diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fa059eb03..64f34e12c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ Bug Fixes:
 - Fix kit detection returning "unknown vendor" when using clang-cl compiler. [#4638](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/issues/4638)
 - Update testing framework to fix bugs when running tests of CMake Tools without a reliable internet connection. [#4891](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/pull/4891) [@cwalther](https://github.com/cwalther)
 
+## 1.23.52
+
+Bug Fixes:
+- Fix regression where Visual Studio kits with an existing Ninja-based build cache would fail due to a generator mismatch. Ninja is now preferred again when available, stale VS kits derive the correct generator at runtime as a fallback, and the build directory is auto-cleaned on generator mismatches. [#4890](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/issues/4890)
+
 ## 1.23
 
 Features:
diff --git a/docs/kits.md b/docs/kits.md
index ee3012847..3f8f01a27 100644
--- a/docs/kits.md
+++ b/docs/kits.md
@@ -6,11 +6,12 @@ A _kit_ defines project-agnostic and configuration-agnostic info about how to bu
 - A Visual Studio installation: building for Visual Studio involves more than just finding the necessary compiler executable. Visual C++ requires certain environment variables to be set to tell it how to find and link to the Visual C++ toolchain headers and libraries.
 - A toolchain file: The low-level way to instruct CMake how to compile and link for a target. CMake Tools handles toolchain files using kits.
 
-Kits are mostly CMake-generator-agnostic (a CMake generator writes the input files for the native build system). Visual Studio kits have a preferred generator that will be used as a fallback to ensure a matching MSBuild and .sln generator are used for the Visual C++ compiler.
+Kits are mostly CMake-generator-agnostic (a CMake generator writes the input files for the native build system). The exception is Visual Studio kits: when you [scan for kits](#scan-for-kits), CMake Tools looks up the VS version and sets `preferredGenerator` on the kit to the matching CMake generator (e.g., `"Visual Studio 18 2026"` for VS 2026). If a kit was scanned before CMake Tools added support for that VS version, the extension derives the correct VS generator at runtime as a last-resort fallback — it is tried only after other generators like Ninja. If the version can't be determined, the kit falls through to default generators.
 
 > **Note:**
-> * If you use the [Ninja](https://ninja-build.org/) build system, don't worry about Visual Studio CMake Generators. CMake Tools will prefer Ninja if it is present, unless configured otherwise.
+> * If you use the [Ninja](https://ninja-build.org/) build system, don't worry about Visual Studio CMake Generators. CMake Tools will prefer Ninja if it is present, unless configured otherwise or the kit has a `preferredGenerator` set at scan time. To explicitly use a specific generator, set `cmake.generator` in your settings.
 > * If you change the active kit while a project is configured, the project configuration will be re-generated with the chosen kit.
+> * When the selected generator doesn't match what's already in an existing `CMakeCache.txt`, CMake Tools cleans the prior configuration instead of letting CMake error out.
 > * Using a kit is recommended but optional. If you don't use a kit, CMake will perform its own automatic detection.
 
 ## How kits are found and defined
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ Update [user-local kits](#user-local-kits) by running **Scan for Kits** from the
 
 - CMake tools includes `vswhere.exe`, which it uses to find Visual Studio instances installed on the system.
  
-- For each of `x86`, `amd64`, `x86_amd64`, `x86_arm`, `x86_arm64`, `amd64_x86`, `amd64_arm`, and `amd64_arm64`, CMake Tools checks for installed Visual C++ environments. A kit is generated for each existing MSVC toolchain that is found.
+- For each of `x86`, `amd64`, `x86_amd64`, `x86_arm`, `x86_arm64`, `amd64_x86`, `amd64_arm`, and `amd64_arm64`, CMake Tools checks for installed Visual C++ environments. A kit is generated for each existing MSVC toolchain that is found. For known VS versions (2019, 2022, 2026, etc.), the kit gets a `preferredGenerator` pointing at the right CMake generator, like `"Visual Studio 18 2026"`. If the VS version wasn't recognized at scan time, CMake Tools derives the correct generator at runtime as a last-resort fallback. Re-running **Scan for Kits** will set `preferredGenerator` permanently.
 
