# what is the difference between: update libraries, scan,...

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Created:** [March 18, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441 "2018-03-18T13:24:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cmertens123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@cmertens123](https://forums.plex.tv/u/cmertens123)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441/1 "2018-03-18T13:24:59Z")

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Could you explain the differences between these 4 options (see attached pictures)?  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/d/5/d576c9ee9ad62644f44feb0df82f12ac63d2ef74.png)  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/c/f/cf7113c5f75cd7e849be63071b38217af121a9ad.png)

Regards,  
Christophe

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**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441/2 "2018-03-18T14:02:08Z")

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##Update Libraries  
This will cause Plex to check all the folders linked to the libraries for updates (e.g. added, modified or removed files) and update the library accordingly. If a new file is found, that file will be scanned (trying to detect the movie name and year for movies or the show name, year, season and episode number for a tv show) and afterwards matched using the agent of that library.

##Scanner les fichiers de la bibliothèque  
Same as `Update Libraries` but for a single library. You would usually use this after uploading new content to your server (unless you have it configured to automatically scan for those updates)

##Analyser  
Checks the known files for their technical parameters such as video resolution, duration and available audio/subtitle tracks (their language and for subtitles if they’re forced)

##Rafraîchir toutes les métadonnées  
This will update the metadata of the content in your server. When Plex originally scans/matches a file, it’ll remember the online reference (e.g. ID from TheTVDB or The Movie Database). With this command Plex will check if any of the file metadata has been changed and update it accordingly (e.g. if somebody updated the description, added a new poster or added actors of a movie which hadn’t been listed before).

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**Author:** ![sa2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/sa2000/32/6922_2.png) [@sa2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/sa2000)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441/3 "2018-03-18T14:10:05Z")

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Update Library is the old name - it has been changed to Scan Library and text has not all been updated

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**Author:** ![cmertens123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@cmertens123](https://forums.plex.tv/u/cmertens123)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441/4 "2018-03-19T22:12:17Z")

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Thank you tom80H and sa2000 !  
How many users understand these features?  
Some tool tips explaining features should be there…

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-the-difference-between-update-libraries-scan/229441/5 "2020-01-08T00:46:25Z")

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