# Issue Copying Configuration Files **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-linux\ **Created:** [November 10, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388 "2025-11-10T18:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/1 "2025-11-10T18:17:45Z")
Hello I am trying to set up Plex on a Linux (Zorin OS 18 Ubuntu) PC so I can get rid of Windows. I installed PMS via the .deb file and can start the service, but I can’t copy the configuration files so I don’t need to start from scratch. It tells me it failed because the destination is Read Only. I’ve been trying for hours to change user and read/write permissions but it either doesn’t work or tells me there is no such directory even though I copied it directly from the directory path. I am not a computer programmer nor a Linux expert, so I am hoping someone can offer clear, non-technobabble help to get me set up. Thanks. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/2 "2025-11-10T19:31:47Z")
Hi, A couple questions: 1. Did you select Zorrin because it’s supposed to a great alternative to Windows? 2. How skilled are you at Linux ? (on a 1 → 10 scale, where 5 is that you understand basic Linux admin already) ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/3 "2025-11-10T20:35:43Z")
I chose Zorin because I like the look and feel of it more than Mint or Ubuntu. Anything is a good alternative to Windows, especially now. Basic Linux yes, Admin no. Not getting the root ownership and how to overcome it using most online instructions, which haven’t worked. I finally found something n here that was close enough to let me copy the files, but I still don’t understand how Plex can access the config files if they are read only. ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/4 "2025-11-10T21:19:12Z")
Plus now I try to start PMS and it hangs on “activating”… Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service; enabled; preset: enabled) Active: activating (auto-restart) (Result: exit-code) since Mon 2025-11-10 14:12:42 MST; 4s ago Process: 10989 ExecStartPre=/bin/sh -c /usr/bin/test -d “${PLEX\_MEDIA\_SERVER\_APPLICATION\_SUPPORT\_DIR}” || /bin/mkdir -p “${PLEX\_MEDIA\_SERVER\_APPLICATION\_SUPPORT\_DIR}” (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Process: 10991 ExecStart=/bin/sh -c export PLEX\_MEDIA\_SERVER\_INFO\_VENDOR=“$(grep ^NAME= /etc/os-release | awk -F= “{print $2}” | tr -d " )”; export PLEX\_MEDIA\_SERVER\_INFO\_MODEL=“$(uname -m)”; export PL\> Main PID: 10991 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE) ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/5 "2025-11-10T21:22:11Z")
> [@KerriK](#): > > I finally found something n here that was close enough to let me copy the files, but I still don’t understand how Plex can access the config files if they are read only. “Read-only” bothers me. The default location for PMS configuration files (metadata) is in `/var/lib/plexmediaserver`. It is part of the `root` (/) filesystem and owned by user `plex`. You, as a regular user, would not have permission to access them. as the `root` user, you would have that permission. You need to be `root` user to setup the system and transfer the metadata * * * Looking at your latest post: 1. open a terminal window 2. `sudo bash` (get root privilege) 3. `cd "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server"` 4. `tar cfz /tmp/PlexLogs.tar.gz ./Logs` 5. When this completes, go back to the browser and upload (attach /tmp/PlexLogs.tar.gz) with your next post. It will let me see what’s happening ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/6 "2025-11-10T21:26:14Z")
Post the zipped folder, or something specific from it? ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/7 "2025-11-10T21:27:57Z")
PlexLogs.tar.gz is too big to attach ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/8 "2025-11-10T21:29:25Z")
do you have another place to upload them? (new users are limited. Sorry I forgot that) If you have a place, I’ll send you a DM to give me the link) ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/9 "2025-11-10T21:31:06Z")
I don’t. This should not be this difficult. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/10 "2025-11-10T21:34:36Z")
Rather than the whole logs dir (3.8 MB), Grab only the `Plex Media Server.log` and the `.1.log` That should be small enough for a tar.gz ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/11 "2025-11-10T21:38:11Z")
[Plex Media Server.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/itqJwUYj0d84Juj7ZKW8JSiFPHS.log) (1.5 MB) [Plex Media Server.1.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/8MbPvRrFzCWPTEXkMe58x3SldKL.log) (3.1 MB) Is this what you meant? ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/12 "2025-11-10T21:40:15Z")
Perfect! Thanks! Give me a minute to read, ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/13 "2025-11-10T22:09:08Z")
