# Media Server On External HDD **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-nvidia-shield, android-tv\ **Created:** [April 26, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202 "2021-04-26T21:26:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flipsonic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flipsonic](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Flipsonic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202/1 "2021-04-26T21:26:10Z")
I’m running Plex on NVIDIA Shield Pro with an external 2 TB Seagate HDD. Can I setup the Seagate as an external storage USB drive and keep my movies in there for the Shield to access it? Or do I have to set it up as internal storage in my Shield? I want to be able to play the movies on my Seagate through Plex. Is that possible? Server Version#: Player Version#: ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202/2 "2021-04-26T21:40:59Z")
You should be good to go with the USB drive as external storage – this is actually the recommended way to do it. [https://support.plex.tv/articles/220391808-media-storage-options-for-nvidia-shield/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/220391808-media-storage-options-for-nvidia-shield/) # From what I can find, you’ll only need to mount it as “internal storage” if you want to move the server data directory to that drive (e.g. your Plex Media Server database etc. – not your media!) ---
**Author:** ![Flipsonic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flipsonic](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Flipsonic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202/3 "2021-04-26T22:53:32Z")
Ok thanks. So this means I install the Plex app and media server on the Shield. Then when I want to play movies on the external drive, I can just create a library that points to that drive. But does this mean I can’t install apps to the external drive? If I want to install apps from Google Play, it would have to go to the Shield! If so, I’m limited to only 16 GB. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202/4 "2021-04-26T23:32:39Z")
> [@Flipsonic](#): > > If I want to install apps from Google Play, it would have to go to the Shield! If so, I’m limited to only 16 GB. I suppose so. Then again, the Shield has more than 1 USB port and you don’t need a 2 TB drive for apps 😉 # **Edit:** The 16 GB will actually be more limiting to the locally installed Plex Media Server. So you might want to look into setting it up with the server’s data directory being moved to a separate storage (could be your 2 TB Seagate or some other drive). [https://support.plex.tv/articles/moving-server-data-storage-location-on-nvidia-shield/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/moving-server-data-storage-location-on-nvidia-shield/) ---
**Author:** ![Flipsonic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flipsonic](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Flipsonic)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 2:47am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202/5 "2021-04-27T02:47:34Z")
I have a question- when I had the 2 TB drive as internal storage, I was downloading movies to it. After about a couple of 30 to 40 GB movies loaded, the Shield starts performing very slow. I can’t launch apps or they are very slow. Sometimes Shield would just freeze. But when I disconnect the drive, Shield is back to normal. What’s causing this? This is why I was thinking of just making the drive removable and download movies to it. So I guess my setup should be like this: 1. Plex media server on Shield 2. Expand internal storage to 128 GB with a flash drive on 1st USB port. 3. Connect 2 TB external hdd to 2nd USB port as removable and use it for media content. I hope this would fix the performance issue. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/media-server-on-external-hdd/712202/6 "2021-07-26T02:48:12Z")
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