How to merge the multiple peoples and remove unwanted peoples

[kmh1616 0]

There are duplicate peoples with the same name in the media library of Emby. How can I merge them? Additionally, some peoples have their associated media deleted from the media library, but the characters themselves cannot be removed, affecting the search results. How can I delete unwanted characters? The Emby server version is 4.8.3.0

[Abobader 3464]

Hello kmh1616,

** This is an auto reply **

Please wait for someone from staff support or our members to reply to you.

It's recommended to provide more info, as it explain in this thread:

Thank you.

Emby Team

[Happy2Play 9780]

No easy way as there is no merge options here.  I can only guess each has different provider information but would need to compare metadata for each.

I usually have to remove the media the person is in, do a full scan and readd to see if corrects the issue.

As for deleting unwanted characters on would have to edit the metadata for the media that character is in.  And probably lock that section to prevent providers from changing it but will no require manual addition if any new character is added.

[kmh1616 0]

I mean is how to delete people without any linked media. After all media was deleted, the people still exists in the search result.

[Happy2Play 9780]

22 minutes ago, kmh1616 said:

I mean is how to delete people without any linked media. After all media was deleted, the people still exists in the search result.

Did you run a library scan?

 

But may need specific example.

 

Tested deleted a show that this actor was linked to.

Searched the actor and they appeared with no linked media (to be expected as full scan has not purged the database).

Did Library scan now person is no longer searchable.

[JonArbuckle 10]

I came over the same question. Are people removed from metadata and database if they are not linked (after a scan)? I noticed my (people) metadata folder and emby database got quit large after deleting and adding many things in the last years. I'm sure there must be orphaned metadata and db entries. Yes, I know vacuum database.

[JonArbuckle 10]

My own test showed that people are no longer searchable after deleting their content and doing a new scan. Are their metadata and db entries really removed?

Edited May 23, 2025 by JonArbuckle

[JonArbuckle 10]

But their metadata folder and image are not removed from disk. I did not check yet for episodes and poster images.

So the big question is: How can I get rid of all orphaned metadata images/folders?

[Davey's 37]

I have 2times the same actor with the same info birthdate/city and biography. but with a different face. strange things about it, is that some of the movies are under one and the other way around

* it's about the left and right persons

[Davey's 37]

[Davey's 37]

anyone have any thoughts on this

[GrimReaper 4739]

Have you tried refreshing metadata on an item with the "wrong" person?

[Davey's 37]

thanks that worked for a part, i have now 2x the same person. how can i make it 1 the same? 

edit: typo

Edited June 7, 2025 by Davey's

[GrimReaper 4739]

As stated previously:

On 3/12/2024 at 2:13 PM, Happy2Play said:

No easy way as there is no merge options here.  I can only guess each has different provider information but would need to compare metadata for each.

I usually have to remove the media the person is in, do a full scan and readd to see if corrects the issue.

You can't "merge" people, you need to "correct" the media that person is linked to. 

Simplest way would be to remove all media person is linked to from your library, run Scan media library task and re-add those items, see whether that corrects the issue.

 

[Davey's 37]

now i have read a few things about the different providers. i have often checked them all, but is that advised against and should i for example only for the TVDB, is that a good idea?

[GrimReaper 4739]

That is completely up to your preference, hence there's several of them (personally, I don't think limiting yourself to a single provider is good idea, but YMMV); what is more important is your preferred providers order, as most of the metadata will come from primary provider (typically TMDB for movies and TVDB for TV Shows, but again, it's up to user preference, some users prefer TMDB for both, others prefer some other combo/order), with missing/additional data coming from other providers in the order of priority. Again, it is all up to one's own preferences. 

Edited June 7, 2025 by GrimReaper

[Davey's 37]

Thanks Grimreaper!

[Luke 42078]

Has this resolved your issue?

[JonArbuckle 10]

On 5/23/2025 at 4:29 AM, JonArbuckle said:

So the big question is: How can I get rid of all orphaned metadata images/folders?

 

Is there also a solution for all orphaned data (files and maybe database entries)?

Edited June 24, 2025 by JonArbuckle

[Luke 42078]

3 hours ago, JonArbuckle said:

 

Is there also a solution for all orphaned data (files and maybe database entries)?

Can you please give an example?

[JonArbuckle 10]

On 6/24/2025 at 6:16 PM, Luke said:

Can you please give an example?

Sorry for late reply, I was in holidays

 

What I wrote in my posts above. Metadata from removed people are still present. I didn't test episodes, series, movies yet.

 

[Luke 42078]

I would try refreshing the metadata on the movies and series that they belong to and see if that helps.