# Backup Not Restoring **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [August 26, 2025, 4:12am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120 "2025-08-26T04:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![InsipidCjs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@InsipidCjs](https://forums.plex.tv/u/InsipidCjs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/1 "2025-08-26T04:13:00Z")
Server Version#: Player Version#: \ Hi, I deleted some video files by accident and had auto empty library on. I’m trying to restore the data as per [https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/) but whenever I do, it just says no libraries/there’s nothing there. I used one from prior to the video file removal I’m copying the backup files and replacing the existing files with them. One backup attempt ‘worked’ but it didn’t have the data for the missing videos, I just looked the same as after the data was lost (I know it wouldn’t have the files but it’s mean to have the metadata?). Is there can’t help you can provide or anything I cha provide to assist? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![dbirch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dbirch](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dbirch)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 10:49am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/2 "2025-08-26T10:49:02Z")
Can you provide a details on what you have done? (just saying you followed X, often times means that the person only did parts of X,. skipped things they didnt think was appropriate, while missing the key steps) Please also provide a timeline of when you deleted files, and the dates on your backups ---
**Author:** ![InsipidCjs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@InsipidCjs](https://forums.plex.tv/u/InsipidCjs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 11:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/3 "2025-08-26T11:01:34Z")
Hi, I followed the steps exactly as per the article, in complete and exact order. I chose a backup from 1 day prior, before the media was deleted, at the time of the post, the media had been deleted for about 4 hours. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![dbirch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dbirch](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dbirch)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/4 "2025-08-26T11:13:41Z")
> [@InsipidCjs](#): > > I followed the steps exactly as per the article, in complete and exact order. Had you done that the media records would have been restored. 1. was plex stopped? 2. What did you do with the existing DB files and the db-wal and db-shm files? 3. When you pulled the backups, did you change the file names and to what? 4. after all of that did you restart Plex and give it a couple minutes? ---
**Author:** ![InsipidCjs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@InsipidCjs](https://forums.plex.tv/u/InsipidCjs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/5 "2025-08-26T11:33:36Z")
I don’t appreciate the tone, as I said, I followed the guide exactly 1. Yes 2. I copied the existing versions of each and put them in folder in my document (plex has no folders there) 3. I changed their names as per the guide, to the names of the files I made copies of, the main library files 4. I restarted and it was just the same as file I copied (latest library), even after time, non of the media that was lost since turned up I also tried deleting the files with the same names but that have the cog in their picture and that just made it so the database disappeared (I otherwise followed the step as normal). To note, I tried this separately and not exclusively Edit: my goal is to have the data of what shows were lost so I can require them but it seems plex did not back them up, despite that being the claim of the feature ---
**Author:** ![InsipidCjs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@InsipidCjs](https://forums.plex.tv/u/InsipidCjs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 10:55am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/6 "2025-08-27T10:55:58Z")
Well gee, that plex pass support really paying off ---
**Author:** ![MovieFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MovieFan](https://forums.plex.tv/u/MovieFan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:34am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/7 "2025-08-29T04:34:54Z")
Can you zip your 2 databases and send them to me? I’ll compare them to see if the removed files are in there. It’s possible the info was already removed. ---
**Author:** ![InsipidCjs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@InsipidCjs](https://forums.plex.tv/u/InsipidCjs)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/8 "2025-08-29T07:43:27Z")
Thanks for getting back to me, already went through my search history and cross referenced but if meta data is deleted because a file is removed, does that mean it will remove that data from the backup too? Because in 100% sure the two backups I’ve tried were from before the deletion ---
**Author:** ![dbirch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f19dbf/32.png) [@dbirch](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dbirch)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/9 "2025-08-29T10:39:33Z")
> [@InsipidCjs](#): > > if meta data is deleted because a file is removed, does that mean it will remove that data from the backup too? No. Once a backup is created they are not modified. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 10:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/backup-not-restoring/930120/10 "2025-11-27T10:40:08Z")
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