# Migrate plex server from windows to linux without having to scan all libraries

**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/migrate-plex-server-from-windows-to-linux-without-having-to-scan-all-libraries/821391
**Category:** Plex Media Server
**Tags:** server-windows, server-linux
**Created:** [December 4, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/migrate-plex-server-from-windows-to-linux-without-having-to-scan-all-libraries/821391 "2022-12-04T13:57:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 10

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### Author: ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/migrate-plex-server-from-windows-to-linux-without-having-to-scan-all-libraries/821391/10 "2022-12-05T00:00:03Z")

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> [@VBB](#):
>
> will the sync feature enable all my users to keep their “Continue Watching” section intact?

~~If they enable the feature in their account and you are running a PMS version that supports the feature.~~

Correction: I don’t think Continue Watching is updated. I just re-read the support document. In Progress status is not synced.

From the support doc: _ **Tip!** : If you stop watching an item part way through, the “in progress” information is not synced. Only if or when you complete the title (so it is “watched”) will the state get synced up. That’s intentional to ensure the source can’t be inferred to be a personal server._

> [@VBB](#):
>
> how would I save just that and do everything else from scratch?

Correction: Follow the migration document. Since it copies the Plex database from the existing to new server, in-progress status should be copied over as well.

The “Move Viewstate…” process will also copy in-progress states from one server to another.  
From the document: _The watched/unwatched, view progress, and ratings are stored in an install-independent fashion that makes them easy to move between installations or servers._

* * *

If you follow [Migration from another OS to Linux](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/23), you copy over the entire [Plex Data Folder](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202915258-where-is-the-plex-media-server-data-directory-located/) from the existing server to the new server, including the Plex database. When you do that, it also copies over users’ watched status, which is kept in the Plex database.

The process copies current watch status from the existing to the new server. There are no ongoing updates. That is why enabling [Sync Watch State and Ratings](https://support.plex.tv/articles/sync-watch-state-and-ratings/) is desirable. It let’s you keep both servers online and in sync with each other either full time or until you are ready to decommission the original server.

Here’s a more generic version of the same information: [Move an Install to Another System](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/)

It is possible to export watched status from one server and import it to another. See [Move Viewstate/Ratings from One Install to Another](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201154527-move-viewstate-ratings-from-one-install-to-another/). This is useful if you already have both servers up and running.

Note that the procedure captures watched status at the time of the export. There are no ongoing updates, which is why enabling [Sync Watch State and Ratings](https://support.plex.tv/articles/sync-watch-state-and-ratings/) is desirable.

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_[View the full topic](https://forums.plex.tv/t/migrate-plex-server-from-windows-to-linux-without-having-to-scan-all-libraries/821391)._