How to Move Plex from Windows to NAS / Linux ! Preserve your meta data!

Watch the back up video:

Watch the NAS setup video:

Windows meta data location: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server

VIDEO INDEX:
0:00 - Intro
00:46 - Prerequisites
02:12 - Windows Prep
03:46 - NAS Setup
05:31 - Shut Down NAS Server
06:19 - Delete NAS Files
07:17 - NAS Permissions for Plex Data Directory
07:55 - Copy Metadata to NAS
09:11 - Repointing Directories
11:49 - Media Playback Test
12:43 - Reenabling Library Scan
13:21 - Removing Windows Server
13:55 - Conclusion

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[slikdude]

In the process of doing this now, and I have a tip about the metadata folders: My suggestion is to compress them into a .zip file before moving them. Those folders can contain thousands of tiny files (if your library is large) which can increase the time it takes to transfer. In my case, I was trying to transfer these files from my old Windows Plex machine to my other Windows desktop over the network and it was failing. Compressing and uncompressing takes time but then you only have to transfer 1 large .zip file. Just my 2 cents. Thanks again for this Lon.

[MartinPaoloni]

Excellent guide! I'm moving my Plex server from Synology to a Docker container in Unraid, and the steps are pretty much the same. I'd suggest compressing the directory before moving it to a different computer, since it contains thousands of small files and it may take forever to copy.
Thanks!

[ToyMaker-zpvt]

I gotta be honest, I know enough about PCs to be dangeruos to myself but I really wanted to do a NAS setup with a Plex Server. I followed your instructions to the letter and it worked flawlessly! I moved 650 movies (6.5 tb) with metadata from a Windows 10 to a DS920+. I don't see much of a speed increase in my playback but I can now shut down my old PC and toss it in the ewaste. Thanks Lon! 🙂

[MichaelRae]

Great tutorial! If you have a very large Plex library and your hardware supports it, I recommend a USB drive to move the files from the Windows machine to the NAS. It was going to take me 24+ hrs via the network, and took ~5 hrs with the hard drive. Very small files move very slowly over a gigabit network connection.

[bryansmith]

For some reason it worked for my Movies folder, but not my TV shows folder. To fix that I simply stopped and restarted Plex on Synology... started cleaning up immediately. Thank you for this video. It was super helpful!

[travistotz]

This is great! Thanks Lon.The only other step I can do to was change the Permissions for 'Plex' on the 'volume1' of the NAS, so that I could find my files.

[mushtang]

Thanks Lon! Great videos about Plex and Synology both! I've watched so many the last few days. Last night I finally pulled the trigger and bought a DS918+ to replace a laptop as my Plex Server. When it arrives next week I'll follow your videos (again) to set it up and to transfer my movies and metadata over. Thank you so very much for these easy to follow steps!!

[curtisthomas]

The only thing I would add to this great tutorial is... It takes a LONG time to copy all the metadata files if you have a large media library!!! But thanks! I was able, with a few other sources to move my Plex Library from a windows machine to a QNAP NAS.

[scmiller]

I have to say this worked awesome! I migrated from a Win10 to an Open Media Vault (OMV) on a Pi 3B+ using Composer (Docker). It took about a 10-hours to move the folders to the prescribed location. Note: with the clean PLEX Server there will not be a "Media" or "Metadata" folder to remove or replace. You will only pull the Plug-in Support and the Plug-ins. It took about another 8-hours to read all of the meta data in the libraries that were transferred after I change the media paths. But it worked like a charm! Now I can disconnect my Win10 and work totally from my OMV NAS.😀

[hruff]

Exactly what I was looking for after getting my Synology NAS! Thank you!

[JoeHusosky]

Man I need this a couple of years ago. Had to rescan 10k entries and fix all the mis matches. Great work.

[fu]

PERFECT! I'm transferring my Plex libraries from an old Win7 build to a new Synology and this was exactly what I needed. Thank you!

[schwiptsgaming]

I spent 2 hours before this wishing i could put my head through the wall, I came across this video just before giving up and you had the problem solved in 15 minutes! you are amazing, Thank you!

[ivo]

main reason why you'd do this, is that a NAS is usually on 24/24, while your PC or media server is not (practically it's the only device that is constantly on). Now you (or people you're sharing with) can access your Plex server all the time, which you couldn't when your PC was off. I am currently still putting all my media on the Plex server, which is easier to do on a PC, but when this is done, I'm transferring the server to my NAS.

[igobyandrew]

I didn't know Mr. Rogers knew so much about networking!

In all seriousness, I love your aesthetic. That PocketPC on the shelf was the first mobile device I ever purchased... at 13. :)

[KyuketsukiRei]

Very helpful. Considering moving over to a synology nas but a large investment with lots of questions on how moves will go. This was a big one for the transition. Appreciate the walk through, saved the video and liked.

[tj]

Lon thank you so much for taking my suggestion. This was a big help.

[BrandonRowe]

Used this to move from one Docker container to another. Thanks so much.

[Ghericksonandson]

Once all my data is moved to a new nas, what happens to shared libraries that was set up to the old device that my friends connect to?

[zues]

Note: if you have extra scanners also copy the scanners folder in plex!!!
I was trying to figure this out for so long man