 **3. Save results to the user-local kits file**
 
@@ -147,7 +148,15 @@ The following additional options may be specified:
 
 `preferredGenerator`
 
-> The CMake generator that should be used with this kit if not the default. CMake Tools will still search in `cmake.preferredGenerators` from `settings.json`, but will fall back to this option if no generator from the user settings is available
+> The CMake generator to use with this kit if not the default. For Visual Studio kits, this is set during [kit scanning](#scan-for-kits) based on the VS version. When picking a generator, CMake Tools checks these in order:
+>
+> 1. `cmake.generator` from your settings — if set, this wins outright; nothing below is consulted.
+> 2. The kit's `preferredGenerator` (set at scan time for VS kits).
+> 3. `cmake.preferredGenerators` from your settings, in order.
+> 4. `Ninja`, then `Unix Makefiles` — only consulted when neither #2 nor #3 produced any candidate (i.e. the kit has no `preferredGenerator` and `cmake.preferredGenerators` is empty).
+> 5. For VS kits that have no `preferredGenerator` of their own: the VS generator derived at runtime from the kit's VS version — pushed to the end of the candidate list, so it's tried after the Ninja/Unix Makefiles fallback when both apply.
+>
+> If a VS kit was scanned before the VS version mapping existed, CMake Tools derives the correct generator at runtime (#5) — but only after Ninja and Unix Makefiles. To make the VS generator the unconditional choice, either re-run **Scan for Kits** so the kit gets its own `preferredGenerator`, or set `cmake.generator` in your settings.
 
 `cmakeSettings`
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/cmakeDriver.ts b/src/drivers/cmakeDriver.ts
index cd8f6f933..865cf916d 100644
--- a/src/drivers/cmakeDriver.ts
+++ b/src/drivers/cmakeDriver.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import * as codeModel from '@cmt/drivers/codeModel';
 import { Environment, EnvironmentUtils } from '@cmt/environmentVariables';
 import { CMakeTask, CMakeTaskProvider, CustomBuildTaskTerminal } from '@cmt/cmakeTaskProvider';
 import { getValue } from '@cmt/presets/preset';
-import { CacheEntry } from '@cmt/cache';
+import { CacheEntry, CMakeCache } from '@cmt/cache';
 import { CMakeBuildRunner } from '@cmt/cmakeBuildRunner';
 import { DebuggerInformation } from '@cmt/debug/cmakeDebugger/debuggerConfigureDriver';
 import { onBuildSettingsChange, onTestSettingsChange, onPackageSettingsChange } from '@cmt/ui/util';
@@ -148,6 +148,18 @@ export interface InstallPath {
  *
  * This class defines the basis for what a driver must implement to work.
  */
+/**
+ * Compare a new generator name against a cached CMAKE_GENERATOR value.
+ * Returns true when both are defined and differ (i.e. a mismatch that needs cleaning).
+ * Pure function — no I/O — exported for direct unit testing.
+ */
+export function generatorMismatch(newGeneratorName: string | undefined, cachedGeneratorValue: string | undefined): boolean {
+    if (!newGeneratorName || !cachedGeneratorValue) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    return cachedGeneratorValue !== newGeneratorName;
+}
+
 export abstract class CMakeDriver implements vscode.Disposable {
     /**
      * Do the configuration process for the current project.
@@ -622,6 +634,26 @@ export abstract class CMakeDriver implements vscode.Disposable {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Check if the generator to be used differs from what is cached in CMakeCache.txt.
+     */
+    protected async _hasGeneratorChanged(newGeneratorName: string | undefined): Promise<boolean> {
+        if (!newGeneratorName) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        const cachePath = this.cachePath;
+        if (!await fs.exists(cachePath)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        const cache = await CMakeCache.fromPath(cachePath);
+        const cachedGenerator = cache.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR');
+        if (generatorMismatch(newGeneratorName, cachedGenerator?.value)) {
+            log.info(localize('generator.changed', 'Generator changed from {0} to {1}; cleaning prior configuration', cachedGenerator!.value, newGeneratorName));
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Remove the entire build directory.
      */
@@ -799,7 +831,8 @@ export abstract class CMakeDriver implements vscode.Disposable {
             await this._refreshExpansions();
             const scope = this.workspaceFolder ? vscode.Uri.file(this.workspaceFolder) : undefined;
             const newBinaryDir = util.lightNormalizePath(await expand.expandString(this.config.buildDirectory(this.isMultiProject, scope), this.expansionOptions));
-            if (needsCleanIfKitChange && (newBinaryDir === oldBinaryDir)) {
+            const generatorChanged = await this._hasGeneratorChanged(this._generator?.name);
+            if ((needsCleanIfKitChange || generatorChanged) && (newBinaryDir === oldBinaryDir)) {
                 await this._cleanPriorConfiguration();
             }
         });
@@ -811,15 +844,9 @@ export abstract class CMakeDriver implements vscode.Disposable {
         log.debug(localize('cmakedriver.kit.set.to', 'CMakeDriver Kit set to {0}', kit.name));
         this._kitEnvironmentVariables = await effectiveKitEnvironment(kit, this.expansionOptions);
 
