Hi
I’m tearing my hair out here!
I deleted a file in Plex and it was also deleted from my NAS. Is there a way to delete something in Plex without it affecting the main filesystem/NAS?
The ability to delete media files from within Plex is controlled by the ‘Allow media deletion’ setting in the server’s ‘Settings/Library’ page. If that’s enabled, then only the server owner can perform the deletion.
Other than that, there is no “delete” function in Plex. The only way to remove an item from a Plex library is to move the associated file out of the storage folder that Plex monitors for the library.
One other option is to use the .plexignore file to force Plex to specifically ignore certain files.
OK. Maybe I didn’t explain properly.
I have categorised my music in separate alphabetical folders in my NAS, I also have them in separated folders in Plex (Music A, Music B etc.). I inadvertently duplicated an album in Plex from my NAS. On clicking the 3 little dots of that album I scrolled down to ‘Delete’ and clicked. A new window popped up asking to confirm, am I sure… Clicked ‘yes’ then a tiny message popped up at the bottom of the screen saying it will be deleted from my NAS while it was removing the album from Plex. So, there is a ‘delete’ in Plex.
Also, I am the owner of the server, but does ‘Allow media deletion’ apply to folders in Plex or on the NAS which is the server?
BTW, I’m using the Plex Web app and don’t have Plex Pass.
@MovieFan.Plex said:
One other option is to use the .plexignore file to force Plex to specifically ignore certain files.
I don’t want Plex to ignore files in Plex, I want it to ignore the files on my NAS when I delete a file in Plex.
My music is separated in alphabetical order in Plex so each Library folder is A B C …Within each Library folder is all my music albums that start with A, B C…If I want to delete a specific album within the specific Library I cannot do so without it also being deleted on my NAS.
Example: Library: Music B has Album BB, Album BBB, Album BBBB. I want to delete Album BBB. I click on the 3 dots in Album BBB and click delete. After the 'Are you sure questions and I click ‘Yes’ to the last question, it will remove Album BBB from Plex and also remove it from my NAS.
So my question is: Is there a way to stop it removing the album from my NAS too?
I understood what you meant, but I think it was me who wasn’t clear.
The ‘Delete’ item on the ‘…’ menu will delete the album from the hard drive (NAS) as well as from Plex. If you uncheck the ‘Allow media deletion’ option in the Server/Library settings, the ‘Delete’ item will not appear on the ‘…’ menu.
There is no way to delete something from Plex and leave it on your hard drive. The .plexignore feature that MovieFan mentioned will tell Plex to no longer display the album in Plex, even though the files are still on the drive. The only other option is to move the files on the drive out of the folder structure that the Plex library is monitoring.
@beckfield said:
I understood what you meant, but I think it was me who wasn’t clear.The ‘Delete’ item on the ‘…’ menu will delete the album from the hard drive (NAS) as well as from Plex. If you uncheck the ‘Allow media deletion’ option in the Server/Library settings, the ‘Delete’ item will not appear on the ‘…’ menu.
Ah OK! So there’s no way I can stop Plex from touching the files on my NAS?
Just as well I’m not paying for this rubbish then!!
That’s not true at all. I just told you how to prevent Plex from touching the files on your NAS. The ‘Allow media deletion’ feature is specifically there to allow the server owner to delete the files from the hard drive. It’s explained clearly, complete with a warning, on the Help page. That is the purpose of the feature. That is the only instance where Plex will touch your media files in any way. Disable the ‘Allow media deletion’ option, and Plex won’t touch your files, period.
And the option ‘Allow media deletion’ is not enabled by default.
You must have enabled it yourself.
@beckfield said:
That’s not true at all. I just told you how to prevent Plex from touching the files on your NAS. The ‘Allow media deletion’ feature is specifically there to allow the server owner to delete the files from the hard drive. It’s explained clearly, complete with a warning, on the Help page. That is the purpose of the feature. That is the only instance where Plex will touch your media files in any way. Disable the ‘Allow media deletion’ option, and Plex won’t touch your files, period.
Yes, I understand what you’re saying but…I want to delete the file from the Plex Library and only the Plex Library, not from my NAS too. So if I untick the box, the ‘Delete’ option is removed and I cannot get rid of the album at all. There is no way to be rid of it from Plex ONLY whilst leaving the NAS alone.
There’s no way via the UI, that’s correct.
The .plexignore feature that MovieFan mentioned, though not a UI feature, will allow you to ‘hide’ folders or files within your monitored directories from Plex.
Haha, finally!!! 
Yes, I looked at the plexignore feature but what a load of hassle for something so simple.
Thank you for your patience anyway.
Yea I’m sorry but Hexenbeest is TOTALLY right. You have to just be shitting me this isn’t possible. I mean yea clearly it’s not but how lazy are you people. I can’t believe people pay for this ■■■■. It’s unreal. In the day of 40-90 gig movies and you have a delete function that eats the original file off the drive. Just WOW. You are beyond lazy.