These are Windows log files. ```auto Nov 08, 2025 16:06:28.319 [2008] INFO - Plex Media Server v1.31.3.6868-28fc46b27 - Microsoft PC x64 - build: windows-x86 windows - GMT -07:00 Nov 08, 2025 16:06:28.319 [2008] INFO - Windows version: 6.1 (Build 7601), language en-US Nov 08, 2025 16:06:28.319 [2008] INFO - 2 1808 MHz processor(s): Architecture=0, Level=16, Revision=1539 Processor Identifier=AMD64 Family 16 Model 6 Stepping 3, AuthenticAMD Nov 08, 2025 16:06:28.319 [2008] INFO - Compiler is - MSVC 1929 ``` I’m going to go through the steps to confirm what you should have done as a checklist to identify what got missed. 1. You made a ZIP of the `Plex Media Server` directory from the Windows machine. 2. You installed Zorin 3. As root (sudo bash), you did the `apt update ; apt ugprade -y` to get any needed updates (restarting if needed) 4. Downloaded the 64 bit Ubuntu (DEB) package from [plex.tv/downloads](http://plex.tv/downloads) 5. Installed it with `sudo dpkg -i package_filename.deb` At this point, we should have directory `/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server` PMS will be running (it’s an empty configuration at this point) 1. From the terminal / command line window – Stop Plex `sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver` 2. Now we extract the ZIP file from windows (you want to overwrite ALL) `cd "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support"` `sudo unzip /path/to/Windows-Plex-file.zip` 3. When it finishes we fix all the ownership and permissions `sudo chown -R plex:plex .` `sudo find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;` `sudo find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;` 4. Let’s delete all the old Windows log files so we start clean `sudo rm -rf “Plex Media Server/Logs” 5. Start it up `sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver` 6. Confirm it’s running (you should see processes listed) `ps -ef | grep -i plex` Please advise your progress to this point ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/14 "2025-11-10T22:13:57Z")
I did not make a zip file, I copied the config folder directly. I don’t think I did the update/upgrade. Is that for Plex before Plex is installed? Yes, I got the .deb and installed it and got the directory. Im pretty sure I stopped the server and copied the config files I did the first permission command. ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/15 "2025-11-10T22:18:37Z")
After finishing the list it displays: mediase+ 50564 16707 0 15:17 pts/0 00:00:00 grep --color=auto -i plex ---
**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:** [November 10, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/18 "2025-11-10T23:49:41Z")
The procedure you used, whomever wrote it, was incorrect. I would like to start over. On Windows: 1. With Windows STOPped. 2. Make a ZIP of the `Plex Media Server` folder which contains other subfolders (Cache, Codecs, Drivers, Logs, Media, Metadata, etc). This isn’t a ‘config’, it’s the actual “Server instance” (databases and all your metadata) 3. Depending on the size of it to your home folder on Linux. IF YOU CAN’T, Stop here and let me know. On Linux: 1. Stop Plex - `sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver 2. Open a terminal window 3. `sudo bash` (we want root privileges) 4. `cd “/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support” 5. `rm -rf "Plex Media Server"` (remove what was previously setup) 6. Assuming your ZIP file from windows fit in your home folder, we’re going to unzip it into where Plex wants the files `unzip ~/NameOfWindowsZipfile.zip` -d .` 7. You should see it create `Plex Media Server` and everything beneath it. Report your status / progress ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/19 "2025-11-10T23:58:16Z")
I completely uninstalled PMS. Something with the permissions you listed locked me out. I couldn’t manage apps or even their icons on the desktop and Firefox wouldn’t start. I reset permissions to the username and will have to try to install Plex again after dinner. I don’t need to zip the file because I have the drive from the old server PC plugged into the new one for a direct copy. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2025, 12:02am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/20 "2025-11-11T00:02:45Z")
> [@KerriK](#): > > I don’t need to zip the file because I have the drive from the old server PC plugged into the new one for a direct copy. Confirming? You’re going to mount the drive into Linux and then copy the files ? If so, I have a better way to do this (faster than `cp` or `zip`) let me know when you’re back ---
**Author:** ![KerriK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@KerriK](https://forums.plex.tv/u/KerriK)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/21 "2025-11-11T00:03:35Z")
Correct. I ---
**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:** [November 11, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388/22 "2025-11-11T00:04:45Z")
Where is the HDD currently mounted ? what’s the path to `Plex Media Server` on that NTFS volume? [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issue-copying-configuration-files/933388.md?page=2)