# Issues with plex detecting files

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507>\
**Category:** Metadata & Adding Files\
**Tags:** server-docker, library-management\
**Created:** [July 21, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507 "2020-07-21T03:30:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/1 "2020-07-21T03:30:05Z")

</div>

Server Version#: 1.19.4.2935  
Player Version#: 4.30.2

I am attempting to add some non TV or movies video files to Plex And am having issues getting Plex to recognize the files and put them in the library. I followed thsi guide [https://support.plex.tv/articles/200265256-naming-home-series-media/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200265256-naming-home-series-media/) to name the files correctly and then made a tv show library, after that didn’t work I tried both a movie and other video library and they did not work as well. I’ve also tried the normal stuff like restarting plex and still have yet to get the files to show up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pjeynes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pjeynes](https://forums.plex.tv/u/pjeynes)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 9:07am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/2 "2020-07-21T09:07:31Z")

</div>

I had a similar experience. Movies were added fine to the library. Some non-movies files (e.g. film of gigs, interviews ripped from DVDs I own etc.) didn’t show up and some did. I couldn’t work out the distinction.

What solved it was to set the scanner of the library in question to ‘Plex Video Files Scanner’ (under ‘Advanced’ tab). After the resulting scan, all video files were added regardless. In my case, I also set ‘Agents’ under server setting to prefer ‘local media assets’ - as I populate the metadata tags in my video and music files.

Just another point, my ‘Movies’ library is defined as library type of ‘Other videos’ rather than ‘Films’.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 9:25am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/3 "2020-07-21T09:25:00Z")

</div>

> [@TV Naming convention for grouping personal media files](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-naming-convention-for-grouping-personal-media-files/615207):
>
> I’m hoping someone has been through this already and can save me some grief. I’ve reviewed the recommended Media and folder namIng conventions and TV Show seems to be the closest Plex format. Is it possible to multiple clips for an event grouped as a ‘season’ that has a text description. Example would be show named ‘Christmas 2019’ and seasons would be ‘Moms house’ and ‘Dads House’ etc. each with multiple clips. Suggestions? Server Version#: Player Version#:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/4 "2020-07-21T14:10:59Z")

</div>

So I was able to get the Videos to show up in Other videos by changing the scanner Plex Video Files instead of Plex Video Files Scanner. But reading the support site I should be able to set it up as a tv series and that will allow for better organization. I read though the linked post and my file structure and naming seems to be right but ill put it down below in case i’m missing something.

```auto
my_videos/
....show/
........Season 01/
............show - s01e01 - title.mp4
........Season 02
.............show - s01e02 - title.mp4

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 21, 2020, 2:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/5 "2020-07-21T14:28:48Z")

</div>

That’s perfectly fine, but it will only work in a library of the type “TV show”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nydave69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@nydave69](https://forums.plex.tv/u/nydave69)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/6 "2020-07-21T14:29:39Z")

</div>

> [@bige99](#):
>
> ```auto
> ........Season 02
> .............show - s01e02 - title.mp4
> 
> ```

I’m guessing that line has a typo… should be s02e01 or s02e02 not s01

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 21, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/7 "2020-07-21T14:35:52Z")

</div>

???  
I can’t see any errors.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/8 "2020-07-21T14:51:57Z")

</div>

Ya im sorry that was an issue with me typing it here, this is what it actually is in my file structure I double checked just be be sure

```auto
my_videos/
....show/
........Season 01/
............show - s01e01 - title.mp4
........Season 02
.............show - s02e01 - title.mp4

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 21, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/9 "2020-07-21T15:21:19Z")

</div>

Ugh, now I noticed 🤦‍♂️  
Wrong season number in folder.

