# Duplicate unrelated files turning up

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347>\
**Category:** Metadata & Adding Files\
**Tags:** server-mac\
**Created:** [March 28, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347 "2020-03-28T13:05:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mishutka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Mishutka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mishutka)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347/1 "2020-03-28T13:05:55Z")

</div>

Server Version#:1.18.9.2571  
Player Version#:4.22.3  
  
I have recenty moved, and refreshed my library, but some files are corrupt and I dont know how to sort them out ![Screenshot 2020-03-28 at 12.58.57](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/b/1/b1cbb80900efff701dbb03cf61b4c97bf8fa9f83.png)

 ![Screenshot 2020-03-28 at 12.59.41](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/8/a/8aa2591f6398e9116c0774aa5ae370d42c62baa3.png)All have different filenames and the only option given is to delete the files which I dont want. What I do want is the correct files showing up in the library.

On the library icon it show 17 multiple files and get info lists them. View XML turns up an entirely blank screen

Any ideas?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347/2 "2020-03-28T15:07:57Z")

</div>

What folder is this tv show library of yours linked to?  
From the screenshot… it should be

```auto
/Volumes/Thunderbolt Backup/Videos/English videos/TV/Science & Nature/

```

However I suppose you’re pointing it to

```auto
/Volumes/Thunderbolt Backup/Videos/English videos/TV/

```

Plex doesn’t like it if you deviate the folder structure from the naming schema.

```auto
Library Folder <- the folder linked to your library...
  TV Show
    Season XX
      TV Show - sXXeYY - optional episode name.ext

```

Where `XX` is the 2-digit season number and `YY` is the 2-digit episode number. `Library Folder` could be pretty much any name – you can also add multiple library level folders to a single Plex library… however there should be no additional folder levels between that folder(s) and the tv-show folders!

# 

**Edit:**  
After fixing this, you might need to perform a [Plex Dance](https://forums.plex.tv/t/the-plex-dance/197064) to ensure Plex fully re-scans the episodes:

> [@The Plex Dance ™](https://forums.plex.tv/t/the-plex-dance/197064):
>
> The purpose of this is to remove all cached metadata and xml data for an item that Plex usually keeps. This helps when you want to “start from scratch” for particular item move all files for the media item out of the directory your Library is looking at, so Plex will not “see” it anymore scan the library library (to detect changes) empty trash clean bundles (in the menu next to server name, when accessed under ‘More’. Or alternatively under Settings - [server name] - Manage - Troubleshooting.…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mishutka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Mishutka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mishutka)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347/3 "2020-03-28T15:22:24Z")

</div>

Ah, well, what I have is TV/ and subfolders. I have a library for each subfolder. It works for most of the subfolders but I also thought I would have an "all TV’ too pointing at the root folder. Sounds like I shouldn’t be doing it?

Its weird also, If I add something to the library, sometimes it tries to add two copies of the same thing as it copies onto the drive.

I will delete the All folders library and try the dance 🙂

Thanks

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347/4 "2020-03-28T15:25:23Z")

</div>

You can have that kind of “all shows” library.  
For that you just need to add each main library folder individually to the library

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mishutka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Mishutka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mishutka)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347/5 "2020-03-28T15:59:33Z")

</div>

OK, Thanks

It seems the Plex Dance has lost my played/unplayed marks and where i was in partially finished shows ☹

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/duplicate-unrelated-files-turning-up/563347/6 "2020-06-26T15:59:39Z")

</div>

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