Why is my Plex Media Server directory so large?
Advanced, Hidden Server Settings
[HowTo] An extended guide on how to move the Plex data folder on Windows
Yes.
Plex stores metadata, thumbnails, artwork, etc. in the Plex Data Folder.
The Plex Data Folder can be relocated if desired. There are also steps you can take to r or reduce the size of the folder.
Relocation
To relocate the folder, see the support document linked above.
- The recommended location is an internal, NTFS formatted drive. A SSD is preferred, as it is faster than a hard drive. However, a hard drive also works.
- Relocation to a USB external drive is possible, but not recommended. If the drive disconnects while Plex is running, it will cause database corruption.
- Do not relocate the folder to a network drive mounted via SMB or NFS, as that will cause database corruption.
Size Reduction
As @nx6 mentions, video preview thumbnails can take up a lot of space.
Options to reduce that space include:
- Stop thumbnail generation
- Delete existing thumbnails
- Reduce the interval at which thumbnails are generated
Stopping/deleting can be configured on a per library basis if desired: Edit the library → Advanced → Enable video preview thumbnails. Note that deleted thumbnails will be recreated unless thumbnail generation is stopped.
Thumbnail generation can also be configured on a per-server basis: Settings → Library → Generate video preview thumbnails. Thumbnail deletion is only on a per-library basis.
See Why is my Plex Media Server directory so large? for information on each option.
Plex temporarily uses space when transcoding media. The default location is in the Plex Data Folder. The location can be changed in Settings → Transcoder + Show Advanced.
