Choose the object you intend to preserve
List the video files, metadata, artwork and viewing-state data separately. A catalogue describing a film cannot replace the film file if its storage is lost. Plan the media backup independently from Kodi’s documented library export.
For an existing local collection, note whether NFO files and original artwork already sit beside the media. The export may write into those same directories. An operation described as backup can still overwrite a carefully maintained local record when its overwrite option is enabled.
Understand Separate Files before accepting its prompts
Kodi says Separate Files writes metadata from its database into NFO files beside the corresponding movies, shows, episodes or music videos. The export asks about thumbnails/fanart, actor thumbnails and overwriting old files.
Its guide warns against exporting cached artwork over local originals, because cached copies can be modified or inferior. Choosing not to overwrite also has a consequence: existing NFO files will not receive later database changes. Record the selected options rather than assuming every existing metadata file was updated.
Keep the import route and naming consistent
The guide says separate-file exports return through the normal scraping process that reads NFO files, while the Single File method uses its separate Import operation with sources already set. Do not feed one export form into instructions intended for the other.
Kodi recommends the video-filename-based movie NFO name. Its movie NFO guide explains that movie.nfo can take precedence under certain folder settings, leaving a newly exported filename-based record ignored. Inspect duplicate NFO names before concluding that the export lost a metadata change.
Check the result on a limited reference
Inspect a representative exported record and keep its name, directory and chosen options. Before rebuilding a whole library, verify an appropriate small reference includes the intended metadata. Kodi’s watched-state import default also changed at version20, so preserve version when assessing play counts and resume points.
No export or import was executed here. This is a documented planning and verification workflow, not a database recovery guarantee. Keep an independent backup of the actual media and original local records before a broad migration.
Sources and scope
Scope notes distinguish published documentation, supplied information and editorial methods. They do not report a hands-on service test.
- Kodi: video export/import — Primary full body: separate/single import distinction, cached artwork/overwrite prompts and v20 watched-state change.
- Kodi: NFO naming precedence — Official indexed filename recommendation and movie.nfo precedence conditions; no actual metadata migration.