-        // Place a kit preferred generator at the front of the list
-        // For VS kits that don't have preferredGenerator (e.g., scanned before a VS version was added),
-        // try to derive it from the VS installation.
-        let kitPreferredGenerator = kit.preferredGenerator;
-        if (!kitPreferredGenerator && kit.visualStudio) {
-            kitPreferredGenerator = await getVsKitPreferredGenerator(kit);
-        }
-        if (kitPreferredGenerator) {
-            preferredGenerators.unshift(kitPreferredGenerator);
+        // Place a kit preferred generator at the front of the list.
+        if (kit.preferredGenerator) {
+            preferredGenerators.unshift(kit.preferredGenerator);
         }
 
         // If no preferred generator is defined by the current kit or the user settings,
@@ -833,6 +860,16 @@ export abstract class CMakeDriver implements vscode.Disposable {
             preferredGenerators.push({ name: "Unix Makefiles" });
         }
 
+        // For VS kits that don't have preferredGenerator (e.g., scanned before
+        // a VS version was added), derive the VS generator as a last-resort
+        // fallback so it is tried only after Ninja / Unix Makefiles.
+        if (!kit.preferredGenerator && kit.visualStudio) {
+            const derived = await getVsKitPreferredGenerator(kit);
+            if (derived) {
+                preferredGenerators.push(derived);
+            }
+        }
+
         // Use the "best generator" logic only if the user did not define a particular
         // generator to be used via the `cmake.generator` setting.
         if (this.config.generator) {
@@ -1606,6 +1643,20 @@ export abstract class CMakeDriver implements vscode.Disposable {
                 return { exitCode: -2, resultType: ConfigureResultType.Other };
             }
 
+            // Safety net for the kits/variants path: if a setting change
+            // (cmake.generator / cmake.preferredGenerators) reloaded the driver
+            // without going through setKit(), the cached CMAKE_GENERATOR may
+            // differ from this._generator. Clean the prior configuration here
+            // so CMake doesn't fail with a "generator changed" error.
+            // Presets handle this in setConfigurePreset via configurePresetChangeNeedsClean.
+            if (!this.useCMakePresets
+                && !showCommandOnly
+                && !shouldUseCachedConfiguration
+                && trigger !== ConfigureTrigger.configureWithCache
+                && await this._hasGeneratorChanged(this._generator?.name)) {
+                await this._cleanPriorConfiguration();
+            }
+
             let expanded_flags: string[];
             let defaultPresetName: string | undefined;
             if (this.useCMakePresets) {
diff --git a/src/kits/kit.ts b/src/kits/kit.ts
index 9e0b49dd7..1e8451b68 100644
--- a/src/kits/kit.ts
+++ b/src/kits/kit.ts
@@ -833,8 +833,8 @@ const VsGenerators: { [key: string]: string } = {
 };
 
