How to delete one version of multi-version media?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

When I add new media to the server, I usually have 2 versions, one in HD and surround audio and one at a lower resolution with a stereo audio track. At some point in time, I like to remove the SD versions, for no reason but to free up disc space.

I’ve made it a habit to add the HD version first, let the server sort out the metadata, etc and then later (an hour or even days later) add the second version. The SD versions are located at a different location than the Others, but the libraries are pointed to both locations, example:
a TV library pointed to F:\TV Shows\ and D:\SD TV Shows\

The media shows up as expected, with multiple versions available. When I delete media from the SD version folders (the old fashioned way with the computer, not through Plex) the trash can icon shows that media is unavailable, and when you look at the info for the item, it shows that the HD version is available, but the SD is not. That is what I expect. I then empty trash, and the trash can overlay disappears and the info shows only one version available.

At some point in time, probably when the server does maintenance, the remaining items are “re-discovered” by Plex and added as new media. I have tried shutting down the server before deleting the media and while the server is running with the same results.

If I enable the option to delete media on the server, and delete the unwanted version that way, things seem to work properly. I can deal with that for Movies, but for TV shows, it means a separate action for each episode in order to only delete one version. I really don’t want the “delete” option enabled at any time, anyway.

Removing the SD folder the library points to is not an option, because it has sub-folders with media in I still want to keep.

Any suggestions or better methods appreciated.

2

Just curious, why have two versions of the media?

3

I share the server with one friend who has incredibly slow internet, so to avoid transcoding I create the second version. I find that my grandkids phones also use that version when they stream away from a wifi connection. I don’t need to, the server can keep up with a couple of transcode sessions, but I hate no seeing “Direct Play” in plex web or Tautuli :grin:

4

Strange! I go through a similar scenario when I convert existing media in plex to HEVC. At the next scan I have 2 versions showing and then I usually just use duplicates or duplicate episode view to delete via plex but sometimes I will remove them straight from the file system and run a scan afterwards (I have auto scan after changes switched off but auto trash and bundles on). I have never seen plex show items as newly added as long as one of the items has always existed.
In the past, with auto scan on, you could get a situation where you remove an item and replace it with a better rip and in the process of doing that plex automatically detected the delete and removed the item, then on the add it is shown as newly added. However that is not the scenario you describe.
I am using windows for my plex server, what are you using?

5

Why not have two separate libraries? You can then share the SD versions with your friend and have the others for yourself. That way the server won’t get confused, and to avoid bugs.

Is there something in there that might make Plex think there linked?

6

That may be the difference. Mine is exactly opposite, with auto scan on, and empty trash automatically disabled. I also do not have the option to delete media turned on normally, I don’t want the chance that an unintentional deletion could occur.

With the settings I use (the opposite of yours) I can replace an item, and it is not considered a “Recently Added” item. There is not an empty trash action required, and I believe that Plex does the thumbnail generation and bundle removal, etc on the next maintenance run.

Yes, Plex will link the two, so that watched status, audio track and subtitle track selection are the same even though in different libraries. Having two libraries with the same titles also causes duplicates to show up in On Deck, Recently added, etc. I could disable the “Show in Dashboard” for one library, but if it was specifically shared to a user without the other, they would not have those features.

The SD versions serve two purposes - for my low speed internet friends, but also so that the SD version is snagged by a phone when required so no transcoding takes place, but the HD version is used when connected with other devices.

7

Obviously Plex is getting confused. Given you have two copies of the same show. If the SD version has been watched and the HD (say) hasn’t when the SD is deleted then, the HD is listed as new. ??? or vice versa. It sounds like the watched data has been linked with both versions when included in the same library. I’m not sure there is a way to get it to work properly, as you would like. It is probably keeping the data as if they were Optimized versions and not separate video.

I realize it may be a hassle. But what about Optimizing the files through Plex? The Mobile version might be downgraded enough to direct play without buffering and may even give them better quality? The problem with this is your friends may have seen something and you haven’t, thusly causing you issues with a “Watch Later” list. or vice versa

8

When you have multiple versions of an item, Plex does not keep track of which version has been watched. It’s intended to be that way, and works perfectly. You can start watching the HD version on your best device at home, and continue watching on your phone when you are a thousand miles away with a lousy connection, and the proper version is sent to you, (depending on the quality settings in your client).

