Server Version#:1.43.0.10467
Player Version#:1.109.0
I run my Plex Server off a Windows laptop. The media content is stored on an external hard drive. Occasionally I have to disconnect the drive. When I reconnect it, Plex can no longer find my library. It’s listed as “unavailable”. I believe this is because the drive has been assigned a new letter when reconnected, so the server is looking in the wrong location for the files.
This should be an easy fix. I figure I can go to Manage Library > Edit > Add Folders and point the server to the correct drive. But when this happens the Manage Library option is greyed out. There’s no way for me to access the settings to add a folder.
The only way for me to fix the problem is to uninstall Plex and then reinstall it. After it’s reinstalled the Manage Library option is once again available and I can point the server to the correct drive to locate my content.
Bottom line, I have a work around, but it seems like unnecessary effort to have to reinstall Plex every time my drive becomes disconnected.
And it seems like a design flaw to make the setting to point the server to your library unavailable in those instances when your server is telling you it can’t find your library. That would be like your PC notifying you that you’re not connected to the Internet and then greying out your network settings to prevent you from fixing the problem.
This is a very bad idea.
There is a much better approach: assign a fixed drive letter to your media drive. Pick a letter which is far above the already used letters on your system. That way, temporarily added other thumb drives etc. don’t get assigned the same drive letter as your media drive.
See https://www.elevenforum.com/t/change-drive-letter-in-windows-11.8162/
Thanks for responding. I appreciate your assistance. I will certainly give this a try.
Out of curiosity, why is my approach a “very bad” idea? I understand the tip you offered should make things easier by eliminating a step. But characterizing my approach as “very bad” suggests it’s actually harmful. I’ve done it dozens of times and have not had any negative consequences. Granted, when I point Plex to a different drive it has to rescan my library, but my library is small so that doesn’t take long.
Also, your suggestion is still just a work-around that doesn’t address the design flaw in Plex. If Plex can’t locate your library, it should not grey out the controls for locating your library. I appreciate that there are a number of settings under Manage Your Library that can’t or shouldn’t be changed if your library is unavailable. It makes sense to grey out those specific options. But it doesn’t make sense to grey out the setting for adding folders.
I tried the above suggestion and ensured my external drive retains the same letter designation if it’s dismounted and remounted. That didn’t help. Plex still couldn’t find my library, and the options to point Plex to a folder were greyed out.
However, I am happy to report that I did find a solution. After remounting the drive, I simply need to restart the Plex server. (Previously I’d been reinstalling it every time this happened, but it turns out that was unnecessary.)
Ok glad it’s worked what I am confused about is do you add other drives or anything because if not and you simple unplug your external drive and place back in the same usb port it should still retain the same letter
If it’s not then there’s a fault with the drive or your windows install
what I would have suggested was right click on the my pc icon on your desktop and select manage then select manage drives this way you can just swap the drive back to the original letter from within windows
No rescan needed or restart of Plex
After removing or plugging in storage drives, you need to stop and restart Plex server.
(at least if these drives are used by Plex server)
It cannot recognize a change while it’s running.
@piraterider1 I’m simply unplugging the external hard drive and plugging it back in. No other drives are being added. Windows alternates between assigning it the letter D and the letter E. And Plex is pointed at both of those drives.
Changing the drive back to the original letter does not work without restarting the server. @OttoKerner is correct that Plex doesn’t recognize the change while running. It’s an obvious and simple solution. I’m embarrassed I didn’t try it before posting.
