# Missing pictures **URL:** \ **Category:** Metadata & Adding Files\ **Tags:** library-management\ **Created:** [January 23, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799 "2021-01-23T23:33:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jwillmer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jwillmer/32/87240_2.png) [@jwillmer](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jwillmer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/1 "2021-01-23T23:33:50Z")
I have moved my media to a new location and did not follow the procedure. I thought just removing the current location and adding the new one would work. After noticing my mistake I reverted back and followed the procedure and it kind of worked. My problem is that some of the TV episode pictures are missing. Plex references pictures that are not available on my storage anymore. How can I force Plex to download missing pictures? ---
**Author:** ![NewPlaza](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/newplaza/32/128634_2.png) [@NewPlaza](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NewPlaza)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/2 "2021-01-24T01:25:51Z")
> [@jwillmer](#): > > Plex references pictures that are not available on my storage anymore. How can I force Plex to download missing pictures? If you at one time changed them manually then it might be “hard” to set back. If, these are the “default” episode screenshots(likely downloaded from thetvdb) then a refresh metadata might work. If not then you will be force to do the [plex dance](https://forums.plex.tv/t/the-plex-dance/197064). > [@The Plex Dance ™](https://forums.plex.tv/t/the-plex-dance/197064): > > The purpose of this is to remove all cached metadata and xml data for an item that Plex usually keeps. This helps when you want to “start from scratch” for particular item move all files for the media item out of the directory your Library is looking at, so Plex will not “see” it anymore scan the library library (to detect changes) empty trash clean bundles (in menu next to server name, when accessed under ‘More’) double check naming schema and move files back scan the library Support articl… ---
**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:** [January 24, 2021, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/3 "2021-01-24T08:27:47Z")
Try first to Refresh Metadata of the affected show(s). ---
**Author:** ![jwillmer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jwillmer/32/87240_2.png) [@jwillmer](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jwillmer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/4 "2021-01-24T18:56:32Z")
If I do this does my watched flag also get removed? - refreshing metadata did not help ☹ ---
**Author:** ![NewPlaza](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/newplaza/32/128634_2.png) [@NewPlaza](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NewPlaza)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/5 "2021-01-24T19:37:57Z")
Honestly I forgot/don’t know at this point. It might clear it but this article may help you. > **[Move Viewstate/Ratings from One Install to Another | Plex Support](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201154527-move-viewstate-ratings-from-one-install-to-another/)** > > The watched/unwatched, view progress, and ratings are stored in an install-independent fashion that makes them easy to move between installations... ---
**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:** [January 24, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/6 "2021-01-24T19:42:07Z")
If you refresh metadata on a single item, it won’t change its viewstate. ---
**Author:** ![jwillmer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jwillmer/32/87240_2.png) [@jwillmer](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jwillmer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/7 "2021-01-24T21:37:11Z")
I renamed (later removed) the Metadata and Media folder from the Plex Media Server folder and started to refresh the Metadata inside of Plex. That seamed to work! ---
**Author:** ![jwillmer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jwillmer/32/87240_2.png) [@jwillmer](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jwillmer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/8 "2021-01-25T16:48:14Z")
My solution only worked for Movies but not for TV episodes. It is strange that all pictures of the Movies/TV Episodes are still displayed even after I delete the Metadata and Media folder. Is there another location they get stored? I just need to make Plex aware that the pictures are missing. I rather not do the Plex dance since I really like to keep my view marks @NewPlaza . I noticed if I create a new library and reference the same media folder that the view marks are not set so I think Plex does store them on library level and not globally ☹ ---
**Author:** ![NewPlaza](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/newplaza/32/128634_2.png) [@NewPlaza](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NewPlaza)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/9 "2021-01-25T23:35:56Z")
> [@jwillmer](#): > > I think Plex does store them on library level and not globally You are absolutely correct. Global would not be much help when alot of people have the same movies with different quality(720p/4K/etc) in separate libraries. Anywho… For giggles(and to gain more knowledge), I just tested(ThePlexDance) both a movie and an entire TV series and they both restored their viewstate. My movie showed I had already played an hour and 10 minutes with 24 minutes left. And my tv series shows season 1 has been watched and season 2 is queued OnDeck to be played. So it safe to assume you will be fine and your play/viewstate will infact restore if you [plex dance](https://forums.plex.tv/t/the-plex-dance/197064) your content. **One caveat though** You **MUST** use the same matching agent you used previous. Meaning, if your movies were matched with agent “TheMovieDb” then continue to use that one. Same goes for tv shows. If “TheTVDb” was used, then continue to use that. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/missing-pictures/681799/10 "2021-04-25T23:36:15Z")
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