I have a very irritating problem with my Plex server. Next to each property of a film (e.g. Title, Sort Title, Release Date, etc) is a “lock” icon, which locks the property to whatever you have changed it to. This is a great feature.
However, for some unknown reason my Plex server randomly (I’ve found no pattern as yet) unlocks various properties and thus the information I’ve entered is often over-written. The biggest problem for me is Sort Titles. Where I have a movie or TV series, I give the series a common name and suffix each movie’s release date as yyyy-mm-dd, then I lock that Sort Title and also lock the Release Date.
I’ve added a movie series today and done this, saved each one, then when I re-open one of them the locks are removed!! This has been happening for as long as I’ve had Plex (a number of months now) and is very annoying, especially as I don’t know which films or TV series it has done this with and as the collection gets bigger and bigger this will become more of a problem and I will have to waste my time fixing Plex’s mistakes.
When you dump your downloads into your libraries - without bothering to rename and structure them - Plex keeps trying to match them. Every time it does - there goes your edits.
I started using FileBot (links in my signature) long ago to pre-match and rename/structure EVERYTHING before it goes in my libraries - since then, no lock field even needed. I name and structure it once, Plex matches it once, then I watch it. Easy.
I don’t feel this really answers the question. I’m not complaining about importing files into my library or even Plex changing details of files that have already been matched. My problem is that I make changes to media details and then lock the fields I’ve changed. I haven’t changed the files, they have stayed in place and haven’t been renamed or written over, so why is Plex removing the lock I’ve specified which then leaves it open to changes?
Yea, you and thousands of others. Plex has tried to make that lock actually lock, but until you start using the absolute correct naming, get solid matches the first time, Plex will keep borking your edits. That’s just the way it is.
Examples of library items that don’t require locking fields - because they never change…
TV Shows:
Movies:
Since I started doing that - never had an unlock issue. Ever.
If you’re doing it like that and have unlocking issues - better drop those logs in:
Forgive me if this is too basic, but it has been a point of confusion in the past, so I’m going to mention it, just to be sure: The lock is engaged when the lock icon is white on orange.
People frequently will enter text in the field, at which point the lock automatically turns on. Then they click on the lock, thinking they are turning it on, when in fact they are turning it off.
… and that’s good info…
Here’s some more good info:
I know how the lock is ‘supposed to work’, but there are hundreds of posts on this forum eluding to the fact that it doesn’t work - unless you name your stuff perfectly. I also know how to name my stuff perfectly and Plex will STILL change a poster (granted there is no lock for posters), but I just had to Plex Dance Season 44 of NOVA because Plex wiped out every episode - trampling over locked fields to do it - when TVDB changed the listings.
So - the moral of this story is - the lock doesn’t work as advertised, but if you want the least amount of pain and suffering stick to the naming and structuring guides and use FileBot - or something.
#1
Is your media stored inside your server machine
or are you using external or even networked hard drives?
If so, you want this checkbox cleared:
Settings - Server - Library - ‘Empty trash automatically after every scan’
#2
Are you using mp4 or m4v files? Those can have embedded metadata which can interfere with the matching process.
Then you may end up with an ‘unmatched’ item (which however has metadata on it, because those were inside the file). When Plex next time updates the library, it attempts to match the item again, which then may lead to the reset of your manual ‘edits’.
To determine whether that is the case, take a look at the menu under the ellipsis ( . . . )
If you see the menu option ‘Fix Match’, the item is matched and all is well.
If you however see ‘Match’ only, the item is unmatched.
You then need to decide whether you want to match the item properly
or continue with your own meta data.
In the latter case it is necessary to manually match the item to the ‘Personal Media’ agent:
#3
here is a way to avoid interference from embedded meta data with the matching process:
Go to Settings - Server - Agents - Shows - TheTVDB
In there, grab the line ‘Local Media Assets’ with your mouse and drag it downwards, so it ends up being at the bottom of the stack of active agents.
Repeat the same under
Settings - Server - Agents - Shows - TheMovieDatabase
+
Settings - Server - Agents - Movies - Plex Movie
+
Settings - Server - Agents - Movies - TheMovieDatabase
… and as soon as I say it ‘never’ happens with properly named and structured files - Plex hurdles right over locked fields to blow NOVA - S44 out of the water…
I have now correctly named all of my files so will test this further, though as I said before regardless of how my files were named once they were in place they were never moved or renamed so in my mind Plex still shouldn’t be messing with things I’ve told it not to
All the various helpful bits of info people have posted here - is incorrect - this is a real issue that has nothing to do with file naming structures. My naming structures are correct, Plex matches correctly first time. My media is on an external NAS - and the “empty trash after scan” checkbox is not checked.
Now the problem -
I add a movie (or TV show). I edit the rating field (to match UK ratings), I edit the collections field. I save. With no predicting the pattern at all - despite triple checking the orange lock is on - sometimes, it just switches off - I’ve even seen it where I can check - and then save, go back in and it’s still orange, go back in a third time - and it’s gone off again. I notice if I change the background or the poster - that will quite often (but not every time) - disengage the locked fields. I have largely taken to correcting the art work first, then saving, then going back in and editing the rating and saving then going back in and sorting out the collections field and saving - but even this - is not guaranteed to work around the issue.
It hasn’t always behaved like this - I certainly don’t remember having these problems in earlier Web App releases - but it’s been a good 4-6 months now that it has been a hassle for me.
I don’t use, or care about that particular thing, but if it’s busted I believe it.
There’s a LOT about this ‘lock’ thing Plex thinks they have under control, but - they do not. Naming helps, structuring helps, tips and tricks help, but eventually the ‘unlock monster’ is going to rare up from the deep and wade through locks to mess something up.
Ok there seems to be no concrete fix for this. I’ve followed the naming guidelines and on the few items I’ve tested so far they seem to all still be in place, so will mark the original response as the accepted answer.
I’ve also just found that a lock was removed after changing a movie poster :neutral:
