Plex is a media player system that allows users to store their media files on a server and then access them from any device of their choice. However, recently, people have been getting the Plex not finding files error on ubuntu, Synology and some users are also getting the plex not finding files on hard drive error.
![How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (1)](https://i0.wp.com/techisours.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-23_000325.png "How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (1)")
In this article, we have compiled a detailed guide to help you fix this issue completely using some easy to apply solutions. Make sure to follow the guide carefully in order to ensure complete eradication of this error. Also, keep in mind to read through the reasons due to which it occurs.
What Causes the Plex not Finding Files Issue?
After reading through some basic troubleshooting guides, we came to the conclusion that the following are some of the most important reasons due to which this error occurs.
- Improper Naming of Files: It is possible that you haven’t used the proper naming scheme for your media files due to which you are running into this issue. It is best that you follow the appropriate naming scheme as suggested by Plex to fix the Plex not finding files issue.
- Server Issue: If your server hasn’t been properly configured, you will get the Nvidia plex not finding files my cloud issue, therefore, it is best to follow the second method listed below to fix this issue completely.
- Improperly Sorted Files: It is very important that you have sorted your media files according to the recommended format by plex or else you will be getting this issue while trying to access them from the server.
- Folder Permissions: In some cases, the folder permissions aren’t properly configured to allow the server to be able to access the files. Therefore, it is recommended that you reset these permissions as we have stated below to completely fix this issue.
Now that you have read through almost all of the reasons behind this error, we feel like we can finally move on towards fixing the plex not finding files issue.
Fixing the plex not finding files on hard drive issue:
Contents hide
Solution 1: Name Files Properly And Reboot
Solution 2: Change Server
Solution 3: Sort your files
Solution 4: Manually edit plex metadata
Solution 5: Enable plex media server
Solution 6: Re-include media
Solution 7: Recheck your copying methodology
Solution 8: Use an SSD USB
Solution 9: Reset folder permissions
Solution 10: Tweak folder permissions
Solution 11: Extract content again
Solution 1: Name Files Properly And Reboot
Files should be named appropriately and according to plex’s advised naming and organizing scheme. Click on this link to see the naming and organizing scheme devised by plex. Follow that advised mechanism by plex to resolve this issue and afterward reboot your device. Turn “OFF” your device and wait for approximately 3-4 minutes until all of the power capacitors are discharged. Afterward, turn “ON” your device, refresh 4-5 times and hopefully, plex not finding files on the hard drive issued will be resolved now.
![How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (2)](https://i0.wp.com/techisours.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/unnamed-2.jpg "How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (2)")
Solution 2: Change Server
Sometimes, due to server crashes, plex can’t find files in libraries therefore, to resolve this issue, you can change your server by using a VPN on your device. VPN can be downloaded easily from the respective AppStores of your devices and afterward as you would’ve been shifted to a new server hopefully, the plex not finding files Synology error would be resolved.
Solution 3: Sort your files
If your files are properly sorted and organized in folders, it becomes easier for plex to find files so it is advised to keep music, movies, and season’s files in their respective folders. Movies or music having a single file can be saved in one folder. TV shows having multiple files i.e. episodes of a single season must be stored in separate folders. For example: Make a folder of Game of Thrones and in this folder make 8 separate folders for each season to organize them properly.
Always add the year of release because there can be other versions of the same file. Most probably after organizing your files, you would’ve gotten rid of this issue on windows as well as plex not finding files ubuntu.
Solution 4: Manually edit plex metadata
- Open the plex’s desktop application and search for the media that is needed to be fixed.
- Once you’ve found the required media, move the pointer over the thumbnail.
- A pencil icon will become visible in the lower-left corner of the thumbnail.
- Click on this pencil and a window will pop up where you can edit all info of your selected media.
- Now try again to search the file in plex and hopefully, you will get rid of Nvidia plex not finding files my cloud issue.
Solution 5: Enable plex media server
- For this purpose, you need to open your plex application.
- Now proceed to the “Settings” icon located at the top right of the application and choose “Plex media server”.
- Look for the “The server version number” option under the Settings.
- Click on that option to enable the plex media server, run the application again, and try finding your files.
Solution 6: Re-include media
A media file might be containing a special word or character that is responsible for hindering the files. There are many types of content like BDMV, IMG, VIDEO_TS that are basically “disk image” format. This file format is not supported by the plex media server so files are automatically excluded while scanning. Another reason can be the use of .plexignore file. The best remedy for this issue is to rename the file and again include it in the library and it can be done by changing the format type of media.
Solution 7: Recheck your copying methodology
When you copy content to drive and navigate directly to the content area it is observed that when the content starts to copy, the Plex Media Server scanner can detect the change and it waits for 60 seconds. It will perform a library scan if nothing else changes but if the content being copied takes more than a minute, then there may be a situation where the scan takes place before the copy is complete hence, making the content not available for scanning. The next scan would not look in the index because it doesn’t appear to have changed its direction from the previous scan. This issue can be resolved by following the steps indexed below:
- First of all, copy your content to a temporary folder in the drive.
- Now, wait until the content is copied in the drive.
- Once this procedure is finished, content can be moved to its standard content location.
Solution 8: Use an SSD USB
- First, you need to disconnect the server drive.
- After disconnecting the server drive, plug this drive into your PC and copy all of your desired movies, shows, and all other media in their respected folders.
![How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (3)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (3)")
- Now plug this drive into your router.
- Run the plex app and delete all the existing libraries.
- Finally, add a new library to import the content in their respective folders.
- Launch the Plex app and try searching your desired content to see if the issue is resolved.
![How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (3)](https://i0.wp.com/techisours.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/51yV5wBy7DL._AC_SL1300_.jpg "How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (3)")
Solution 9: Reset folder permissions
- Press “Windows’ + “R” to open the run prompt, type “Control panel” and press enter.
- Now open the control panel from search results and go to the shared folder and edit your media folder.
- After that, navigate to the “Permissions tab” from where you have to disable all the permissions for user plex.
- Click “OK” and close the editing window.
- Now again open the edit window and set either “R/O” or “R/W” permissions for user plex.
- Once again click on “OK” and close the edit window.
![How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (4)](https://i0.wp.com/techisours.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-06-18_113616.jpg "How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (4)")
Solution 10: Tweak folder permissions
- Open file location and right-click on the media folder which you can’t find in plex.
- Now navigate to “Security -> Edit -> Add”.
- After that add the plex application to the list and click on “Edit/View” permissions.
- Don’t forget to select the “Apply to this folder, sub-folders, and files” option.
- Click on the “OK” button, run the plex, and try finding files again to check whether the plex not finding files on the hard drive issue is resolved.
![How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (5)](https://i0.wp.com/techisours.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-23_152746.jpg "How To Fix Plex not Finding Files Error [Complete Guide] - Techisours (5)")
Solution 11: Extract content again
Plex doesn’t have the feature of extracting the files from zipped or archived folders. File types like (RAR, GZIP, ZIP, TAR) will be immediately ignored by plex while scanning and in order to solve this issue, you must delete the file from plex. Then extract the file on your PC and add it again to the plex media server. Once these steps are done, try finding files again, and most probably plex not finding files Synology issue would be resolved.
Hopefully, the issue might have been resolved up till now and if you need further assistance,contact us here.
FAQs
Why is Plex not detecting files? ›
The biggest reason by far for items to not be found during a library scan is due to naming. Plex's scanners are generally quite robust and can often do a good job even with content that doesn't follow the naming recommendations.
How do I force Plex to recognize a movie? ›Match a film using the IMDb ID in Plex
If Plex absolutely refuses to recognize a film, there is a simple solution: Search for the film on IMDb, where you will find just about every single one in existence. From there, copy the IMDB ID, which is part of the URL (in this case it is tt1217209 ).
Click the Libraries tab to set up Gaps. If you have more than one Movie Library or Plex Server, the dropdown lets you pick the Server and Library to search from. Click the Search button to find your Plex Movies. Gaps will display the movies found in the Plex Server Library.
How do I force metadata in Plex? ›- Go to the main screen where your libraries are listed on the left.
- Select the '…' icon in the top of the left pane.
- Select Refresh All Metadata.
