# How do I export and import metadata? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-linux\ **Created:** [April 26, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204 "2022-04-26T12:54:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Electrolove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Electrolove](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Electrolove)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204/1 "2022-04-26T12:54:23Z")
I am running Plex on Ubuntu server 20.04. How do I export and import metadata? Can someone provide me with a simple guide please? I mean titles of music files, descriptions of music artists and things like that? I want to learn this because if my Plex server craches for some reason I want to be able to import all data instead of typing it in again. Most of the data comes from locations on the internet but there are a lot of text that I must type in myself. Same for music album covers. Not all are automatically downloaded when I add an album. For example: I add a album and upload the cover myself. But if I reinstall my server that album cover is gone. ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204/5 "2022-04-26T18:01:10Z")
Plex does not have an export/import feature. However, all of that info is saved in the Plex Database. Just backup the database. If you need to restore, just copy the database back. PMS will even do automatic backups of your database for you if you enable that feature. ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204/6 "2022-04-26T18:55:28Z")
If I may add to MovieFan, If you have custom posters you’ve uploaded, you might want to make a complete “image backup” of the `/var/lib/plexmediaserver` “Library” directory With Plex stopped, it would look like: ```auto cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver sudo tar cf /path/to/where/the/backup/goes/PlexImageBackup.tar ./Library ``` Now you have a fully operational “snapshot” of the entire system, database and artwork included. ---
**Author:** ![dane22](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/dane22/32/4389_2.png) [@dane22](https://forums.plex.tv/u/dane22)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204/7 "2022-04-26T20:18:58Z")
Since you are talking about music libraries, then maybe this one: > [@\[REL\] Lambda (Local Assets-Metadata Double Agent) for Plex Metadata export)](https://forums.plex.tv/t/rel-lambda-local-assets-metadata-double-agent-for-plex-metadata-export/295681): > > Link: [https://github.com/ZeroQI/Lambda.bundle](https://github.com/ZeroQI/Lambda.bundle) Features: Takes Plex metadata and save it locally alongside media files, including collections ‘Local Media Assets’ imports back local metadata exported, and what isn’t supported will be imported back with this agent: collection summary (not yet supported for upload: collection poster, fanart, and not yet supported for upload/download: metadata text fields in NFO file) It supports the export of following Plex metadata: Series: (\*)Poster, F… Above should be able to do as you say, but only for legacy agents though ---
**Author:** ![Electrolove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Electrolove](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Electrolove)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 10:22am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204/9 "2022-04-27T10:22:46Z")
I just made a test. Installed Plex. Did a backup of the whole Plexmediaserver directory with rsync to another server. Installed Plex again and used rsync again in the other direction. Result: Plex refuses to start. Any clues? UPDATE: I tried it again. Now everything works as expected. I first installed ubuntu server 22.04, installed plex and uploaded some music albums. I wrote some text in the artist description, uploaded a custom album cover. Took a copy of the Library folder. Then I installed ubuntu and plex again. Uploaded the same albums, uploaded the Library folder and everything looks as before. Great 🙂 Thanks for all help. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 10:23am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-export-and-import-metadata/790204/10 "2022-07-26T10:23:07Z")
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