# Moving Plex Database using Symbolic link, is it possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows, networking\ **Created:** [August 23, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403 "2020-08-23T10:21:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zorglub2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/zorglub2000/32/11905_2.png) [@zorglub2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zorglub2000)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/1 "2020-08-23T10:21:05Z")
Hello everyone, My Plex database is taking way **too much space** on my System SSD Drive (installed on a Nuc with Windows). I am looking for a way to move it on my network drive so that 1. I free some space on the system drive 2. In case of computer crash it would be easier to reinstall plex First of all I would like to know if some of you have had the same problem and have taken the step to move Plex database ? Is it working okay for you ? **I read this article about this issue:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/howto-an-extended-guide-on-how-to-move-the-plex-data-folder-on-windows/197060 **it is written:** > Keep in mind that E: [must use the NTFS] file system, **not** ReFS which gets used with Windows Storage Spaces. It must also **not** be a networked drive. exFat is also not usable.) I would like to know if it can work if my network drive (on a Synology) has a letter assigned with a NTFS file system. Also I already did that for my Picasa software using the method describe here http://james-ramsden.com/move-picasa-database-another-drive/ where it recommends creating a symbolic link like this in the localdata picasa folder > type **cmd**. Command Prompt should appear. Now, **right** -click it, and select **Run as administrator**. ` mklink /J %LocalAppData%\Google\Picasa2\db3 E:\picasa\db3` I would like to know if you think this method might also work for Plex ? Thanks in advance for your help and feedback. Z. Server Version#: Version 1.20.1.3213 Player Version#: Version 1.17.0.1376-439f8b7f ---
**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:** [August 23, 2020, 10:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/2 "2020-08-23T10:40:17Z")
> [@zorglub2000](#): > > I would like to know if it can work if my network drive (on a Synology) has a letter assigned with a NTFS file system. As written: a “network drive”/“file share” cannot be used. You will get a corrupted database pretty quick. The symlink method won’t change that. ---
**Author:** ![adyoull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@adyoull](https://forums.plex.tv/u/adyoull)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/3 "2020-08-23T11:23:14Z")
you’d be better buying an external SSD and keeping the Plex DB on there, as stated the Plex DB will have issues unless you are running iSCSI or Fibrechannel for your networked drive. ---
**Author:** ![zorglub2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/zorglub2000/32/11905_2.png) [@zorglub2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zorglub2000)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:44pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/4 "2020-08-23T12:44:54Z")
Thanks both for your answers. I am using an Intel NUC as computer I have to look if there is space for a 2nd SSD drive. The database is already 100GB, a bit afraid by the limitation of SSD, although you find some cheap 500Gb SSD now but if it should go higher than that there would be a problem afterwards. I am thiniking also of changing device for a [noise problem](https://forums.plex.tv/t/best-way-to-host-plex-server-program/626426) . So I guess it would be important to be able to migrate the database easily or I would have to rebuild it. Z. ---
**Author:** ![zorglub2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/zorglub2000/32/11905_2.png) [@zorglub2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zorglub2000)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/5 "2020-08-27T21:26:57Z")
Hello again 1. When I delete some data (exemple films) inside Plex, does the database also decrease ? 2. Is there some option somwhere to compress the database ? Z. ---
**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/6 "2020-08-27T22:40:18Z")
if you have a new enough/powerful enough nas, you might consider running PMS on the NAS itself. running PMS database on any network storage is a recipe for disaster. an Iscsi volume, which is what seems you were asking about, is still a network storage device, and while you could use it to mount a volume to your windows server, it would be at high risk of getting corrupted anytime you might experience network connection issue between the server and the nas. as already mentioned, your best bet is to increase or add additional SSD space, and/or migrate to a more suitable server (with more storage). > [@zorglub2000](#): > > The database is already 100GB, your database file should be no where near this size, my database is less than 2 gigs, and I have a huge library. That said, what you probably meant was your [plex data folder](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202915258-where-is-the-plex-media-server-data-directory-located/) (with all the metadata etc). The [plex data folder](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202915258-where-is-the-plex-media-server-data-directory-located/) can grow very large, especially if you enable video/preview thumbnails. If you do not wish to upgrade storage, then you should consider deleting/disabling the thumbnails and generation. see @ [https://support.plex.tv/articles/202529153-why-is-my-plex-media-server-directory-so-large/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202529153-why-is-my-plex-media-server-directory-so-large/) ---
**Author:** ![zorglub2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/zorglub2000/32/11905_2.png) [@zorglub2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zorglub2000)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/7 "2020-10-10T12:17:48Z")
> [@TeknoJunky](#): > > if you have a new enough/powerful enough nas, you might consider running PMS on the NAS itself. > > running PMS database on any network storage is a recipe for disaster. Hello @TeknoJunky Of course if I run PMS on the NAS and have the database on the NAS then it’s safe right ? I am moving all my files onto a new NAS. Now I havn’t installed PMS yet. I am not sure to tell you the truth i f I should build everything from scrath again to get a clean install. But then I would loose all cover work and also playcount. What do you think ? If I go on with migration I was thining 1. To first tell my actual PMS that the files have change location (not too sure how to do that even though I did read a tutorial about it) 2. Install PMS on the new NAS 3. Copy database folder somwhere on the NAS (not too sure too where exactly to copy it) Anything else ?? Thanks in advance for your feedback Z. ---
**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/8 "2020-10-10T17:02:48Z")
before doing anything to your old server, I would get the new server up and running with a clean install on its own, and run some streaming tests to make sure everything works as expected. if/when you are ready to migrate old server data to the new one, you can follow any of the guides here or on the help/docs section. moving data from windows to linux is a bit more complicated due to the path differences, might want to consider just starting from a clean install, but it is possible if you really want to keep play history. you might also try one of the various trakt sync scripts/plugins/things that can sync your played content with the trakt website. ---
**Author:** ![zorglub2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/zorglub2000/32/11905_2.png) [@zorglub2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/zorglub2000)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 9:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/9 "2020-10-18T09:56:54Z")
Thanks for your answer. I am finishing to copy my files to my new NAS. When over I think I will plan like you say to make a clean install. Seems much simplier… After that maybe I can batch tag the films I have already seen… Not sure if it’s worth the time and trouble to try to migrate something. Maybe some people who have bee through this before can give me their feedback ? Cheers Z. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 9:57am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/moving-plex-database-using-symbolic-link-is-it-possible/626403/10 "2021-01-16T09:57:07Z")
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