Well, I’m not sure if this applies to anyone out there, but I was having this same issue. I would change the entire database, and I had several movies that were, well, annoyingly named. The first thing I did was login into Plex through a browser and check the server settings. From the home screen, its the screwdriver on the upper right. It has settings for Web and Server. Choose server. From the list, select agent. It shows a list of several agents on the right for various databases (i.e. move, tv, personal). Under Movies there is a list for Freebase and “The Movie DB”. In there, I had my own list selected BEFORE each of the databases, giving my own lists priority (and thus, renaming things with my local info even after matching). After I fixed this (I may have set this a while back when the databases were, well, less complete), Then I scoured my movies for incorrect matches. In my case they were easy to spot even if I’d modified the title because some of the data wasn’t being pulled from the movie databases, so I could tell which ones I’d renamed (multiple times). For some reason, they’d never really gotten a movie database match. Once I fixed the problem, even updating the library didn’t rename the movies. Hopefully, I’ve permanently corrected the problem. However, if you have a library where your own library information is what you want, then you’ll need to make sure it is pulling the information in the order you want it. I’ve never really checked to make sure any of my own info is all that complete, and now that the movie databases are becoming more complete, I can switch to relying on those for matches. Provided everything matches correctly (which, in my case, it fails to do automatically many times).
First time I’ve come across this problem today so after numerous hours testing I’ve finally managed to figure out that it’s caused by the properties title and that removing it stops the issue happening. Not sure why Plex is setup to overwrite the name when a properties title is used and if it’s needed then that’s fair enough but someone really should add that to the naming conventions help page because that would have saved me hours of messing about/ googling.
@JimBeam5 said:
First time I’ve come across this problem today so after numerous hours testing I’ve finally managed to figure out that it’s caused by the properties title and that removing it stops the issue happening. Not sure why Plex is setup to overwrite the name when a properties title is used and if it’s needed then that’s fair enough but someone really should add that to the naming conventions help page because that would have saved me hours of messing about/ googling.
It should only use the title property on the initial scan. After that, if you change the title, it should stick with the new title, unless 1 of the 3 scenarios I described earlier also applies.
Well, this problem was reported more than 2 years ago, and still no progress here.
Please, fix this annoying glitch with locked titles. I’m tired changing titles back and thinking to cancel my subscription or stop using Plex completely.
Do any of the 3 situations I mentioned earlier in this thread apply for you?
Just became a lifetime member and this issue is so irritating its making me want to ask for a refund. I’ve set movie names for my Stargate SG1 series files many times and it keeps reverting them.
@MovieFan.Plex said:
I’ve only seen this happen under 3 circumstances.
1 - The movie is unmatched
After fiddling a lot with issue this was the solution for me. I have to match manually as a personal media the file and then my custom title stick.
I’m not sure if this will help anyone having problems with Plex changing locked fields, but my problem only occurred with the itunes movies I’d imported into my Plex library. I discovered that even though the movies appeared matched, they weren’t. Plex had imported the metadata from the itunes files, but it hadn’t matched them. Plex showed all the correct information about the movie that it had imported from the file. The movie showed all the information it would normally have if it had been matched, but the movie was still unmatched. Once I went through and matched these unmatched movies I could lock the fields I wanted to lock, and Plex would retain the locks. Apparently Plex won’t consistently retain locks on unmatched movies, especially in regard to the naming and sorting fields. I wasted a lot of time on this problem because the movies with this issue appeared the same as matched movies. I just happened to notice when I selected the three dots option on one of these movies that ‘match’ was one of the options. It was such a relief to finally regain control of my library. I’m not sure how many Plex users are importing from itunes libraries, but an ‘unmatched’ filter in movies would go a long way in making the transition to Plex smoother and easier.
You added iTunes movies into your Plex library? These won’t play.
I think the moral of this story is:
Name your files so they can be matched (no need for tiresome editing) or live in constant fear and loathing when Plex does something unexpected.
Filebot:
http://www.filebot.net/
It’s so easy I taught my cat (the dumbest one) how to use it - in 2 minutes.
MovieFan. Plex Employee
Really? Are you a trained Plex Employee? iTunes is an alternative to Plex. Until I discovered Plex, all my movies (and TV shows) along with my music were in my iTunes library. I and a lot of people I know hadn’t found a superior alternative for our libraries. We converted all our movies and TV shows to the iTunes required mp4 format, then loaded the metadata using an app with that capability. We of course are all using appletvs, iphones, and ipods as our streaming devices. We are, however, still using iTunes for our audiobooks, since Plex doesn’t have a good solution for that kind of playback yet. So anyone having this kind of a library is running into this problem I described, if they’re trying to switch to Plex. The movies load properly but aren’t necessarily matching. Wow, so your response to this problem I’ve described is that I’m apparently delusional since iTunes movies don’t work on Plex. Every movie I converted to the iTunes format plays beautifully on Plex. Again, the headache lies in overcoming this matching issue. And I know I’m not the only one wading through this headache. Most that I know have just left them unmatched and aren’t bothering with trying to organize them, since the changes won’t stay. For them it’s just not worth the time required to sift through thousands of movies to find which of them aren’t matched. Maybe it would help if you qualified your comment by stating that movies purchased from iTunes won’t play on Plex, not necessarily movies in an iTunes library.
