Unable to see only Movies subfolders

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.29.2.6364

I recently set up PMS on my Synology 918+ and am having an odd issue with being able to see files in my “Movies” subfolders. When I add my Movies folder, I’m able to see individual files located in that directory, but not the files located in the subdirectories. I can point Plex to scan the individual subfolders and the files do get listed but I that’s going to be a lot of work when I start copying over a lot of directories. The only way to get Plex to recognize the contents of the subdirectories is to switch the scanner from “Plex Movie” to “Plex Movie Scanner”. This isn’t a great solution since it doesn’t allow for the advanced tagging features of the newer “Plex Movie” engine.

Note that I have no problem listing subfolder content from my Music or Other Video directories. I’ve checked permissions many times over and everything looks to be correct. I’ve also attempted to create and point Plex to another movies directory and it can’t seem to scan the subfolders either in that new directory.

This is driving me crazy - any help to regain my sanity is appreciated.

2

What type of things do you have in subfolders? Plex is expecting One folder = one movie ( subfolders should only have any additional metadata files like behind the scene extras that it ads to the DB and seen on preplay/details page) If you have multiple copies of one movie like two of Batman it will combine them into one listing that has a Play version option.

3

To add to BigWheel,

  1. Don’t use the Synology pre-created shared folders. DSM manages the permissions itself which breaks Plex access permissions.

  2. Ensure you’ve granted permission to ALL files and folders for your movies. Here is the How-To

4

Yes - one folder, one movie:

:~/Movies/22Jump$ ll
total 1732112
drwxrwxrwx+ 1 s7e9h3n users         32 Oct 26 12:21 .
drwxrwxrwx+ 1 s7e9h3n users        526 Oct 25 17:19 ..
-rwxrwxrwx+ 1 s7e9h3n users 1773680295 Oct 25 17:15 22Jump.mp4
drwxrwxrwx+ 1 root    users        112 Oct 26 12:21 @eaDir
5

Yep - permissions properly set. As mentioned earlier, I can scan fine in other directories (Music and Other Videos) but just not any subfolders with movies.

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image779×429 28.8 KB

6

You put it in your HOME directory – there’s the blockage

Don’t do that. Synology controls that too.
ALSO, if you disable the “Homes” service, you’ll lose all your media

Make a proper shared folder out on Volume1 or Volume2 … etc
Move your media there.

7

Thanks, that worked. Can you explain to me why Plex doesn’t properly scan the Home folder?

8

On DSM, Plex has no special privileges.

  1. DSM controls the permission for /home (what you can’t see)
  2. Synology gives you permissions to see your files. Nobody else can (when in /home)
  3. While you can set permissions for your home folder, /home above it blocks Plex.
    (which is a bit nonsensical but that’s how the mechanism works)

While a bit of a pain, it prevents Plex from accidentally scanning into areas you might not want it to.

9

But then how was Plex able to scan the media in my Music and Other Video subfolders? As well as my Movies root folder?

10

When you create a shared folder you grant permission for Plex to see it.
( your home folder is visible ONLY to your username )

To show how it’s laid out on Linux (the underlying operating system)

/volume1/@homes/your_username
/volume1/@homes/some_other_username
/volume1/Movies
/volume1/Series
/volume1/Music

Linux is designed around the concept of multiple concurrent, insulated, users.
You and I can be signed into the same machine at the same time and not know the other is there --NOR-- see each others’ files (this is the important part)

We can only see what is stored in a formally defined “Shared Folder” (Control Panel - Shared Folder)

Plex runs as username PlexMediaServer so it has to obey the underlying Linux permission rules.

11

Supplemental:

Here you can see how I do things and the permissions I’ve given Plex.

Screenshot from 2023-10-26 18-55-41
Screenshot from 2023-10-26 18-55-41899×556 59.8 KB

This is my development system.

I have a movies shared folder.
In there, I put all my movies in name (year)/name (year).ext format as plex expects
I have granted

12

I do understand ACLs. My question is why, when I give the user PlexMediaServer permission to access folders in my home directory, it’s able to properly scan every folder EXCEPT my Movies folder

13

Please show me (screenshot) of the paths you’re using.
Also please do the following:

  1. Verify DEBUG logging on and VERBOSE logging off
  2. Scan Files
  3. Let it finish
  4. Download the server logs ZIP and attach here
14

I can do this but it will take some time. Need to move some files back into my home directory, remove the current ones from Plex, and rescan. I did tail the server.log file yesterday while troubleshooting and it didn’t show any errors:

IMG_4933
IMG_49331699×387 28.5 KB

The only way I could get the contents of the subfolders to enumerate was to change the scan engine from “Plex Movie” to “Plex Movie Scanner”. I know, it doesn’t make sense but I guarantee you this was the case. Happy to work with you offline if you’re really curious about this bug. Not sure how or if this forum has DM capability…

15

You should not need to change the scanner to get matches.

If you have to then your naming is likely incorrect.

I am going to send you a PM so you can show me, in private, you actual file names.

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