Why does Plex not maintain metadata for TV Episodes when it loses the file

[aSystemOverload]

Server Version#: 1.19.4.2935
Player Version#: N/A

I’ve rebuilt my server several times and changed the structure of where my files are stored countless times. Each time, I lose the metadata for the Episodes.
I’ve just moved a shed load of my series to different root folder. I added the new root folder for my TV Series to Plex first. Then moved all the TV Series to that new folder.
What I notice, is that Plex deletes the TV Series, then re-adds them, with absolutely no views etc.

Why is this?

[JuiceWSA]

Copy - don’t Move.

Create the new location - copy everything in. Activate the new location by adding it’s Folder to the Library. Scan.

The gears will whir for a while while everything is ‘Merged’ with ‘Blue 2s’. That’ll tell you Plex is sharing the old metadata with the new (when possible). When everything is discovered and things quiet down - you can remove the old folder from the library, scan, the ‘Blue 2s’ will go away and you can delete the old media.

You can then check for any Duplicates that may have occurred through mismatch and deal with those, if any, and any strays.

You may want to disable ‘Empty trash automatically after every scan’ (Server/Settings/Library), but if you do it right - you don’t have to (I don’t).

[aSystemOverload]

Can’t do, I’ve 20TB of media and 1.8TB free. Appreciate the tip though.

[JuiceWSA]

Well… then you have to do… the other method:

Create the location
Copy all you can.
Add the library folder to the library.
Scan, let it happen - then delete the ones you copied from the original location.

Then…

Shut down Plex.
Copy the next batch now (probably do it in two batches, yes?).
Restart Plex and scan.
When that happens - delete the next batch - and scan.

Lather/Rinse/Repeat

You don’t absolutely have to shut down Plex for this method, but it may not ‘share’ properly and it is advisable at this time to disable ‘Empty Trash automatically’.

The trick is Copy - don’t Move.
When Plex sees two identical items - it’ll merge them and share the data.
If it only sees one - it’s brand new.

This is where my madness helps out… when I move something - it’s in a smaller folder somewhere - not in one huge Woodstock Naked Hippy Festival:

I just balance out as necessary by copying a folder or two…

… and people called me crazy… (like a Foxx - Redd Foxx)…

[aSystemOverload]

LOL, noted. I will be upgrading to a high slot NAS at some point in the future, when I can find the money. need a backup. So will try your method when I get the hardware… Enjoy your crazyness

[Volts]

You can move files instead of copying them.

• Make sure Settings -> Library -> Empty trash automatically after every scan is DISABLED.
• Add the new path(s) to your Library.
• Move your files.
• Scan Library Files
• Verify stuff plays OK

Don’t Empty trash while you’re moving files.

---

It’s useful to take a library-centric view of Plex instead of a file-centric view.

Library items (movies, episodes) hold your metadata. They also reference your file(s). Your goal is to preserve the library items and keep your metadata.

A library item can have multiple files. When there’s more than 1, Plex will display the ‘Blue 2’. But you don’t have to go from 1 file, to 2 files, back to 1 file. You can keep your library items (and metadata) without doing that.

If a library item doesn’t have any reachable files, Plex shows the ‘Trash’ icon. If you Empty Trash when none of the files are reachable, Plex removes the library item (and metadata). Don’t do that!

If you don’t Empty Trash, you’re fine. The library item (with metadata) is still there. Unreachable files aren’t a catastrophe. That’s a common situation. If the original file comes back, it’s fine. If Plex scans and matches another file to that library item, or the file in a different location, that’s fine.

Empty trash automatically after every scan was biting you. Plex automatically monitors files and directories for changes, and scans them frequently. If the trash is also emptied automatically, your library items and metadata are at risk.

With Empty trash automatically ... enabled, one style of using Plex is super convenient. Delete a file, the library item gets trashed. Magic! You never have anything unreachable in the library. It’s super simple and acts more file-centric.

In many other situations, it’s really important to DISABLE Empty trash automatically .... Examples:

• If you sometimes remove and reconnect a USB storage device
• If your storage isn’t perfectly reliable
  • If your network or NAS could ever be disconnected
  • If you a take volume offline for RAID work
  • If your storage is on a cloud drive
• If you want to move/rename/swap files around
• If a directory could ever be renamed
• If any permissions mistake could ever happen

When Empty trash automatically ... is DISABLED, you can recover from any of those issues without a Library & metadata catastrophe. When it’s disabled, it’s always safe to Scan Library Files.

So once that’s disabled, just add the other path to the library. Move a couple files. Verify you can play those library items.

Don’t Empty Trash if you’re in the middle of moving files, or if anything is offline, or you are troubleshooting.

Only Empty Trash when you’ve deliberately deleted files, and want any library items with missing files to get removed.

[aSystemOverload]

Thank you, that’s very helpful.

Is [Empty trash automatically after every scan] the only ‘Empty Trash’ setting? I rarely delete Movies/TV/Songs, I just upgrade to better/alternate copies, so prob best I keep that disabled.

[Volts]

@aSystemOverload

Is [Empty trash automatically after every scan] the only ‘Empty Trash’ setting?

I think so.

[aSystemOverload]

Seems to be, I’ve disabled that and I get the little trash can icons now and then, so it seems to be working. Thanks