All of my Plex libraries are under the Z:\Movies root folder, where Z is mapped to my NAS (\NAS\Share). I need to change paths to use the UNC names, so instead of ‘Z:\Movies\TV Programs’ it will be ‘\NAS\Share\Movies\TV Programs’ (it’s the same folder with the same files, only with the UNC path). Is there a way to do it without the risk of losing all of my metadata (posters, descriptions, etc)? Can I add a UNC path and remove the drive letter path or will it break something? Thanks.
Before you start stop Plex and copy your database to a safe location then restart Plex.
First: Turn off empty trash automatically after scans.
Second: Leave the existing paths in place and add the UNC paths as new entries. You will have to type each path manually as Plex does not brows by UNC paths.
Third: Make sure the library scans and completes. Each entry should get a “2” in the corner.
Fourth: Once the scan is completely done remove the old paths and empty the trash manually.
Fifth: There “should” be another scan at that point but it does not need to complete.
Sixth: Turn automatically empty trash back on if you do not want to empty trash manually periodically. I leave mine off so that library entries do not get deleted if some connectivity problems happen.
Lastly: Verify you library and then begin enjoying Plex again.
Thanks @Elijah_Baley. I’ll give it a try.
@Elijah_Baley said:
You will have to type each path manually as Plex does not brows by UNC paths.
that’ll be a bother with longer and complicated host and folder names
there is a more convenient way
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1291830#Comment_1291830
@OttoKerner said:
@Elijah_Baley said:
You will have to type each path manually as Plex does not brows by UNC paths.that’ll be a bother with longer and complicated host and folder names
there is a more convenient way
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1291830#Comment_1291830
This solves the typing problem, right? Thanks for the tip.
@OttoKerner said:
@Elijah_Baley said:
You will have to type each path manually as Plex does not brows by UNC paths.that’ll be a bother with longer and complicated host and folder names
there is a more convenient way
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1291830#Comment_1291830
Unfortunately/fortunately I often forget that what to me is obvious is not always so to others. When I said “type” I was thinking it implicitly included cut and paste from a Windows file browser but, as you point out, that inclusion is clearly not obvious to everyone.
Thank you for covering my omission.
I will try to do better in the future. 
@Elijah_Baley said:
Unfortunately/fortunately I often forget that what to me is obvious is not always so to others. When I said “type” I was thinking it implicitly included cut and paste from a Windows file browser but, as you point out, that inclusion is clearly not obvious to everyone.Thank you for covering my omission.
I will try to do better in the future.
What I meant was that my original question was not about how to enter (type in/copypaste/etc) the UNC path in the settings. It was about the process of changing the already existing drive-based path to the UNC-based path pointing to the same location without breaking metadata in the library. Maybe what to me is obvious is not always so to others.
@alekdavis said:
What I meant was that my original question was not about how to enter (type in/copypaste/etc) the UNC path in the settings. It was about the process of changing the already existing drive-based path to the UNC-based path pointing to the same location without breaking metadata in the library.
If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can even save the part of updating the library and then remove the duplicates.
Because if you did a lot of customization and/or used ‘Fix Match’ all the time, you will get a high number of mismatches.
This procedure changes the paths to the media items directly in the database.
Try this only if you have a working backup of the plex database!
If you click the little ‘Folder’ icon next to the path in Windows Explorer it will change from that very unhelpful ‘whatduyacallit’ Description to a more helpful UNC path - click it again and if possible it’ll show drive letters. Should also be highlighted for an easy ctl/c ready for an easy ctl/v in the Plex edit window.
paths longer than 4 letters - I copy and paste.
My eyeglass subscription is in serious need of an upgrade and even then I’m half cokk-eyed most of the time anyway. A copy and paste is way more accurate than I ever could be - even on a good day.
@OttoKerner said:
If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can even save the part of updating the library and then remove the duplicates.
Because if you did a lot of customization and/or used ‘Fix Match’ all the time, you will get a high number of mismatches.This procedure changes the paths to the media items directly in the database.
Try this only if you have a working backup of the plex database!
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1080551/#Comment_1080551
That’s what I am looking for. Just need to figure out how to make changes to directly in the database.
Hi Elijah
I followed the process but had a quick question. My subtitle settings for TV episodes were not retained. Should they be or have I done something wrong?
Someone else will have to answer that. For the movies that I have that require subs I have used Handbrake to burn them in. I do not use external subs at all anymore.
Sorry.
What do you mean by that?
- the subtitle tracks you have selected previously on each of the episodes’ preplay screens
- the settings for selecting a subtitle track automatically in your plex account https://app.plex.tv/desktop#!/settings/account
I assume 1)
and if so, yes. This may be a side effect, because of how Plex references “side car” subtitles. When changing the path to the video file, this reference may get invalidated and thus the subtitle selection may revert back to the default.
1 Like
Yep you assumed right.
Good to know why it’s happening. Is there anyway to get around the issue?
I’m interested in using UNC as my mapped drive doesn’t connect intermittently and I believe UNC path would not suffer from this issue.
Sorry, not that I know of.
Thanks again for the info.
