# What happens to the database **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483 "2024-11-30T19:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plexihexi1231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@Plexihexi1231](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Plexihexi1231)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/1 "2024-11-30T19:17:42Z")
… when 1 drive fails? Will it automatically delete those files that were on that drive from the database? Or will Plex “wait” until I insert a new drive with the same content and put it automatically back ON? best wishes! ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/2 "2024-11-30T19:31:07Z")
It depends on some details like how the drive was mounted, the OS, and whether Empty trash automatically after every scan has been ticked or not. ---
**Author:** ![Plexihexi1231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@Plexihexi1231](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Plexihexi1231)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/3 "2024-11-30T19:31:49Z")
It is a Windows 10 machine and I guess the drive would disappear someday when it fails. empty trash is clicked. is that bad? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/4 "2024-11-30T19:36:56Z")
If a whole drive disappears, Plex has a failsafe for that. It will not make any changes in the library (including ousting media) even if the checkbox is ticked. This does however only apply to a “regular” drive. If you do Pooling, RAID, or mount your hard drives as subfolders into an existing folder which sits on another hard drive, then Plex will not engage the failsafe. It will then oust the missing items from the library. If you catch that happening early enough, you can [restore a database backup](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/) as remedy. [https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/) ---
**Author:** ![Plexihexi1231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@Plexihexi1231](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Plexihexi1231)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/5 "2024-11-30T19:58:34Z")
or should I just untick the “empty after every scan” and delete manually every now and then? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 9:17am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/6 "2024-12-01T09:17:41Z")
It certainly is the safest option. But if it’s not only you who is using the server, then it can be confusing to see unavailable items still being listed. So you want to empty the trash rather sooner than later. ---
**Author:** ![Plexihexi1231](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@Plexihexi1231](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Plexihexi1231)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 9:34am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/7 "2024-12-01T09:34:47Z")
I am the only one adding and deleting media. So for safety, I will just uncheck that option. Thanks again for helping me out! by the way: what’s the deal with “update library automatically”. won’t that option notice one drive missing and automatically get rid of the missing content now? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 9:42am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/8 "2024-12-01T09:42:59Z")
That checkbox does nothing different than trigger a regular library scan. The failsafe would be still active. The state of the “empty after every scan” checkbox is still observed by it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 9:43am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-happens-to-the-database/897483/9 "2025-03-01T09:43:30Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.