Is there a way to extract and bulk save Emby’s cached images into the local media folders?

[AngelSing 49]

Hello Emby community,

I’m using Emby Server on a Synology NAS, and I recently enabled the options to save metadata in .nfo files as well as to save images (posters, fanart, etc.) directly in the media folders. This works perfectly for newly added movies and series, and their associated files are being stored correctly.

My issue is with the content that was already in the library before I enabled these options. Even when I refresh the metadata, only the .nfo file is saved, but the images are not exported into the media folders.

The only way I’ve found to save those images is:

• Open the movie or series manually.

• Click "Edit image."

• Re-select or re-confirm the image.

Only then does Emby save that image file inside the media folder.

This wouldn’t be a problem if I still had the original image files, but in many cases I used custom images that I no longer have saved elsewhere. These images are still being displayed correctly in Emby, so I assume they’re still stored in the server cache.

My question is:

Is there any way for Emby to automatically export all currently visible images (even if they’re just in the cache) and save them into their respective media folders?

That way, I wouldn’t have to manually redo or search for all those custom artworks again, one by one.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time!

Edited April 19, 2025 by AngelSing

[Luke 42077]

Hi, there is no way, but if you refresh metadata and check the box to replace existing images, then that should do it.

Just be aware that when you do that, your custom images may end up getting replaced.

[AngelSing 49]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

Hi, there is no way, but if you refresh metadata and check the box to replace existing images, then that should do it.

Just be aware that when you do that, your custom images may end up getting replaced.

In conclusion, I have to do it manually one by one. What a tremendous job I have here.

[AngelSing 49]

8 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, there is no way, but if you refresh metadata and check the box to replace existing images, then that should do it.

Just be aware that when you do that, your custom images may end up getting replaced.

@LukeHi, taking advantage of the topic, I’d like to leave the following suggestion: please add the option to “open in a new window” in the Windows app, since it's currently only available in the web version. I assume it could open in a browser window just the same, or alternatively, be downloaded automatically to the Windows Downloads folder.

[AngelSing 49]

@LukeI also have another question: where are the images related to collections stored? I don’t see them being saved in the root directories.

[Luke 42077]

2 hours ago, AngelSing said:

@LukeI also have another question: where are the images related to collections stored? I don’t see them being saved in the root directories.

In the server metadata folder.

[AngelSing 49]

4 hours ago, Luke said:

In the server metadata folder.

So you can't save a backup copy independently like the rest of the metadata?

[Luke 42077]

On 4/20/2025 at 3:02 PM, AngelSing said:

So you can't save a backup copy independently like the rest of the metadata?

If you're referring to the built-in backup feature, yes it can still back it up.

[GrimReaper 4739]

On 4/20/2025 at 12:50 AM, AngelSing said:

My question is:

Is there any way for Emby to automatically export all currently visible images (even if they’re just in the cache) and save them into their respective media folders?

That way, I wouldn’t have to manually redo or search for all those custom artworks again, one by one.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.