Plex Can't find folders

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#:4.12.3
WIN7 i7-4770 @3.4GHz 16GB RAM 64 bit OS
I have created new folders on the NAS separate from the ones the NAS created and loaded 6TB of tv and movies in the 7 newly formed folders. when viewing with windows all the files are there in the correct folders after restarting the NAS to make sure. Plex put all the TV in one folder and will not show the ones I created. Although they appeared in vol1 when I tried to add them. What I wound up with is several folders tha all have the same name (TV SHOWS) even though that was not the name of any I created on the NAS. Alos when viewing through the Android TV all the TV shows are in one folder, making it almost unuseable. why is it so hard for plex to see the folders? This seems to be a very common problem with a lot of users. I’m about ready to just use the nas system and forget all the pretty stuff, which isn’t working anyway. I have been at this for a week and many hours with nothing but crap for my time. I will give it another week and if I can’t get it solved it’s all going back for a refund. It shoudn’t be this complicated. they need to take a lesson from Windows or Linux.

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Many times this happens due to naming and organization issues. Plex is very picky with TV shows.
Make sure you are following Plex recommendations. See Your Media -> TV Show Files (Naming and Organizing).

Please provide a screenshot or similar showing the naming and directory structure for your TV shows.

Also, please indicate at which directory the Plex library is pointed. Note that Plex does not like subfolders based on genre, type, etc.

Something like this will cause problems

/Media
   /TV Shows  <-- Library points here
    /Science Fiction
      /Lost In Space

This is OK

/Media
   /TV Shows  <-- Library points here
    /Lost In Space
      /Season 01
        /Lost In Space - s01e01.mkv

Edit: If you wish to keep subfolders, you need to point the library at the subfolder.

/Media
   /TV Shows 
    /Science Fiction  <-- Library points here
      /Lost In Space
        /Season 01
          /Lost In Space - s01e01.mkv
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In addition, if you have MP4/M4V files, incorrect embedded metadata can sometimes cause issues.

Check Plex Media Server Settings -> Agents -> Shows

If you have Local Media Assets (TV) enabled make sure it is at the bottom of the list for TheTVDB and The Movie Database sections.

You will need to refresh the metadata for the appropriate libraries.

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Just to contribute, make sure you create a library type TV Show for your tv shows, not Video or Movies

1 Like
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Here are the screenshots:

this is where they appear in plex
this is where they appear in plex1221Ă—369 63 KB
This is the NAS in the correct folder where I loaded them
This is the NAS in the correct folder where I loaded them841Ă—407 75.9 KB
PLEX SYN NAS
plex folder but they don't appear
plex folder but they don&#39;t appear1006Ă—354 32.8 KB

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Which brings you back to FordGuy61’s first answer.
Plex will not work with your file names and folders mixed up like this.

This is now a bit of a guessing game the way you cut those screenshots – let me try to sort this for you :wink:
If Dark Skies is a show in the Synology Share OLDER TV SERIES-DVDRip, this is how your file/folder structure should look like:

OLDER TV SERIES-DVDRip   <- Your Plex TV Show Library links THAT folder
  Dark Skies
    Season 01
      Dark Skies - s01e01-e02 The Awakening.mkv
      Dark Skies - s01e03 - Moving Targets.mkv
      Dark Skies - s01e04.mkv
      ...
      Dark Skies - s01e20 - Bloodlines.mkv

The files might work as you have named them – make sure you organize your folders properly, e.g. stick with the Show Name in the show folder – don’t go for mixed up stuff like Amnesia.2004.DVDRip.x264-CASSiDY or Angel S01-05 NTSC DVDRip

Considering Plex has your show already processed (and memorized to its cache) you’ll need to perform a “Plex Dance” when you got this fixed:

  1. move the show folder (or individual files) outside the folder linked to Plex
  2. Scan Library Files (library context menu: ... > Scan Library Files )
  3. Empty Trash (library context menu: ... > Manage Library > Empty Trash )
  4. Clean Bundles (Plex Settings: Settings > [Server Name] > Manage > Troubleshooting > Clean Bundles )
  5. verify the files are properly named, matching Plex’ naming schema and return them in place
  6. Scan Library Files (see #2)

Also… no need to have dozens of “TV Shows” libraries – you can have multiple top-level folders linked to a single library (however make sure that’s a top-level LIBRARY folder, not that of individual tv shows!) :wink:

1 Like
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