# Plex Folder Disk Space **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850 "2015-06-11T16:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seanfilidis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/seanfilidis/32/9604_2.png) [@seanfilidis](https://forums.plex.tv/u/seanfilidis)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/1 "2015-06-11T16:11:08Z")
The main hard drive which contains Windows on my Plex machine is running out of space. I noticed that the user\appdata\local\plex folder is 14GB. I am surprised how huge it is... Is this all metadata like posters and backgrounds???   Anyway, I need to reduce it. I just deleted my Premium Music Library. I still have my regular Music library. After removing the library, I "cleaned bundles", and "emptied the trash".    The size of the plex folder has not changed however. Can anyone tell me why? How else can I reduce the size of the plex folder?   Thanks ---
**Author:** ![seanfilidis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/seanfilidis/32/9604_2.png) [@seanfilidis](https://forums.plex.tv/u/seanfilidis)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/2 "2015-06-11T16:19:19Z")
Answering my own question: It seems that it just takes time. The bundles are being deleted in the background. I notice my Windows Recycling bin slowly filling up with vast amounts of data. Still, though, what could possibly account for 14GB?  Wondering: each time I have "Force Refreshed" my music library in order to "Download New Meta Data" (and I have done this several times), does it actually _replace_ old meta data and delete the old stuff? Or does it keep all the old files and, in effect, just double the size of the library meta data? ---
**Author:** ![Ockingshay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Ockingshay](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Ockingshay)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/3 "2015-06-11T16:19:43Z")
turn off or limit to certain sections "Generate video preview thumbnails" under settings - server - library in plex/web ---
**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:** [June 11, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/4 "2015-06-11T16:25:13Z")
14GB is nothing [https://forums.plex.tv/topic/163334-is-this-normal-seriously/](https://forums.plex.tv/topic/163334-is-this-normal-seriously/) ---
**Author:** ![jmcgeejr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jmcgeejr/32/2488_2.png) [@jmcgeejr](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jmcgeejr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/5 "2015-06-11T16:42:11Z")
> 14GB is nothing > > [https://forums.plex.tv/topic/163334-is-this-normal-seriously/](https://forums.plex.tv/topic/163334-is-this-normal-seriously/) Mine is 225GB :) ---
**Author:** ![seanfilidis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/seanfilidis/32/9604_2.png) [@seanfilidis](https://forums.plex.tv/u/seanfilidis)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/6 "2015-06-11T16:44:51Z")
Video thumbnails are off. The deletion finished. However, after removing my Premium Music library, it only removed 2GB of data from the Plex folder. What is the other 12GB????????? I hardly have movies or TV shows. Is the meta data for my regular music library really almost 12GB? Why was the Premium Library only 2GB? This makes no sense. What else can I do? ---
**Author:** ![AntiTrust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/antitrust/32/299170_2.png) [@AntiTrust](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AntiTrust)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/7 "2015-06-11T16:46:13Z")
I'd guess the two music libraries were using mostly the same metadata, and the data only the premium lib was using is just what was deleted. ---
**Author:** ![jmcgeejr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jmcgeejr/32/2488_2.png) [@jmcgeejr](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jmcgeejr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/8 "2015-06-11T16:49:11Z")
Did you have video thumbnails on at any point?  What about syncing, are you using syncing to any devices? ---
**Author:** ![seanfilidis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/seanfilidis/32/9604_2.png) [@seanfilidis](https://forums.plex.tv/u/seanfilidis)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/9 "2015-06-11T16:52:19Z")
Never used video thumbnails. Occasionally I sync an album or two to my iPhone. Never more than that. ---
**Author:** ![seanfilidis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/seanfilidis/32/9604_2.png) [@seanfilidis](https://forums.plex.tv/u/seanfilidis)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/10 "2015-06-11T16:56:52Z")
> I'd guess the two music libraries were using mostly the same metadata, and the data only the premium lib was using is just what was deleted. No, I know that Premium Music downloads all its own meta data. I know this because all the problems we've been having with it -- this thread: [https://forums.plex.tv/topic/160033-poor-artist-metadata-for-premium-music-libraries/page-8#entry953037 ](https://forums.plex.tv/topic/160033-poor-artist-metadata-for-premium-music-libraries/page-8#entry953037%C2%A0) ---
**Author:** ![seanfilidis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/seanfilidis/32/9604_2.png) [@seanfilidis](https://forums.plex.tv/u/seanfilidis)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/11 "2015-06-11T16:59:46Z")
OK. My OS hard drive is a SSD with only 32GB. Obviously this is unsustainable if the Plex folder is going to keep growing like this. Now the question becomes, how can I move my Plex folder from user/appdata/local/ to my external HDD where there is plenty of room? And how do I do this without messing things up? ---
**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:** [June 11, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/12 "2015-06-11T17:09:01Z")
Lets consider you have a second hard drive available as drive letter D: (Do never, ever try to use a networked drive. While it is possible, it will give you trouble in the long run. Absolutely not recommended!) If you have media on this drive too, make absolutely sure, that none of your libraries points to the root folder of D: - make a new folder "plexdata" on D: - end PMS - shoot down any processes left running with Windows Task manager that have Plex or Python in their name - copy the whole Plex data folder %LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\ into our new folder D:\plexdata\ so you end up with a folder structure D:\plexdata\Plex Media Server\Cache.... - start PMS go to Settings - Server- General - Show Advanced - edit the field "The path where local application data is stored" which is currently showing "C:\Users\\AppData\Local" to D:\plexdata - Save changes - end plex media server - shoot down again any leftover processes - start plex media server - verify the path is still showing D:\plexdata Disclaimer: this only works on Windows. In other OS you must use a symlink. ---
**Author:** ![Thorrrr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/thorrrr/32/5683_2.png) [@Thorrrr](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Thorrrr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/13 "2016-03-19T16:58:19Z")
HI Guys I have a WHS 2011 with PMS running same issue as most of you guys re space on my SSD. I have tried all the solutions on here registry tweak and copying over my folder. My PMS started and i could see the correct path in server settings but none of my libraries showed up!!! I did sign in out to see if this had any effect but nothing? I have also tried the symbolic link but i am using Drivepool and this does not support symbolic link. So I am really looking for a solution or help please ---
**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:** [March 19, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/14 "2016-03-19T17:48:57Z")
- either you did not follow the guide above precisely (if the input field “The path where local application data is stored” contains ‘\Plex Media Server’, you did it wrong) or - you must **not** move the plex data folder onto a pooled file system ([missing symlink support] ([https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201424327-Why-do-I-get-metadata-but-no-images-for-my-library-items-](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201424327-Why-do-I-get-metadata-but-no-images-for-my-library-items-) “missing symlink support”)) ---
**Author:** ![Thorrrr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/thorrrr/32/5683_2.png) [@Thorrrr](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Thorrrr)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/15 "2016-03-19T19:32:54Z")
Hi OttoKerner I think it is point 2 you mention so i am struggling to find a work round. I am looking at removing a HDD from the pool and using this as a standalone HDD. Before i do that what is safe to delete in the Plex Media Server so i can free up space. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/16 "2016-03-19T20:09:00Z")
> @Thorrrr said: > Before i do that what is safe to delete in the Plex Media Server so i can free up space. disable and delete video preview thumbnails [https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/202529153-Why-is-my-Plex-Media-Server-directory-so-large-](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/202529153-Why-is-my-Plex-Media-Server-directory-so-large-) let the [Plex butler](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201553286-Scheduled-Tasks "Plex butler") remove old cache files ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-folder-disk-space/105850/17 "2020-01-07T19:54:56Z")