 /**
- * Get the CMake generator name for a given Visual Studio version
- * @param version The major version of Visual Studio (e.g., '17' for VS 2022, '18' for VS 2026)
+ * Get the CMake generator name for a given Visual Studio major version.
+ * @param version The major version string (e.g., '17', '18')
  * @returns The CMake generator name, or undefined if the version is not recognized
  */
 export function vsGeneratorForVersion(version: string): string | undefined {
@@ -876,12 +876,10 @@ export async function getVsKitPreferredGenerator(kit: Kit): Promise<CMakeGenerat
     const majorVersion = parseInt(vsInstall.installationVersion);
     const hostArch = kit.visualStudioArchitecture;
     const host: string = hostArch.toLowerCase().replace(/ /g, "").startsWith("host=") ? hostArch : "host=" + hostArch;
-    // For VS kits, use the hostArch as the target platform (x64 -> x64)
-    const targetArch = hostArch;
 
     return {
         name: generatorName,
-        platform: generatorPlatformFromVSArch[targetArch] as string || targetArch,
+        platform: generatorPlatformFromVSArch[hostArch] as string || hostArch,
         toolset: majorVersion < 15 ? undefined : host
     };
 }
diff --git a/test/unit-tests/generator-mismatch.test.ts b/test/unit-tests/generator-mismatch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f98b1e2db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit-tests/generator-mismatch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-unused-expressions */
+import { expect } from 'chai';
+import { CMakeCache, CacheEntry } from '@cmt/cache';
+import { generatorMismatch } from '@cmt/drivers/cmakeDriver';
+
+suite('Generator mismatch detection', () => {
+    suite('generatorMismatch (pure helper)', () => {
+        test('Returns true when generators differ', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Visual Studio 18 2026', 'Ninja')).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when generators match', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', 'Ninja')).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when new generator is undefined', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch(undefined, 'Ninja')).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when cached generator is undefined', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', undefined)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when both are undefined', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch(undefined, undefined)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when cached value is empty string', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', '')).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns true for different VS versions', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Visual Studio 18 2026', 'Visual Studio 17 2022')).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns true switching from VS generator to Ninja', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', 'Visual Studio 18 2026')).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns true switching from Unix Makefiles to Ninja', () => {
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', 'Unix Makefiles')).to.be.true;
+        });
+    });
+
+    suite('CMakeCache.parseCache integration', () => {
+        test('Detects mismatch via parsed cache (Ninja cached, VS selected)', () => {
+            const cacheContent = [
+                '# This is the CMakeCache file.',
+                'CMAKE_GENERATOR:INTERNAL=Ninja',
+                ''
+            ].join('\n');
+            const entries = CMakeCache.parseCache(cacheContent);
+            const cachedGenerator = entries.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR') as CacheEntry;
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Visual Studio 18 2026', cachedGenerator.value)).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('No mismatch when cached generator matches selected', () => {
+            const cacheContent = 'CMAKE_GENERATOR:INTERNAL=Ninja\n';
+            const entries = CMakeCache.parseCache(cacheContent);
+            const cachedGenerator = entries.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR') as CacheEntry;
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', cachedGenerator.value)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('No mismatch when CMAKE_GENERATOR absent from cache', () => {
+            const cacheContent = 'CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=Debug\n';
+            const entries = CMakeCache.parseCache(cacheContent);
+            const cachedGenerator = entries.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR');
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', cachedGenerator?.value)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('No mismatch when cache is empty', () => {
+            const entries = CMakeCache.parseCache('');
+            const cachedGenerator = entries.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR');
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', cachedGenerator?.value)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Detects mismatch between two VS generator versions via cache', () => {
+            const cacheContent = 'CMAKE_GENERATOR:INTERNAL=Visual Studio 17 2022\n';
+            const entries = CMakeCache.parseCache(cacheContent);
+            const cachedGenerator = entries.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR') as CacheEntry;
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Visual Studio 18 2026', cachedGenerator.value)).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Detects mismatch when switching from Unix Makefiles cached to Ninja', () => {
+            const cacheContent = 'CMAKE_GENERATOR:INTERNAL=Unix Makefiles\n';
+            const entries = CMakeCache.parseCache(cacheContent);
+            const cachedGenerator = entries.get('CMAKE_GENERATOR') as CacheEntry;
+            expect(generatorMismatch('Ninja', cachedGenerator.value)).to.be.true;
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/test/unit-tests/kit-scan.test.ts b/test/unit-tests/kit-scan.test.ts
index 3b7fae374..033caeb27 100644
--- a/test/unit-tests/kit-scan.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit-tests/kit-scan.test.ts
@@ -395,6 +395,133 @@ suite('Kits scan test', () => {
         });
     });
 