Sorry, I read your comment wrong. You are correct, I should have qualified my comment better. When you said iTunes movies, I thought you meant movies you purchased through iTunes. These will not work with Plex. Regular movie files you just imported into iTunes are fine.
@canyonsskier said:
The movies load properly but aren’t necessarily matching. Wow, so your response to this problem I’ve described is that I’m apparently delusional since iTunes movies don’t work on Plex. Every movie I converted to the iTunes format plays beautifully on Plex. Again, the headache lies in overcoming this matching issue…
The problem is that the MP4/M4V (same file/different name) files from your source are infected with embedded metadata with titles that may not match via Plex and the supported Agents.
The multi-part solution:
Part 1:
Since you probably don’t want to cleanse your files of the diseased metadata you’ll need to tell Plex to stop looking at it:
Plexweb/settings/server/agents/:
Depending on the type of library (Movies or TV Shows) visit the appropriate category/tab then drag Local Media Assets out of the top slot to the bottom of the lists. This will tell Plex to stop giving top priority to embedded metadata and concentrate on the file name instead.
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200241558-Agents
You could just uncheck Local Media Assets, but this will disable Movie Extras (and other unsavory side effects) - probably not a good idea… just drag it down the list nearer the bottom.
Part 2:
Name your files in accordance with the Plex guidelines so Plex and the Agents can match these titles with the appropriate database by their file names:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/categories/200028098-Media-Preparation
There are two main players in this quest for perfect Plex Naming:
The Movie Database (TMDB): https://www.themoviedb.org/
The TV Database (TVDB): http://thetvdb.com/
(Freebase is dead - send flowers - drag TMDB into it’s top slot under it’s tab) (note: PMS V 1.0.2 changes this layout removing the now deceased Freebase from the agents)
If you want to be ■■■■ (and you do if you want to stop having trouble with matches) visit these sites BEFORE you place an item in the library, acquire the proper name and change your file name to it. Once you have changed your file to the proper name Plex and the Agents expect to see you can place the item.
If you’ve been trying to rename these items while in a Plex library it’s possible you may have freaked Plex right out… Let’s Dance…
The Plex Dance:
Remove the entire TV Show, or Movie from the library
update library
clean bundles
empty trash
Fix Movie or TV Show Name/Structure
replace item in library
update library
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200392106-Library-Actions <----- clean bundles - in case you were wondering.
There… that wasn’t so hard…
No. Not a lot of steps. But still VERY frustrating…
If you look at the collective hours of people trying to resolve this, not to mention, the frustrated people who are just living with it. It’s just NOT something we should need to deal with.
How about a check box that says “Use Filename For Library Title”…?
BTW…
Under scheduled tasks, my “remove old bundles every week” box is checked. Is there a way to remove them now? If this is part of the problem, how do I know when the old bundles were removed?
I had some Exercise DVD’s that I converted to MKV files so that Plex would read them. I thought it would be more convenient since I access them regularly. They are the "Insanity " series. I named all the created files according to the DVD name. Most turned out ok. I have one in particular that comes up in the library as “The Haunting”… Really? I can’t get rid of it. I basically MADE this file. There should be nothing to look for (metadata), no?
Ok, for my case I found in another area that if I create a “Home Movies” library, Plex will only use the file name for the title. This seemed to work for me.
@tpresz said:
No. Not a lot of steps. But still VERY frustrating…
Here is the Encyclopedia on Media Preparation for use in Plex:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/categories/200028098
It is rather extensive and informative.
My Dad always said: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try following the instructions’.
I recall that used to annoy me, but now realize that was wisdom that was well beyond my punk-a$$ years at the time…
I miss him.
If you look at the collective hours of people trying to resolve this, not to mention, the frustrated people who are just living with it. It’s just NOT something we should need to deal with.
In order to have a peaceful and productive co-existence with Plex there are a few ground rules to obey. It’s not really that complicated… so long as you know what those rules are.
How about a check box that says “Use Filename For Library Title”…?
That’s not how it works. Your file name must match the file name used by Plex and it’s Agents to match your file with the online databases. Your name may make sense to you, but it’s Greek to Plex.
From my post above:
How 'bout moving Local Media Assets out of the top slot in all your Agent Lists? This will tell Plex to STOP giving top priority to embedded metadata (which could be bogus and preventing a match):
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200241558-Agents
BTW…
Under scheduled tasks, my “remove old bundles every week” box is checked.
Excellent. Not a bad idea at all. Might want to also Optimize Database automatically as well, but neither of those settings have any bearing on the problem at hand.
Is there a way to remove them now? If this is part of the problem, how do I know when the old bundles were removed?
