues – A corrupted addon or bad settings can cause lagging, freezing, or endless buffering. Resetting Kodi can fix these problems.

• Addons not working – Sometimes addons become non-functional after Kodi updates. Resetting removes any corrupted addons.

• Remove current setup – If you want to remove all addons, skins, and settings, a reset will give you a blank slate.

• Troubleshooting crashes – Apps freezing or crashing on launch is often fixed by a Kodi reset.

• Prepare for new setup – Starting fresh before installing a new Kodi build or community build.

Resetting Kodi cleans out any issues and let‘s you start from scratch. It‘s an easy first troubleshooting step before reconfiguring your setup.

When Should You Reset Kodi?

Some common cases where resetting Kodi can help:

• Kodi crashes or won‘t open
• Videos buffer constantly or won‘t play
• Addons like Seren or The Crew aren‘t working
• You want to remove all data and bloat
• Switching Kodi setups or skins

If you notice Kodi acting sluggish or exhibiting bugs, try resetting it before troubleshooting other factors. It will wipe Kodi back to its default blank state.

Downsides of Resetting Kodi

While resetting Kodi can fix issues, there are a couple downsides to be aware of:

• Removes all configured settings, sources, players, skins
• Deletes Kodi library with all metadata
• Addons and repositories must be reinstalled
• Logins like Trakt or Real-Debrid will need to be re-entered

You‘ll be starting over from scratch so be prepared to redo your setup. Make sure you backup your data first if you want to restore any components.

Method 1: Clear App Data in Kodi

The fastest way to reset Kodi is to clear app data directly within the Kodi settings menu.

Here is how to clear app data to reset Kodi on Firestick/Fire TV:

1. From your Firestick home screen, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications

2. In the list of apps, select Kodi

3. Choose Clear Data

4. Confirm again by selecting Clear Data

5. Press Launch Application

6. Accept any permission pop-ups

7. Kodi will relaunch with factory default settings

This process takes less than a minute and avoids having to uninstall Kodi. It wipes all existing data but leaves Kodi installed.

Method 2: Uninstall and Reinstall Kodi

If you want to completely wipe Kodi off your device, you can uninstall and reinstall it. Here are the steps:

1. From your Firestick home screen, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications

2. Find Kodi in the list and choose Uninstall

3. Return to the Firestick home screen

4. Open the TROYPOINT app

5. Launch Rapid App Installer

6. Search for Kodi and install the latest version

7. Launch the new Kodi app – it will be reset to defaults

This method is slightly more involved but ensures Kodi is fully removed before reinstalling. Both options accomplish the same reset.

Uninstalling Kodi – Step By Step

Here is a more detailed walkthrough for uninstalling Kodi:

1. Press the home button on your Firestick remote

2. Using the remote, select the Settings icon from the Firestick home screen

   

3. Scroll down and select Applications

4. Choose Manage Installed Applications

5. In the list, select the Kodi app

   

6. Choose Uninstall to remove Kodi

7. Press the home button again to return to the main Firestick interface

Kodi will now be completely removed from your device.

Next, we‘ll reinstall a fresh Kodi instance with factory settings.

Reinstalling Kodi on Firestick

After uninstalling Kodi, follow these steps to reinstall it:

1. From the Firestick home screen, open the TROYPOINT app

2. Inside TROYPOINT, select Rapid App Installer

3. In the search bar, type "Kodi"

   

4. Choose the most recent version of Kodi and click the download icon

5. Select Install to begin the installation

6. Once finished, choose Open to launch the new Kodi

Kodi is now reinstalled and restored to its default blank state.

After Resetting Kodi on Firestick

Once you reset Kodi, there are a few steps before you can start reconfiguring:

• If you used a custom skin, reinstall it from the Kodi repo
• Re-enter video sources like your local media folders
• Enable any addons you want through the Kodi file manager
• Log back into services like Real-Debrid or Trakt if used
• Consider backing up your setup before resetting next time

Taking these steps after resetting will get Kodi back up and running with your preferred configuration.

Fixing a "Failed to Install a Dependency" Error

A common error when reinstalling Kodi after a reset is:

Failed to install a dependency

This is caused by the older Kodi files still being cached on your device.

To resolve this, uninstall Kodi fully using the steps above. Then clear the app cache:

1. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications

2. Select Kodi

3. Choose Clear Cache to wipe the old files

Now try reinstalling Kodi – the dependency error should be fixed.

How to Backup Kodi Setup Before Resetting

If you want to save your current setup before resetting Kodi, there are a few options:

• Use the Backup addon to create a zipped file of your configuration that can be restored
• Manually export your media sources, addons, skin settings
• Use a build like ARES Wizard or Diggz Xenon that stores your data online

Having a backup makes resetting and starting over much easier.

When to Reset vs. Restart Firestick

If Kodi is still having issues after a reset, you can also try restarting the Firestick device itself:

• Reset Kodi – Clears Kodi app data and settings. Quick fix for Kodi-specific issues.

• Restart Firestick – Reboots entire Firestick and clears system cache. Helps for device-wide problems.

Try resetting Kodi first to troubleshoot performance problems limited to Kodi. For system-wide issues a full Firestick restart may help.

How to Factory Reset a Firestick

If restarting the Firestick doesn‘t help, a full factory reset will wipe the device back to brand new condition.

Here is how to factory reset a Firestick or Fire TV:

1. Go to Settings > Device > Reset to Factory Defaults

2. Select Reset

3. Choose Erase Everything – this will factory reset your device

This will wipe all data and settings, not just Kodi. Only perform a factory reset as a last resort.

Conclusion

Resetting Kodi is an easy first troubleshooting step for issues like crashing, buffering, or broken addons. Both methods in this guide work great, with clearing app data being the fastest.

After resetting, be prepared to reconfigure your addons, skins, and settings. Consider backing up Kodi before a reset so you can restore your components.

With Kodi restored to factory default settings, you can start fresh and enjoy smooth streaming again!