+    suite('Kit change detection for generator regression (#4890)', () => {
+        // These tests verify kitChangeNeedsClean correctly detects generator-related
+        // kit changes, which is the safety net for the regression fixed in #4890.
+
+        test('Returns false for null old kit (first kit selection)', () => {
+            const newKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: {
+                    name: 'Visual Studio 18 2026',
+                    platform: 'x64',
+                    toolset: 'host=x64'
+                }
+            };
+            expect(kit.kitChangeNeedsClean(newKit, null)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns true when preferredGenerator changes from undefined to VS generator', () => {
+            const oldKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true
+                // preferredGenerator is undefined — simulates kit scanned before VS 2026 mapping
+            };
+            const newKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: {
+                    name: 'Visual Studio 18 2026',
+                    platform: 'x64',
+                    toolset: 'host=x64'
+                }
+            };
+            expect(kit.kitChangeNeedsClean(newKit, oldKit)).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when kits have identical preferredGenerator', () => {
+            const generator = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio 18 2026',
+                platform: 'x64',
+                toolset: 'host=x64'
+            };
+            const oldKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: { ...generator }
+            };
+            const newKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: { ...generator }
+            };
+            expect(kit.kitChangeNeedsClean(newKit, oldKit)).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns true when switching from VS generator to no generator', () => {
+            const oldKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: {
+                    name: 'Visual Studio 18 2026',
+                    platform: 'x64',
+                    toolset: 'host=x64'
+                }
+            };
+            const newKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'GCC 12.0.0',
+                isTrusted: true
+                // No preferredGenerator — typical GCC kit uses Ninja default
+            };
+            expect(kit.kitChangeNeedsClean(newKit, oldKit)).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns true when generator name changes between VS versions', () => {
+            const oldKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2022 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.17.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: {
+                    name: 'Visual Studio 17 2022',
+                    platform: 'x64',
+                    toolset: 'host=x64'
+                }
+            };
+            const newKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true,
+                preferredGenerator: {
+                    name: 'Visual Studio 18 2026',
+                    platform: 'x64',
+                    toolset: 'host=x64'
+                }
+            };
+            expect(kit.kitChangeNeedsClean(newKit, oldKit)).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        test('Returns false when both kits have no preferredGenerator', () => {
+            const oldKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true
+            };
+            const newKit: kit.Kit = {
+                name: 'Visual Studio Community 2026 Release - amd64',
+                visualStudio: 'VisualStudio.18.0',
+                visualStudioArchitecture: 'x64',
+                isTrusted: true
+            };
+            expect(kit.kitChangeNeedsClean(newKit, oldKit)).to.be.false;
+        });
+    });
+
     suite('determineScanForKitsAction', () => {
         // Regression tests for https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/issues/4726
         // Validates that: