Kodi / documented application workflow · Publisher-documented application guidance; UK IPTV account compatibility not tested. Instructions are based on publisher guidance; a UK IPTV account was not tested on this platform.
List what must be recoverable
Before changing a valued installation, distinguish the application, its configuration and the actual media files. Record whether the media lives on a local disk, removable storage or another authorised network location. A backup that restores a skin but leaves the only copy of a personal recording unprotected does not meet the same goal as a complete media backup.
Use the documented data location
Kodi’s official backup page separates its installation folder from its data folder. The data folder holds later changes such as add-ons, library databases, playlists and artwork cache, while the core application can be obtained again from its proper distribution route. Locations vary by operating system and package type. Follow the applicable documented path rather than copying a Windows directory example onto an unrelated Android or Flatpak installation.
Keep credentials and storage boundaries in view
A configuration backup can contain private paths or account-related data. Store it privately and do not post the archive as a public troubleshooting attachment. The wiki explicitly says the media files themselves are external to the backup scope it describes. Identify their own backup destination and verify available storage before assuming one small Kodi archive includes many gigabytes of recordings or personal videos.
Check recovery deliberately
Retain the application version and package route with the backup, and test recovery only in an appropriate separate environment where it will not overwrite the working setup. Confirm that the intended settings and library references are present and that the underlying media can still be reached. A successful archive creation is not the same thing as a performed restore. No restore or UK IPTV credential migration has been tested by this guide.