Apart from that, everything is fine. But as I said…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/10 "2020-07-21T15:43:28Z")

</div>

Just to be clear as I dont believe I made it clear I tried setting it up as a library type tv show and none of the file would show up

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/11 "2020-07-21T15:49:01Z")

</div>

```auto
my_videos/
....show/
........Season 01/
............show - s01e01 - title.mp4 <---- mp4
........Season 02
.............show - s02e01 - title.mp4 <----mp4

```

> [@Video File Naming](https://forums.plex.tv/t/video-file-naming/535534/7):
>
> With LMA in priority, Embedded Titles within MP4/M4V files are preferred - even over a perfect file name. Local Media Assets should - AT ALL TIMES - remain enabled (unless specifically instructed to turn it off). Local Media Assets should be ‘Demoted’, to the bottom of the stack of active agents under ALL tabs in Shows and Movies, but should NOT be disabled. Local Media Assets is needed for many things - it doesn’t need to be given Tip-Top-Priority (as Plex has so hatefully placed it as it’s …

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/12 "2020-07-21T17:02:41Z")

</div>

So I went in and moved the the Local media aseets from the top of the list to the bottom on all my agents including the agent used for tv show scanning. After re-scanning im still getting the same result of none of them showing up. I also tried un-checking local media assets I know it’s not recommended but I wanted to try anyway and it didnt work.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/13 "2020-07-21T17:08:42Z")

</div>

Show your file names and structures like this - all the way back to the root:

 ![A Merry Go Round Broke Down-112](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/8/2/822e74e5535111f63966d4472195643cf14620cf.jpeg)

Will NOT accept ‘your word for it’ - or you’re on your own.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/14 "2020-07-21T17:15:38Z")

</div>

![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/4/5/45d256d9bb9162725f8da09a53df074036c6e31b.png)  
 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/8/d/8d246ba19b20ac666deb0f337e7bb1dbe3ae93a2.png)

Note that the folder that I use for the library is /courses and is the equivalent to my\_videos in my example

I’ve also tried taking the numbers out of the AZ900 and that did not seem to help either

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/15 "2020-07-21T17:33:18Z")

</div>

![A Merry Go Round Broke Down-115](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/4/d/4dc09693042b7ed089e8ad5875e814339f73239f.jpeg)

```auto
F:/MCEB-TV <----TV Show Library Folder - TV Show Library aimed here ONLY
......AZ900/
........Season 01/
...........AZ900 - S01E01 - What is Cloud Computing 1.mp4

```

 ![A Merry Go Round Broke Down-113](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/0/7/07751febadd1d1ce5aaa4943a68063d5b98bb9c1.jpeg)

Fix Match/Search Options/Agent/Personal Media

 ![A Merry Go Round Broke Down-114](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/e/6/e6ad9938a8ff061611b67a30b1e36bf3c08143c4.jpeg)

Got a ‘poster’ from Google Images Search - my test file shows Ingrid - yours should show a grab from the video.

**MUST go in TV Show Library Type.**

If that doesn’t work - you need NAS help - permissions - or something else I don’t know about…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 21, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/16 "2020-07-21T17:34:39Z")

</div>

Is the library of the type “TV show”?  
File names like these don’t work in a “movie” or “other videos” library.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/17 "2020-07-21T17:53:14Z")

</div>

The library is of type tv shows. I also tried using a library of type other videos to test and the files show up when I change the scanner to Plex video files from Plex video files scanner. This is why I don’t think it is to do with something like the permission of the file (they are also 777) or anything like that. Although I’m not that experienced with Plex so I could be wrong.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nydave69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@nydave69](https://forums.plex.tv/u/nydave69)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/18 "2020-07-21T19:23:33Z")

</div>

could it be that the media is owned by root and Plex cant access them?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 21, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/19 "2020-07-21T20:07:30Z")

</div>

> [@bige99](#):
>
> `my_videos/`

Is the library aimed solely on the folder `my_videos`  
and not one folder level above, nor below it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bige99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bige99](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bige99)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507/20 "2020-07-21T21:01:33Z")

</div>

Yes so the library is pointed directly at the `my_videos/` which in my case is actually named courses, and are not pointed at any other directories. As for daves question every user can read write and execute the files as the permissions are set to 777, unless Plex requires ownership which I doubt thats the issue, as I’m able to get Plex to recognize the files when put In an Other Videos library.

[Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/issues-with-plex-detecting-files/615507.md?page=2)