There’s an option in Settings > [Server Name] > Library that configures if Plex automatically empties its trash after a scan (Automatically empty trash after scan). I personally like to disable this… this will avoid losing my metadata if a drive is temporarily not accessible.
If you have the server configured that way, removing your files will not result in the library items being removed right away. Instead you should see a trash can icon on the poster (in the library view) or a red “Unavailable” label next to the name when you’re on the movie detail pages.
To fully delete them…
- hover over the library name in the navigation
- click
...>Manage Library>Empty Trash
(this is also an important step of the “Plex Dance”)
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200289326-emptying-library-trash/
I suppose this is what you experience…
