Converting Existing Library Content Shows Up As New Content

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

Server Version#: 1.19.3.2843
Player Version#:

If I use a third-party app to convert/transcode an existing library file, even if the filename stays the same, the file becomes “new” and “unwatched”. Any way to prevent this?

2

Add the new file before removing the original. Re-scan the library. Plex will pick them up as duplicates. You can then remove the original. After removing the original, rescan the library, empty trash, and clean bundles.

If the file names are exactly the same, including extension, and in same directory, you can use square brackets to add info to the new file name (Plex ignores info inside square brackets).

If you’ve external subtitles in the directory you will have to re-name them to match the new file name, including what is within the square brackets.

Example:

Avatar (2009).mkv  <-- Original
Avatar (2009).eng.srt  <-- Original
Avatar (2009) [1080].mkv  <-- New
Avatar (2009) [1080].eng.srt  <-- New
3

Thanks for the suggestion. I’m good with all this I was just hoping to avoid it. I have an automation set to run nightly that scans my libraries for files over a certain bitrate or file format and then converts them.

4

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.