How to Move Plex Content to a Different Library?
Plex is a powerful media server that lets you organize and stream your movies, TV shows, music, and other media content. One of the features that makes Plex so great is its ability to organize your content into different libraries. This allows you to categorize your media in a way that makes sense to you, whether by genre, release year, or any other criteria.
But what if you need to move some of your content from one library to another? Maybe you want to organize your movies by genre, or perhaps you've just acquired a new collection of TV shows that you want to keep separate from your existing library. This is where the ability to move Plex content between libraries comes in handy.
Understanding Plex Libraries
Before we dive into the steps involved in moving content, it's important to understand how Plex libraries work.
A Plex library is essentially a collection of files that you tell Plex to scan and make available for streaming. When you create a library, you specify the location of the files you want to include, and Plex automatically scans those folders, adding the content to your library.
Each library is a separate entity, and they don't share content with each other. This means that if you want to move content from one library to another, you'll need to physically move the files themselves.
Moving Plex Content: Step-by-Step Guide
Now that we've covered the basics, let's get to the process of moving Plex content:
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Identify the Content You Want to Move: Start by navigating to the library where the content you want to move is located. You can easily find the content using the search bar or browsing your library.
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Locate the Physical Files: Plex stores its content in the "Plex Media Server" folder on your computer. The exact location might vary based on your operating system and the configuration of your Plex server.
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Create a New Library: If you don't already have a library where you want to move the content, go to your Plex web interface, navigate to "Settings," and then "Libraries." Click on the "Add Library" button and choose the type of media (Movies, TV Shows, etc.) you want to add. Follow the prompts to configure the new library.
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Move the Files: Once you have the new library set up, simply move the files that contain the content you want to move from the original library to the new library.
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Rescan the Library: After you've moved the files, go to your Plex web interface, navigate to the "Settings," and then "Libraries." Select the new library where you moved the content and click on the "Scan Library Files" option. Plex will then scan the new location and update the library to include the moved content.
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Remove the Content from the Original Library: To avoid duplicates, go back to the original library, select the content you moved, and choose the "Remove" option.
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Verify: After you've completed these steps, verify that the content has been moved successfully by navigating to the new library. You should see the content listed in the new library and removed from the original library.
Common Scenarios and Tips
Scenario 1: Organizing Movies by Genre:
Let's say you have a library for all your movies, but you want to create separate libraries for specific genres like Action, Comedy, and Drama.
- Solution: Create new libraries for each genre, then move the corresponding movies from your main "Movies" library into their respective genre libraries. This will allow you to easily browse and select movies based on genre.
Scenario 2: Moving TV Shows to a New Storage Device:
Imagine you have a large library of TV shows stored on a hard drive, but you want to move them to a new NAS drive for better storage and access.
- Solution: Create a new library on your NAS drive, then move the files from the old hard drive to the new NAS drive. Remember to rescan the library on your NAS drive to ensure that Plex picks up the changes.
Scenario 3: Cleaning Up a Library with Duplicate Content:
If you find duplicate content in your libraries, you can move the duplicates to a separate "Archive" library to avoid clutter and improve browsing.
- Solution: Create an "Archive" library, move the duplicate files to that library, and then rescan both the "Archive" and the original library. Finally, remove the duplicate content from the original library to avoid duplicates.
Remember to:
- Back Up Your Content: Always back up your files before moving them to avoid data loss.
- Optimize Plex Settings: Adjust your Plex server settings to ensure optimal performance after moving your content. This may involve adjusting your library scan settings or modifying your transcoding preferences.
- Monitor Disk Space: Monitor your disk space regularly to ensure you have enough room for your growing media library.
Conclusion
Moving Plex content to a different library is a straightforward process that can help you better organize your media collection. By following these steps and keeping the tips in mind, you can efficiently move your content and optimize your Plex experience. Remember, a well-organized library will make browsing and accessing your media more enjoyable and easier.