That same principle applies to optimized versions that Plex creates. A separate watched status is not maintained for either version, but rather for the item, and all of its versions, no matter how they were created. That is, in fact, exactly what I want it to do. :wink:

In truth, you can actually get better quality with a low enough bitrate by creating your own. I’m pretty sure that Plex didn’t even have the optimizing feature when I started using it, so creating your own was the only way.

The watch later confusion between users isn’t a problem. They all have their own accounts, and therefore, everyone has their own watched status. But, if I create a specific library for the low internet users, and disable the “show on Deck” option for that library, they will not have that feature. If I enable it for them, then I will get duplicates on my devices, because of the way Plex recognizes an item (between all libraries), not a version.

Anyway, none of those things are an issue. They work the way they are supposed to, and I’m pretty impressed that it does.

The problem is, that I can delete an individual version if I enable the option to delete an item in the library, and it works properly. But I can’t delete an entire season or multiple seasons of just the SD version using that method. I have to go through each episode individually. That’s a time consuming task. And again, I don’t want the delete option enabled.

If I delete the SD versions thru the file system, it appears to work properly, until the next maintenance session, where the remaining version are identified as new items. Not sure if it’s a bug or feature, but the watched status is maintained.

9

How odd indeed. I sometimes delete HD copies and my SD do not rediscover as new media. I too get the trash can overlay but it goes away after I empty trash. I also clean bundles right after that.

10

It is odd. And it’s not every time, probably about half the time, so I can’t nail down the problem. The database looks in good condition, the items are recognized as duplicates properly, so I’m not sure where to go.

Are your duplicate versions in the same folder? I keep mine separate, with the intention at some point in time I could just delete a version quickly, without a bunch of file selection and navigation.

11

And I have a bunch I want to delete soon, put been putting it off so I don’t have the newly added annoyance. Hoping for some advice before I just go ahead and live with whatever results happen. :sweat_smile:

12

Some are, some are not.

Are they new adds or something you added eons ago?

13

Not quite eons, but centuries ago.

The hoarder in me won’t allow me to delete both versions even though they are likely to be never used, and I’d prefer the HD just in case.

14

Could it be your agents have changed since then? Plex has, over the years changed(and added) the priority of the matching agents and this may confused plex causing it to match with the new priority list.

15

A possibility, but the existing item should hold onto the guid, key and id info, even if they were matched by a new agent. And if it only happened with movies, which I know have different agents, I might say that’s a potential problem. But I don’t think I’ve ever touched the TV series agent. Changing the order of the contributing agents shouldn’t have an effect, because they have been previously matched, and assigned the guid, etc and that should just determine the metadata preference, not the" added" at date that the database stores.

Anyway, I just tried deleting a couple of things using the delete option within plex web, and annoyingly, it doesn’t delete the associated srt subtitle file, so the subfolder itself isn’t deleted neither because it’s not empty.

Right now everything looks good, but I’ll wait a couple of days to see if they reappear. If they don’t, I’ll delete the subfolders and remaining srt files and see what happens. Then I’ll eventually try to delete through the file system and when I get the glitch, that’s bound to happen, I’ll upload some logs.

16

Good point.

One would think so…Maybe being “broke” from the duplicate cause this. But nonetheless I have no idea. I know on my server I have two types of duplicates.

  1. the type that plex sees as dups and adds the number upper corner of the poster.
    I can delete one and nothing weird happens.

  2. the type that was matched with a different agent. They are infact the same EXACT file (byte-by-byte) but plex does not see them as dups cause the agents were different.
    I can delete one of these and nothing weird happens.

17

as to the #2 example, I have seen a similar situation, particularly when I have upgraded a media item. A fix match using the original agent, and the versions are combined. That keeps my original added at date, so it’s not a new addition to the library. Alternately, if I know the original was matched with a different agent, I fix match with my new agent before I add the new version. Either way keeps the original added at date.and it’s not displayed in Recently added.

And you’re right, if you don’t combine the versions, you can delete either version any way you want.

18

Ah… I have never combine the two versions.
There was a time when I was an*l about the recently added list but I couldn’t have it my way so to keep my sanity I dropped the caring. I now commonly use recently added to show “new” versions as they come out(CAM/SCR/WEBRIP) and because I edit the titles to include those descriptions, I rather purge the whole movie from plex then re-add it.

EDIT: Keep forgetting about the censoring on this site.

19

I actually use the fact that different agents work the way they do. For example, a directors cut and a theatrical version. If the have different agents, they are considered different movies by plex, so you can have separate watched status, etc, and never have to select a version, Give it a different poster and.or secription or tile and you’re good to go.

1 Like
20

Very clever!!