If you’re a fan of TV shows and movies, you’ve heard of Plex. This powerful media server software allows you to stream your favourite content from your library to any device, anywhere in the world. While Plex can automatically detect and organize many TV shows, you may need to add a show manually.
Whether it’s because the show isn’t available in the Plex database or you have your own unique file naming conventions, manually adding a TV show to Plex is a simple process that can help you get the most out of your media collection.
In this guide, we’ll take you through manually adding a TV show to Plex. We’ll cover everything from preparing your TV show files to troubleshooting common issues, so you can confidently add any show to your Plex library.
Whether you’re a seasoned Plex user or just getting started, this guide will help you make the most of this powerful media server software. So grab your remote, get comfortable, and let’s dive in!
Preparing the TV Show Files
Before you can add a TV show to Plex, you must ensure the files are properly formatted and organized. Plex uses a specific file naming convention for TV shows, which includes the name of the show, the season number, and the episode number.
For example, an episode of “The Office” from season 3, episode 4 would be named “The Office S03E04”. It’s important to note that the season and episode numbers should always be two digits, with a leading zero if necessary.
In addition to properly naming your TV show files, organizing them into season folders is a good idea. This makes it easier for Plex to detect the show and for you to navigate through your library.
To create season folders, create a new folder for each show season and place the corresponding episode files inside. For example, if you have all the episodes for the first season of “Friends”, create a “Season 1” folder and place all the files inside that folder.
Way of Adding the TV Show to Plex:
Once you have your TV show files properly named and organized, you can add the show to Plex. To do this, open the Plex web interface and navigate to the TV Shows section. From there, click the “Add Series” button and enter the name of the TV show you want to add. Plex will automatically search its database for a match, so select the correct show from the search results.
Next, you’ll need to choose the language and agent settings for the TV show. The agent settings determine where Plex will search for metadata about the show, such as episode titles and descriptions. Once you’ve chosen the settings, browse to the folder where your TV show files are stored and select the folder for the show.
If Plex recognizes the naming convention for your files, it will automatically scan the folder and add the show to your library. Finally, you can review the show’s details, including the metadata and posters, and click “Add” to complete the process.
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Verifying the TV Show is Correctly Added
After you’ve added a TV show to Plex, it’s important to verify that it was added correctly. This includes checking the show’s metadata, ensuring it appears in the correct section of your library, and verifying that any posters and fan art have been downloaded and displayed correctly.
To check the TV show’s metadata, click on the show’s title in your Plex library. This will bring up a page with the show’s title, synopsis, and episode titles. Make sure that all the information is correct and matches what you expect to see.
Next, check that the TV show appears in the correct section of your library. By default, Plex separates TV shows into two main sections: “On Deck” and “TV Shows”. “On Deck” displays a show you’re watching or have recently watched, while “TV Shows” displays all the shows in your library. Ensure your new TV show appears in the correct section and is sorted by season and episode number.
Finally, verify that any posters and fan art have been downloaded and displayed correctly. These images add a visual element to your Plex library and help you identify your shows at a glance. If the posters or fan art don’t display correctly, you can try refreshing the metadata for the TV show or manually selecting the right images.
By verifying that your TV show is correctly added, you can ensure that it’s easy to find and watch in your Plex library. If you notice any issues, such as incorrect metadata or missing images, you can always edit the show’s settings to correct the problem. With a little attention to detail, you can have a well-organized and visually appealing library of TV shows in Plex.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
You may encounter some common issues while adding a TV show to Plex despite following all the steps correctly. One of the most common issues is when Plex fails to recognize the TV show files, even if they are correctly named and organized. In this case, you can try manually refreshing the metadata for the show or selecting a different agent in the settings.
Another common issue is when Plex fails to download metadata or images for the TV show. This can result in missing or incorrect episode titles, descriptions, and images. To fix this, try refreshing the metadata for the show, ensuring that the agent settings are correct, and manually selecting the right images.
Sometimes, you may encounter subtitles issues, such as not appearing or appearing out of sync with the video. In this case, you can ensure the subtitle file is correctly named and placed in the same folder as the video file. Adjust the subtitle settings in Plex to match the video playback settings.
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Finally, you may need help streaming the TV show to your device, such as buffering or poor video quality. A slow network connection, incompatible video codecs, or other issues can cause this. To fix this, try adjusting your network settings, updating your device’s software, or converting the video file to a different format.
By troubleshooting these common issues, you can ensure that your TV shows are properly added and easily accessible in Plex. If you continue encountering issues, you can always contact the Plex community for help or consult the Plex support documentation. You can have a fully functional and enjoyable TV show library in Plex with patience and perseverance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, manually adding a TV show to Plex is a simple and straightforward process that can enhance your viewing experience and help you organise your favourite shows. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily add your favourite TV shows to your Plex library and customize the metadata and artwork.
With a little effort, you can have a visually appealing and well-organized library of TV shows that’s easy to navigate and enjoy. So why try it today and see how easy it is to add your favourite TV shows to Plex? Happy viewing!
