# How do I stop a task **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-synology\ **Created:** [October 26, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893 "2025-10-26T16:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![trust\_me\_bro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@trust\_me\_bro](https://forums.plex.tv/u/trust_me_bro)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/1 "2025-10-26T16:13:01Z")
How do I stop a “Generating video chapter thumbnails” task that’s stuck and persists in “Activity”? ---
**Author:** ![gorbi726](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/gorbi726/32/342357_2.png) [@gorbi726](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gorbi726)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/2 "2025-10-26T16:42:05Z")
Try restarting the Plex Media Server itself and see if that fixes your issue. Alternatively you could also try temporarily disabling thumbnail generation before the restart. Settings \> Library \> Generate Video Preview Thumbnails (Drop-down Select) \> None You can also disable per-library video preview thumbnails by going here Settings \> Libraries \> (Movies) \> Edit Library \> Advanced \> “Enable Video Preview Thumbnails” (checkbox is near the bottom). I’ve had this happen before, sometimes it gets hung and can usually be resolved. ---
**Author:** ![trust\_me\_bro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@trust\_me\_bro](https://forums.plex.tv/u/trust_me_bro)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/3 "2025-10-26T23:56:16Z")
Thank you. A temporary disabling of thumbnail generation and a restart solved this. ---
**Author:** ![trust\_me\_bro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@trust\_me\_bro](https://forums.plex.tv/u/trust_me_bro)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/4 "2025-11-04T14:47:55Z")
Unfortunately it persists, but there’s some relief for a time after those steps. ---
**Author:** ![drzoidberg33](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/drzoidberg33/32/4184_2.png) [@drzoidberg33](https://forums.plex.tv/u/drzoidberg33)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/5 "2025-11-04T14:51:45Z")
The previous answer was almost right but preview thumbnails are a different thing. You need to set the “Generate chapter thumbnails” option under Settings →Library to “Never”. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/optimized/4X/4/1/2/412622d5f8089d3dc33504543377d7ac293883a3_2_690x49.png) ---
**Author:** ![trust\_me\_bro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@trust\_me\_bro](https://forums.plex.tv/u/trust_me_bro)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/6 "2025-11-04T15:13:35Z")
Understood. I did that and so far so good! ---
**Author:** ![trust\_me\_bro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@trust\_me\_bro](https://forums.plex.tv/u/trust_me_bro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/7 "2025-11-05T13:36:23Z")
It’s back (same file). Is the best solution to repeat these steps each time? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/8 "2025-11-05T14:18:54Z")
I’d try to remux the source file first. Then monitor the situation for a few days. > **[MKVToolNix Downloads – Matroska tools for Linux/Unix and Windows](https://mkvtoolnix.download/downloads.html)** If the above didn’t bring any change, disable `GenerateBIFKeyframesOnly` in the hidden server settings. [https://support.plex.tv/articles/201105343-advanced-hidden-server-settings/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201105343-advanced-hidden-server-settings/) Stop and restart the server, then monitor again for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 2:19pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-stop-a-task/932893/9 "2026-02-03T14:19:42Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.