H. 264 , hevc (H. 265), mjpeg , mpeg2video , mpeg4 , vc1 , or vp9 video encoding. aac , ac3 , dts , eac3 , mp2 , mp3 , pcm , or vorbis audio encoding.
How do I force Plex to recognize a TV show? ›- Launch the Plex Web App.
- Choose Settings from the top right of the Home screen.
- Select your Plex Media Server from the settings sidebar.
- Choose Agents.
- Choose the Library type and Agent you want to change.
- Ensure Local Media Assets is checked.
- What should a good alternative to Plex be able to do?
- What are the best alternatives to Plex?
- Mezzmo.
- MediaPortal.
- Kodi.
- Stremio.
- Universal Media Server.
- Emby.
Open the Plex Web App. In the Plex Web App, click on the Activity icon in the upper-right corner. When hardware acceleration is being used, you should see (hw) next to the Video format as shown above.
Can Plex stream without transcoding? ›Even if a file's audio, video, and container are all compatible with a Plex App, if a subtitle stream is selected and is not compatible with the Plex App, then the Server will “burn in” the subtitle text within the video. This requires a full transcode of the video stream.
How can I find missing files? ›- Open Computer by selecting the Start button. , and then selecting Computer.
- Navigate to the folder that used to contain the file or folder, right-click it, and then select Restore previous versions.
How do I reinstall Plex without losing data? ›
You can check where your Plex data is stored using the web interface under Settings > Server > General. Make a backup of this directory or rename it, install a fresh copy of Plex, then copy the files you want i.e. metadata and settings.
Does deleting Plex library delete files? ›Deleting a Library removes all information for that Library irretrievably. You should be very careful when deleting Libraries! Before you delete a Library, we recommend taking the opportunity to back up your Plex Media Server data.
How do I clear Plex metadata cache? ›To clear the cache, you simply delete the directory for the item in which you're interested. Tip!: In most cases, it's simplest to just delete all the cache directories and then restart your Plex Media Server. As always, having a backup of your data is a good idea before making changes.
How do I manually add metadata? ›- Open up the folder on your computer that contains the image or video file.
- PC users: Right-click on the image, and select Properties. ...
- In the window that appears, you can change the name, add tags, write a description, and more.
The Movie Database: The Movie Database agent gathers metadata from The Movie Database and local assets. We generally encourage users to use Plex TV Series agent for television content instead, but some users may prefer the metadata available from The Movie Database for television.
What is the best file format for streaming video? ›For web streaming, the best video codec is simple to identify – it is H. 264. H. 264 is hands down the best codec for web streaming because it is highly efficient and compatible with most other forms of video technology you need to use for web streaming.
Is Plex better for MP4 or MKV? ›For streaming over Plex, which video format is better, MKV or MP4? MKV is more versatile and can be played on Plex if it is encoded with supported video audio codecs. However, MP4 is easier to direct play in Plex (better stream, less buffering).
What is the best 4K format for Plex? ›If you are using the Plex web browser GUI to stream 4K content, it is recommended that 4K content is encoded with H. 264 video codec, and the video container is MP4.
How do I manually add files to Plex? ›- Click to open the settings menu.
- Ensure that the correct Plex Media Server is selected within the settings menu.
- Select Libraries under the Manage section of the settings menu.
- Click Add Library.
- Choose the library type from the selection.
...
Remove Libraries and Data
- Quit/exit/stop the Plex Media Server to ensure that it is not running.
- Delete the contents of the folder(s) for your operating system as noted below.
- Restart the Plex Media Server.
Why won't Plex work on my smart TV? ›
How to fix it. Plex states that if your server is located on the same network as your TV, you won't have any issues. However, if the server you're connecting to is remote, you'll need to change the Plex settings on your TV to allow for insecure connections. To do this, go to settings and find the "Advanced" section.
Which browser is best for Plex? ›...
The Plex Web App Player runs in the latest version of most modern browsers like:
- Chrome.
- Edge.
- Firefox.
- Internet Explorer 11 or better.
- Safari.
The best alternatives to Plex are Vimsy , BitTorrent Live and Plyr.
What CPU is best for Plex transcoding? ›When choosing a CPU for media server usage, you typically won't need anything too powerful. For software transcoding, Plex recommends a CPU with a PassMark score of 2000 for transcoding a 1080p stream. And to put that into perspective, an Intel Core i5-3770 has a PassMark score of 4664.
