This library is currently empty - how to fix?

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.18.0.1944
Player Version#: 1.3.1.916-1cb2c34d

I am running Plex Media Server on a Raspberry Pi 3. I know the server is running, because I can see it on my Plex app on my Mac.

I’ve added some media to a USB flash drive to test the system. The drive is formatted to exFAT, and I have installed the exFAT drivers on my Pi. Raspbian recognizes the drive and can read and write files to it.

When I set up a library using the Plex app, it doesn’t see that there are files in it. I get the message, “This library is currently empty”

What do I need to do to make Plex see my files? Is the problem exFAT?

Thanks for your help!

2

Give user plex permission to read the directories and files too.

Linux is strict about permissions. Just because you can see it doesn’t mean Plex can.

Usually it’s best to:

  1. mount the media in a neutral location / directory somewhere
  2. Make yourself the owner
  3. Dir permissions 755
  4. Files 644
  5. Point Plex at that location.
3

My server is missing. Same email but doesn’t recognize my Plex pass. Add media says download Plex media server which i already have.

1 Like
4

Verify the server is running (obviously) ps -ef | grep -i plex
open an incognito window to either 127.0.0.1 (if same machine) or IP of the machine on your LAN (same subnet) or ssh-tunnel to it if remote or different subnet.

5

Hello @ChuckPa, thank you for responding. I am very new to Raspberry Pi and Linux in general, so it might take me a while to understand everything.

Plex Media Server is running on my Raspberry Pi. I’ve tested it by copying a media file directly into the /media folder on the Raspberry Pi’s SD Card. I made a Plex library and pointed it at /media and I can play the file on any Plex player I have.

Now I’ve plugged in an external hard drive I was using with Plex before, when I had Plex Media Server running on an old MacBook. The MacBook has died, so I am trying to replace it with the Raspberry Pi. On the Raspberry Pi it mounts as /media/pi/Plex Media. I see this in Raspbian File Manager. But Plex doesn’t see the folders within (which contain the media) when I try to add it to my library. This is the permissions problem, right?

What is the exact command I would use to grant permissions to /media/pi/Plex Media so that Plex Media Server can see all of my files? I can ssh to my Pi, or do it directly in Raspbian. I’ve learned that much!

Thanks again! Sorry for being so long winded.

6

You need this.

7

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.