Some *.mp4 files are not recognized/shown by the PMS library

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#: all last versions, currently installed 1.22.1.4228
Player Version#: player independent

From time to time I download documentaries/movies from the online libraries of German TV Stations to put on my PMS. I put them into folders, if series, I rename them to S01E01 etc.

Most of the times this perfectly works, however, sometimes the complete folder with all *.mp4 files does not appear on Plex.

Take this wonderful full HD documentation of the Alps:
[https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/erlebnis-erde/die-alpen-1-sommerwelt/das-erste/Y3JpZDovL2Rhc2Vyc3RlLmRlL2VybGVibmlzIGVyZGUvZjdlZDgyZjYtYzU1My00MGFlLWExZTctOWNiNjAwZjc4ZDJh/](https://The Alps (Part 1))

Both episodes downloaded, reneamed to S01E01 and S01E02, put into a folder “Our Earth” as TV Series - it does not appear! :grimacing:

Others, downloaded and organized exactly the same way are shown in their folders, with all of the episodes and are played perfectly.

2

I take it you’re referring to this show / episode?
https://thetvdb.com/series/erlebnis-erde/episodes/8251628

How did you organize that show itself?

TV Shows   <- the folder linked to your tv-show library
  Erlebnis Erde
    Season 21
      Erlebnis Erde - s21e08.mp4

The above example should be working ok with Plex (optionally expanding the episode file name with the episode title, e.g. Erlebnis Erde - s21e08 - Die Alpen - Sommerwelt.mp4).

If the files don’t seem to appear at all that’s most likely due to one of the two following road bumps:

  1. Your library is prioritizing embedded metadata and has embedded information that cause Plex to fail; files downloaded from those online libraries usually come without embedded metadata though
  2. The file actually got added but mismatched to a different show
 can you filter your library for duplicate episodes and check if your new files got mixed up by accident?
1 Like
3

thanks @tom80H

yes, my example is referring to Erlebnis Erde - Die Alpen (1): Sommerwelt - TheTVDB.com

TV Shows ← the folder linked to your tv-show library
Erlebnis Erde
S01E01 Die Alpen (1) - Sommerwelt

docuseries

I did not follow the “official” episode list, just named them all S01E##

I now will check 1. & 2.

4

Meanwhile I double checked everything. It did not work. :frowning:
Finally, I made a backup, removed Plex completely from my NAS and installed it freshly.
I was really surprised suddenly finding the mentioned episodes in Plex.
Unfortunately I don’t know why, however it works. :grinning:

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