What Intel CPU is best for Plex transcoding? ›As for single 4K transcoding, your CPU is supposed to be at least Intel Core i7 3.2GHz, with 12000 PassMark score for 4K SDR (40Mbps, 8-bit HEVC) to 10Mbps 1080p conversion and 17000 PassMark score for 4K HDR (50Mbps, 10-bit HEVC) to 10Mbps 1080p transcoding.
How do I enable transcoding? ›Enable media transcoding globally
In the Settings > System > Developer > Media transcoding developer options page, set the Override transcoding defaults toggle to on and then set the Enable transcoding toggle to on or off.
It is important to note that the server needs to be running before you can access the Plex Web App in a browser.
What is the difference between transcoding and direct streaming on Plex? ›Direct play playback means – you are streaming original file on your player (TV, mobile) via the network or HDMI. Transcoding means – player does not support the file format or network is too slow- so original video get converted into a compatible video format and size.
Do you need transcoding? ›Transcoding is a vital element of the video streaming process. At the same, you know it works best when users are unaware it takes place at all. With properly implemented transcoding, users get a smooth viewing experience, no matter the device they use or their bandwidth.
Why is it showing file Not Found? ›Summary: 'Error 15: file not found' error appears due to hard drive corruption, malware attack, or when a certain file from the operating system gets missing. Due to the error, the system can't boot and the data stored on your computer becomes inaccessible.
What causes files to go missing? ›
Malicious software, particularly worms, can run rampant on a storage device and start deleting files. Other malware like viruses can cause files to disappear because when they try to rewrite a file during the infection process they may cause write errors that corrupt the file.
Why can't I find my file? ›The most possible reason is your files are hidden. Other factors might be some malware or virus attacking your disk and hiding or even deleting your files so that you won't see them in the folder. Some users also report that problems with compression tools can also cause your files to not be displayed.
Where do deleted Plex files go? ›By default, items found removed from a Library are placed in the trash until the trash is emptied. You can choose to have your Server automatically empty the trash after every scan occurs if you wish. To do so: Open Plex Web App.
How do I clean up my Plex database? ›- Edit the library for which you want to remove thumbnails (e.g. your Movies or TV library)
- Select the Advanced tab on the left.
- Use the Delete Preview Thumbnails button.
- Confirm that you want to delete them.
- Open the settings menu by selecting.
- Ensure the correct Plex Media Server is selected.
- Navigate to Libraries under the Manage section of the settings menu.
- Mouse over a library.
- Click the Edit button next to the library.
- Make the changes you want then click the Save Changes button.
By default, when your Plex Media Server updates a Library and an item is no longer available at the specified location, the Server will not just remove the item from your library. Instead, the item will be marked as “soft deleted” so that you can restore the item without losing any metadata associated with the item.
Does Plex sell your data? ›Plex does not share, sell, rent, or trade Personal Data collected through its Channels with third parties for their sole promotional purposes or as otherwise outlined in this Privacy Statement.
Is Plex good for storing photos? ›Plex gives you freedom and flexibility, whether you are a budding filmmaker or a professional photog with a massive portfolio. Without the need to upload to the cloud, you can access all your photos and videos, no matter the resolution, keeping everything private and secure.
How do I refresh metadata cache? ›- Click the Discard Cache button on the Utilities tab of the Configuration Manager.
- Unload global objects. ...
- Restart the IDO Runtime service on the Applications server or the local instance of the IDO Runtime host service.
- Go to the folder that contains the images you want to address.
- Select an image file.
- Use your mouse to right click and select “Properties” from the menu.
- Next, select “Details.”
- Select the option to create a copy of the file with all possible properties removed.
- Select “OK.”
How do I clear my site data cache? ›
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More .
- Click More tools. Clear browsing data.
- At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
- Next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," check the boxes.
- Click Clear data.
- Click Settings. , and then click Site Settings.
- Under Site Actions, click Manage site features.
- In the Features list, find Metadata Navigation and Filtering, and then click Activate.
- Create an array of the components you want to update. All components must be of the same type.
- Invoke the updateMetadata() call, passing in the array of metadata components to update. A SaveResult object is returned for each component you try to update.
