Plex is a powerful media server that makes streaming your collection of movies, TV shows, and music across different devices easy. However, one common issue users face is when Plex does not show or recognise media files. This can be frustrating, especially when your favourite TV shows or movies fail to appear in the library. Fortunately, these problems are often caused by simple misconfigurations that can be quickly resolved. In this article, we will walk through the potential causes and solutions to fix the issue of Plex not showing media or picking up TV shows.
Common Reasons Why Plex Is Not Showing Your Media
Before diving into specific solutions, it's important to understand the common reasons why Plex not showing my media. The problem could stem from folder structure, file naming issues, unsupported file formats, or even permission settings. Let's explore these causes in detail.
1. Improper Folder Structure
Plex organizes media by scanning the folder structure you set up on your server or computer. If the structure is not arranged correctly, Plex may fail to pick up media, especially TV shows. For Plex to recognize TV shows, you need to follow a specific naming and folder structure:
- Create a top-level folder named "TV Shows."
- Inside, create subfolders for each show (e.g., “Breaking Bad”).
- For each season, create subfolders like “Season 01.”
- Each episode should be named properly, such as “Breaking Bad S01E01.mkv,” where S01E01 stands for Season 1, Episode 1.
Plex relies on this structure to organize and display your content correctly. Improper or random naming may lead Plex to ignore your media files.
2. Incorrect File Naming Conventions
File naming is just as crucial as folder organization. If Plex is not picking up your media, the issue may be that the files are named incorrectly. Movies should generally be named as Movie Title (Year).extension (for example, "Inception (2010).mp4"). TV shows, as mentioned above, should include the season and episode numbers in the file name.
If your files do not follow Plex's recommended naming conventions, the server may not be able to match your media to its database, resulting in missing content in the library. You can find detailed naming guidelines on the Plex website to ensure proper organization.
3. Unsupported File Formats
While Plex supports a wide range of media formats, it does not recognize every possible file type. If Plex is not showing your media, it might be because your files are in a format that is not supported by Plex. Popular formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, and MOV are supported, but formats such as FLV or outdated codecs may not be compatible.
To check if the file format is the issue, try converting the problematic files to a supported format. There are various media converters available that can help you change file formats without losing quality.
4. Missing Media Libraries
Another common reason for Plex not showing your media is a simple oversight: your media might not have been added to the Plex library in the first place. When you add media to Plex, you must specify where Plex should look for files by creating media libraries for movies, TV shows, or music.
- Open Plex and navigate to Settings.
- Under Manage, select Libraries.
- Check if the correct media folders are included.
- If your TV shows or movies are not being picked up, you may need to manually refresh the library by selecting Scan Library Files.
Without properly configured libraries, Plex will not know where to look for new content, and as a result, your media will remain invisible.
5. Permissions Issues
Another technical cause of Plex not showing media could be file permission problems. If Plex does not have the proper read permissions to access your media folders, it will not be able to scan or display your files. This often happens when media files are moved or copied from another user account or device.
To resolve this, make sure that Plex has access to your media directory. On Windows, ensure that the user running the Plex Media Server has read access to the files. On Linux or macOS, you may need to modify file permissions using the terminal.
Plex Not Picking Up TV Shows: Specific Solutions
The issue of Plex not picking up TV shows can sometimes be more complex than general media problems. Here are some additional steps you can take to resolve this:
1. Correct Metadata Agents
Plex uses metadata agents to pull in information like show titles, seasons, episode numbers, and artwork from external databases. If Plex is not correctly picking up your TV shows, the wrong metadata agent may be selected. You can fix this by:
- Going to Settings > Agents > TV Shows.
- Make sure the correct metadata agents are enabled, such as TheTVDB or TheMovieDatabase.
- Rescan your TV show library after updating these settings.
2. Ensure Episode Numbering Is Consistent
If Plex fails to show certain episodes, check the consistency of episode numbering across the files. Plex expects episodes to follow a consistent pattern like S01E01 or Season 01 Episode 01. If the episode numbers are missing, Plex may struggle to match your files to the correct metadata.
3. Check for Corrupted Files
Sometimes, TV shows may not appear in Plex because the files are corrupted. Try playing the files directly on your media player to verify if the issue is with the file itself. You may need to replace or repair the corrupted files if they fail to play.
4. Refresh or Rebuild Plex Database
If you've tried the above solutions and Plex still isn't showing your TV shows, a database refresh or rebuild may be necessary. Over time, the Plex database can become cluttered or corrupted. By refreshing or rebuilding it, Plex will re-index your entire media library:
- Navigate to Settings > Troubleshooting.
- Select Refresh All Metadata or Clean Bundles.
- You can also manually delete and rebuild the database by removing the plex.db file from your Plex data folder (make sure to back up this file before doing so).
Final Thoughts
While it can be frustrating when Plex is not showing your media or picking up TV shows, the solutions are often straightforward. By ensuring that your folder structure and file names are properly organized, using supported file formats, and checking permissions, you can quickly resolve most issues. If problems persist, exploring metadata agents or refreshing the Plex database can also help. With these fixes, your media should display correctly, allowing you to enjoy your Plex library without interruptions.
