How to Clear the Cache in Kodi

Media center software is a great place to store, organize, and watch your video content. Kodi is one of the very best platforms out there for streaming video, audio, and music from set-top boxes or Android devices to televisions and home theaters. Kodi has a terrific interface, a vast library of add-ons and plugins, and a quick and easy setup method, so it’s no wonder that so many people have moved all their watching into the streamlined Kodi interface.

If you’re a long-time Kodi user, though, you might have noticed your streaming speed has grown slow and stuttery during regular use. With so much usage over a long period, it’s not surprising that Kodi occasionally features slowdowns and buffering. While many playback problems occur from network instability or typical buffering slowdowns, the platform becomes too slow to use reliably in general. Whenever this situation occurs, it may be time to empty the cache.

Like Android phones or tablets, clearing the cache in Kodi isn’t a process you have to complete often. However, the process helps fix minor issues on interface functionality and playback. Unlike the Android environment, clearing your cache in Kodi requires an additional plugin.

Previous ways to clear out the cache included using the Merlin Wizard add-on and other similar ones, but those repositories aren’t functioning anymore.

For this guide, we’re using Kodi 19.0 running on a Windows 10 PC. Besides your Kodi device, whether it is a streaming box, phone, or tablet, you’ll first need to install the Super Repo repository. Super Repo contains many add-ons for Kodi, and it includes a tool for clearing Kodi cache called SIMTECH Wizard.

Installing Super Repo

If you’re a long-time Kodi user, you’ve no doubt added dozens of repositories and plugins through the internal file browser. If you’re new to the platform, however, it can be a bit overwhelming. No worries—installing Super Repo, or any other repository for that matter, is easy and fast.

1. Start by heading into the settings menu of Kodi by clicking or tapping the gear icon on the left-hand menu. This option is where you’ll find the internal file browser needed to add repositories and other third-party plugins.
2. Select the file manager, then tap or double-click “Add source” and select the “None” option to open the text field.
3. Enter “http://srp.nu” without quotes in the field using Kodi’s built-in keyboard.
4. Name the new repository “SuperRepo,” then click “Okay” to add the source to Kodi.

Now that you have SuperRepo downloaded, you need to install it. Kodi makes this unnecessarily complicated, but the steps are simple when laid out for you. Go back to the Kodi home screen, and select “Add-Ons” from the left-side menu. Then select the packaged item (it looks like an open box) in the screen’s upper left-hand corner.

Select “Install from zip file,” scroll down and select “SuperRepo.” Choose “krypton,” then “all,” and then select “superrepo.kodi.krypton.all-0.7.04.zip.” Note that the zip file may have a different name as time passes and additional SuperRepo builds drop, but there will only be one zip file in the directory, and it should be straightforward to identify which file you need. Choose “OK,” and the SuperRepo files will extract from the zip archive.

Now, you need to install the files into Kodi. Select “Install from repository” (it’s right above “install from zip file”), then click “Super Repo All.” A whole list of add-on categories appears. You can explore these add-ons at your leisure, but for now, select “Program Add-ons,” then “SIMTECH WIZARD,” and then choose “Install.”

Using Simtech Wizard

Now that you’ve got the Simtech Wizard installed, you need to open it so that you can clear out that Kodi cache! Go back to the main menu (usually by pressing “Backspace”) and click on “Add-ons.” Select “Program add-ons” and then choose “Simtech Wizard.”

Using Simtech Wizard to Clear Your Kodi Cache

Tap on the wizard to start the add-on. Select “SIMTECH Maintenance Tools” and then “Clean/Wipe Options.”

Click or tap the “Clear Cache” command, and a confirmation displays. Go ahead and choose “Delete.” A series of dialogs will come up, asking if you want to delete particular directories, restart Kodi, etc. Just accept all prompts, and all your cache troubles will disappear!

Clearing Kodi Cache on Firestick

Although Kodi doesn’t have a native option to clear the cache, you can perform this action on your Firestick. It is simple and about as straightforward as clearing the cache can be.

To clear the cache on your Firestick, do the following:

1. Scroll over and click on “Settings” at the top of the Firestick home screen.
2. Select “Applications.”
3. Click “Manage Installed Applications.”
4. Choose “Kodi.”
5. Select “Clear Cache.”
6. Confirm the cache-clearing action.

If you’ve noticed you’re having trouble with slowdowns on your Firestick or Kodi isn’t acting right, performing the above steps may clear up the problems you’re having.

Don’t forget that buffering and streaming problems can also spawn from network issues. Therefore, if you’re still experiencing streaming issues after clearing the cache, check your router and modem settings, or contact your ISP with network speed concerns.

Finally, remember that streaming from some Kodi repositories can often be unpredictable or unstable, so always make sure you’re using safe and legal repositories.