From my post above:
Clean Bundles: -------> https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200392106-Library-Actions <---- along with empty trash and update libraries.
The Plex Dance has specific steps to perform in order. If you leave out steps or do other steps it’s not The Plex Dance… may be River Dance or Hamster Dance, but neither of those two Dances will produce the desired effect which is ‘Resetting a Bogus Bundle’ that contains info Plex can’t use to match your item(s). In fact, the bundle contains info that is ‘preventing’ a match… so we ‘re-boot’ the bundle by doing The Plex Dance… more accurately we Delete the Bundle, correct the file names and structure and build a brand new bundle with all the right stuff in it.
No… unfortunately there is no way to see what Plex is doing with your bundles. Often requested, often ignored. I always look at the drive light… when it goes dark I assume the bundles are clean and then I empty the trash. This shouldn’t take very long… under a minute I would say.
I had some Exercise DVD’s that I converted to MKV files so that Plex would read them. I thought it would be more convenient since I access them regularly. They are the "Insanity " series. I named all the created files according to the DVD name. Most turned out ok. I have one in particular that comes up in the library as “The Haunting”… Really? I can’t get rid of it. I basically MADE this file. There should be nothing to look for (metadata), no?
Files that you want to isolate from the process of matching with databases - because there is nothing listed in any database… like Home Movies, for instance, should go into a Home Movie Library. Plex doesn’t inspect Home Movies. They just appear as is… no bells, no whistles, no ribbons or pretty bows… just files. You can be ‘creative’ with your file names so you can find what you’re looking for.
The beauty of FileBot is that it will ‘Pre-Match’ your files with the appropriate online database. It then ‘Re-Names’ your files with those ‘Pre-Matched’ database items. All the guesswork is removed from the procedure. The file has already been matched and renamed before you add it to a library. The other beauty of FileBot is it all happens in seconds. The hand (pushing the FileBot button) is quicker than the eye. Link in my signature.
Talk about complicating the simplest things, PLEX should use that statement as there motto. PLEX doesn’t know squat about file naming, PLEX pull your head out of your back side and KISS (keep it simple stupid) . If I name any file a name, keep your AI out of it, unless asked for. Remember the CUSTOMER is ALWAYS right, ALWAYS. You at PLEX seem to know little about Logistics,Libraries or even Basic administrative type organizational skills, it shows in your cumbersome program. UN-friendly, UN-caring, which leads me to be UN-paying.
@ejdiii said:
Talk about complicating the simplest things, PLEX should use that statement as there motto. PLEX doesn’t know squat about file naming, PLEX pull your head out of your back side and KISS (keep it simple stupid) . If I name any file a name, keep your AI out of it, unless asked for. Remember the CUSTOMER is ALWAYS right, ALWAYS. You at PLEX seem to know little about Logistics,Libraries or even Basic administrative type organizational skills, it shows in your cumbersome program. UN-friendly, UN-caring, which leads me to be UN-paying.
How do you suggest Plex match your mysteriously named file with an online database? The APIs these online databases use require Plex, or anyone else for that matter, to meet certain criteria. If that criteria isn’t met (the file name is unrecognizable) how is it going to work? The answer is, it’s not.
@ejdiii said:
Talk about complicating the simplest things, PLEX should use that statement as there motto. PLEX doesn’t know squat about file naming, PLEX pull your head out of your back side and KISS (keep it simple stupid) . If I name any file a name, keep your AI out of it, unless asked for. Remember the CUSTOMER is ALWAYS right, ALWAYS. You at PLEX seem to know little about Logistics,Libraries or even Basic administrative type organizational skills, it shows in your cumbersome program. UN-friendly, UN-caring, which leads me to be UN-paying.
First: Plex knows a LOT more about naming files for use WITH THEIR SOFTWARE that you or I or any individual does. If you do not want to use Plex’s naming or their metadata gathering the you can set up your library as a “Home Movies” library and then Plex will not do anything except play the media when asked. The other alternative to do it all your way is to not use Plex.
Second: The adage that “the customer is always right” is about as wrong as it gets. Companies that try to adhere to that poorly thought out phrase are doomed for failure. The phrase, properly rendered, should be “the customer is always right when they have obeyed the rules and guidelines.”
If you want to use Plex follow the Plex rules if you do not follow the Plex rules you can, and should, expect things to work improperly.
BTW: It took me several months to convince myself that Plex’s naming and structure was better than what I had been using but Plex managed to convince me thereof. I also found that the Plex naming and structure is well recognized by every other media program.
Now if you are talking about Plex’s display names then you can get great matching by first making Plex not use your local media assets by moving that option down in the agents and then making sure you follow Plex’s naming.
No one forces you to use Plex so if you don’t like it then don’t use it.
Right click on item (movie with naming issue) properties, details tab, remove properties at the bottom, and follow further prorompts. This will remove the bad internal file names, and with local media set as a metadata search, your file name will be used instead.
Best of luck
