# Server Migration — what data backup to use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [March 1, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785 "2026-03-01T03:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chewbaccaman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chewbaccaman/32/10092_2.png) [@Chewbaccaman](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Chewbaccaman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/1 "2026-03-01T03:08:51Z")
Server Version#: latest (Windows 11) Player Version#: latest (Shield TV) Hi. I have a Plex data backup from before a botched migration to a new Windows machine, and a current one from my original server that I went back to after the failed migration (that server now has remote access issues — maybe bc of the failed migration?). Which data backup should I use for a clean migration to the new machine? ---
**Author:** ![napolij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a4c791/32.png) [@napolij](https://forums.plex.tv/u/napolij)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 3:13am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/2 "2026-03-01T03:13:30Z")
I haven’t run Plex on Windows but have you seen this support article? [https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/) ---
**Author:** ![Chewbaccaman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chewbaccaman/32/10092_2.png) [@Chewbaccaman](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Chewbaccaman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 3:18am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/3 "2026-03-01T03:18:34Z")
Yes. Have seen that. The botched migration was due to nas drive access on the destination machine that’s been fixed. My question is about what data backup to use. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 9:42am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/4 "2026-03-01T09:42:15Z")
You usually go with the last working backup. Remote access issues aren’t usually related to your server data. Instead there’s only a few configuration options in Plex … and more settings on the host and your router. It’s unlikely the two issues are immediately linked. ---
**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 1, 2026, 10:43am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/5 "2026-03-01T10:43:39Z")
If you use a manual port forwarding for remote access, see to it that the new server instance is using its own unique external port number. Do not re-use the old port forwarding in your router for the new server. ---
**Author:** ![Chewbaccaman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chewbaccaman/32/10092_2.png) [@Chewbaccaman](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Chewbaccaman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/6 "2026-03-01T16:47:51Z")
Got it. Thanks for the advice. I’m going to try another migration in the next day or so. Question on signing out of the new server before I migrate the data. Do I sign our via the web interface (top right corner menu)? Or in settings and unclaim the server by selecting “Remove”? ---
**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 1, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/7 "2026-03-01T17:01:24Z")
There is no need to sign out, actually. That being said, the server is signed out by > [@Chewbaccaman](#): > > Or in settings and unclaim the server by selecting “Remove”? And the web app in the other place. ---
**Author:** ![Chewbaccaman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chewbaccaman/32/10092_2.png) [@Chewbaccaman](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Chewbaccaman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/8 "2026-03-01T18:59:32Z")
Interesting. In the official Plex documentation I believe it says to sign out before coping over data. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/9 "2026-03-01T19:05:46Z")
It says you should STOP the server. If you’re moving the current setup to a new system – not doing a new setup – you should sign out the old server to avoid conflicts as both servers will otherwise be perceived as the same machine by Plex. If you plan to retire the old server, that shouldn’t be an issue. It’ll only be relevant if you plan to keep the old machine and PMS running. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/server-migration-what-data-backup-to-use/936785/10 "2026-05-30T19:05:52Z")
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