TV Shows not showing up in Library or names not matching the videos that play

Plex Media Server
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I know there has been a ton of discussion on this thread/issue, and I’ve even started one in the past, finding an issue with the scanner a few years ago. None of them are still open to reply, so I’m starting a new one.

I have read the naming article https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-tv-show-files/, and this doesn’t always help, but it’s also not really what I’m looking for.

The issue, when putting TV files in a folder using the Plex TV Scanner and Plex Series, the shows usually appear correctly, but 10% or so of the tim,e they either do not show at all, show up under the wrong folder, or show up in the correct folder with the wrong image, name, and plays the wrong file. I have tried renaming, etc., but that doesn’t usually help. This is all besides the point, yes, I’m lazy and just use the full name that the file comes with, and again, it usually works fine. Not looking for the why or how to fix it.

My questions are

  1. What specifically does Plex look for within the metadata of the file that sets it correctly? ie. I can have two files from the same seeder, and one works, the other doesn’t. Both have the same crap in the names. Why? What is missing from the one that doesn’t work? I can rename it, but it doesn’t change it. When creating the video file, what is needed within the metadata or file itself for it to be successful within Plex? (I know it’s not just looking at the path/name because you can name a file that works something nonsensical, and it will still figure out the correct TV show to associate it with.

  2. Mod Edit: Deleted. @FordGuy61

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This is most likely your problem.

Rename your files to follow the Plex documentation. There are tools such as Filebot and Tiny Media Manager which can make short work of renaming your files.

Nothing.

Exception: If you have edited the library and enabled Prefer Local Metadata, then Plex will prefer that information, but only for MP4 files. If the information is incorrect, then it will cause problems.

I deleted that part of your post. You’re basically asking the best way to illegally download media. Such questions are not permitted on the forum.

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