# Trouble seeing shared folders on external HDD **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-linux\ **Created:** [January 18, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355 "2023-01-18T15:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harrowrob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/harrowrob/32/295837_2.png) [@harrowrob](https://forums.plex.tv/u/harrowrob)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/1 "2023-01-18T15:08:52Z")
Server Version#: Player Version#: I recently installed Linux Mint 21.1 Cinnamon on my new computer. I am trying to share the folders and files on two attached hard drives. I want to be able to access them using Plex. I have installed Samba, Nautilus-Share, Nemo-Share and Smbrk. I have been able to set the share on the drive and media folders, butt Plex Media Server is not seeing them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/2 "2023-01-18T16:45:10Z")
Plex Media Server version? 1.29, 1.30, etc. Where are you running Plex Media Server? On the new Linux Mint system or on a different system? If on the same system, you do not need Samba, etc, as Plex will have local access. Some additional info that may help: [Linux Tips](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247) ---
**Author:** ![frederick.grayson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/frederick.grayson/32/14914_2.png) [@frederick.grayson](https://forums.plex.tv/u/frederick.grayson)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/3 "2023-01-18T17:26:43Z")
The usual explanation for this is that the external HDDs are mounted into a location that Plex can not read because of inadequate permissions. ---
**Author:** ![harrowrob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/harrowrob/32/295837_2.png) [@harrowrob](https://forums.plex.tv/u/harrowrob)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/4 "2023-01-18T18:24:32Z")
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I have PMS installed. Version 1.30.1.6562 ---
**Author:** ![harrowrob](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/harrowrob/32/295837_2.png) [@harrowrob](https://forums.plex.tv/u/harrowrob)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/5 "2023-01-18T18:24:51Z")
I’m trying to learn how to do that. ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/6 "2023-01-18T18:56:11Z")
By default, when the Gnome desktop’s file manager Nautilus finds unmounted devices (like thumb drives) it mounts auto mounts them for you in `/media/your_username` and gives you exclusive access For you: 1. Get rid of those other sharing packages you installed. They don’t do what’s needed . They only cloud what needs to be done. 2. You need to move the drives from where the automounter has placed them **AND** grant permission so Plex (user plex:plex) can see them. Please follow here: > [@Linux Tips](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/2): > > Using other hard drives (Windows or Linux) with PMS This How-To is written to help with Internal and External drives. It also is written to demonstrate how to cope with NTFS and EXT4 formatted drives. By logical extension, any format supported by Linux can be handled using the technique shown here. In all cases, the goal is to give user plex permission to read your media files which Linux doesn’t allow by default due to its strict security model. We will walk through the steps needed … ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/trouble-seeing-shared-folders-on-external-hdd/827355/7 "2023-04-18T18:56:39Z")
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