Embedded Episode Artwork Ignored Since Latest Plex Media Server Update (Plex Series Agent)

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
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1

Hello everyone,

I would like to raise an issue that started occurring after the latest Plex Media Server update on my NAS.

This is not a matching problem. Series detection and metadata matching work correctly. The issue specifically concerns embedded episode artwork.

Library configuration:

  • Scanner: Plex TV Series

  • Agent: Plex Series

  • “Use local assets” enabled

  • “Prefer local metadata” enabled

  • Clean folder structure (Series → Season → Episodes)

  • Dedicated season posters stored in each season folder

Each episode file (MP4) contains:

  • Proper TV metadata (series name, season, episode number, title, description)

  • Carefully curated embedded episode artwork

  • One consistent, custom background image embedded into each episode file of a season

Important context:

I intentionally use a single curated background image per season, embedded directly inside each episode file.
I do not want random scene thumbnails from TMDB.
I also do not want to place separate image files next to every single episode.

For years, this setup worked perfectly. Plex always respected the embedded episode artwork when local assets were enabled.

Since the most recent Plex Media Server update, this behavior has changed.

Current behavior:

  • Series and seasons are matched correctly.

  • Season posters stored locally are respected.

  • Titles and descriptions are respected.

  • However, embedded episode artwork is ignored.

  • Plex instead downloads and displays external scene thumbnails.

To verify this was not a legacy issue, I added a completely new series to the server:

  • Clean folder structure

  • Correct metadata

  • Embedded episode artwork

  • Local assets enabled

Result: same problem. Embedded episode artwork is ignored.

This clearly indicates a behavioral change in the scanner/agent logic rather than a legacy metadata conflict.

Questions:

  1. Has support for embedded episode artwork changed in recent PMS versions?

  2. Is this an intentional change in the Plex Series agent?

  3. Is there currently any way to strictly prioritize embedded episode artwork over remote thumbnails?

  4. If not, can this behavior be reconsidered or made configurable?

For users maintaining carefully curated libraries with embedded artwork, this is not a minor cosmetic detail. It directly affects visual consistency and presentation quality.

I am attaching a screenshot of my agent settings for clarity.

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I would appreciate clarification from the team or experienced community members. If this is a regression introduced in a recent update, I hope it can be addressed.

Thank you …:victory_hand:

Quick update after additional testing:

I performed a clean test to rule out thumbnail interference.

Steps taken:

  • Disabled “Video preview thumbnails”

  • Stopped Plex Media Server completely

  • Restarted the server

  • Added a completely new series (never scanned before)

  • Clean folder structure

  • Embedded episode artwork present in each MP4 file

  • Local assets enabled

  • Prefer local metadata enabled

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Result:

The embedded episode artwork is still ignored.

Plex continues to download and display remote scene thumbnails instead of using the embedded artwork.

This confirms that the issue is not caused by:

  • Thumbnail generation

  • Legacy metadata

  • Cached artwork

  • Previously matched content

It appears that the current Plex Series agent simply does not prioritize embedded episode artwork anymore.

If this is intentional behavior, clarification would be appreciated.
If not, this may represent a regression introduced in a recent PMS update.

2

I too have the same issue

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4

I had made peace with the fact that my embedded TV Show art wasn’t going to been seen anymore! Thank you so much @TruemanG for reporting this issue and getting some attention on it. Obviously, thank you @drzoidberg33 for testing, reproducing it and getting it on the path to be fixed. Both you guys rock!

5

Thank you so much for addressing this issue! :folded_hands:

I’m so glad the amazing journey with PLEX continues! :rocket:

6

I’m glad you identified the issue and a fix is in the pipelines. It’s been an issue I’ve been experiencing for a long time that had previously been reported in the forums.

I can’t wait to see it corrected!

Thanks.

7

Es ist gelöst! Habe gerade das Update auf dem Server eingespielt und bei allen neuen TV-Serien werden wieder die lokalen Bilddateien priorisiert verwendet.

Somit ist meine stundenlange Arbeit mit dem detaillierten Pflegen meiner Videodateien nicht umsonst.

Ich danke euch sehr und freue mich auf viele weitere neuen und interessante Entwicklungen!