Update metadata on a file
To update the metadata to a file, call the PUT /files/:file_id/metadata/:scope/:templateKey API endpoint with the file's file_id , the template's scope and templateKey , set of JSON operations to manipulate the data on the template instance.
Naming and Organization
The biggest reason by far for items to not be found during a library scan is due to naming. Plex's scanners are generally quite robust and can often do a good job even with content that doesn't follow the naming recommendations.
Preferences File
xml , which is located in your Plex Media Server data directory.
Because of codec and format incompatibility, some MKV files won't play in Plex. To solve that, the only solution is to convert your MKV codec to a more supported format that Plex accepts like H. 264, hevc (H. 265), mpeg4, msmpeg4v2, msmpeg4v3, vc1, vp9, or wmv3 (audio: aac, ac3, alac, e-ac3,flac, mp2, mp3).
How do I get Plex to access my external hard drive? ›- Connect your external USB hard drive to the USB port of your router. ...
- Enter the router user name and password and click the Log In button. ...
- Select PLEX Media Server.
- Select Open Plex. ...
- Next to Libraries, click the plus + icon.
- Launch the Plex Web App.
- Choose Settings from the top right of the Home screen.
- Select your Plex Media Server from the settings sidebar.
- Choose Agents.
- Choose the Library Type and Agent you want to change.
- Ensure Local Media Assets is checked.
- Click the Open Plex button. ...
- Enter your Plex account user name and password and click the SIGN IN button. ...
- Click +Add Library. ...
- Select your library type, enter a name for your library, and click the NEXT button.
- Click the BROWSE FOR MEDIA FOLDER button.
Is MKV or MP4 better for Plex? ›
For streaming over Plex, which video format is better, MKV or MP4? MKV is more versatile and can be played on Plex if it is encoded with supported video audio codecs. However, MP4 is easier to direct play in Plex (better stream, less buffering).
How do I fix a corrupt MKV file? ›Fix Corrupt MKV File With VLC Media Player
Change the MKV file extension to . avi. Launch the VLC player and then go to Tools >> Preferences >> Inputs/Codecs settings. In the Inputs/Codecs settings window, choose “Always Fix” Damaged or incomplete AVI file.
In short, MP4 is more popular for watching online content, while MKV is better for converting DVDs and Blu-Ray discs into video files. Both output formats' quality and file size usually depend on the codecs they use. However, the number of supported platforms and devices is greater for MP4.
Does Plex work with external hard drives? ›Well, to be honest, there are no particular hard drives designed to work with Plex, you can simply use any external hard drive and it'll just work well with Plex.
How do I map a drive to Plex? ›- Open Windows Explorer.
- Mount the Share.
- Right-click the Share and choose Map Network Drive.
- Choose a Drive Letter.
The short answer is: “No.” The longer answer is: “No, it's not required, but you really should sign in because it only helps you.” The Plex for iOS app will automatically try to discover available Plex Media Servers on the same local network (subnet).
How do I manually add folders to Plex? ›Add folders
Select the folders where your content is located. Content in the folders must prepared like the examples linked on the Add folders tab. More information is available in the Your Media section. Use the Browse for Media Folders button to open a dialog where you can browse to the location or enter the path.
- Open the settings menu by selecting.
- Ensure the correct Plex Media Server is selected.
- Navigate to Libraries under the Manage section of the settings menu.
- Mouse over a library.
- Click the Edit button next to the library.
- Make the changes you want then click the Save Changes button.
Emby supports fewer tuners than Plex. However, Plex can only utilize only one physical tuner at a time as opposed to Emby, which can support more than one simultaneously. There is a limited number of available channels available on Plex, unlike Emby, through which there is no limit to the number of available channels.
Does Plex need write access to media files? ›Permissions & Access Control Brief
After installing Plex, it will create a plex user and a plex group for itself. This user and group will need to have at least read access to your media files for them to show up in your library, you can give it write access if you want to be able to delete stuff from the GUI.
Can you upload anything to Plex? ›
With Plex, not only can you add any movie you want, but you can also organize them into playlists. Once all of your movies have been uploaded to Plex, you can stream them using any device that's connected to the internet.