Where are bif files stored?

[PeterEr 2]

Here is my setup:

I have Emby 4.9.1.1 installed on my Win 11 laptop.

I have all my movies on external drives attached via USB on a USB docking station. The USB docking station has two drive slots, and sometimes I swap the drives to access other movies. Yes, it is possibly not the intended setup for Emby but I don't want a NAS/server running all the time. I use "Emby-on-demand", i.e. I turn on Emby/laptop when needed, since I mostly use Prime, NF and similar services.

Anyhow, in the past I see that Emby created .bif files / chapter in the media folders, but now I don't see that anymore now. Perhaps it is a settings change, that I have overlooked.

In the past:
E:\Movies\The Batman (2022).mp4
E:\Movies\The Batman (2022).bif

Now:
E:\Movies\The Batman (2022).mp4
E:\Movies\ no bif for this movie
 

So my questions are this:

1. Where are the .bif files now located?
2. How do I force Emby to put the .bif files in the same folder as media? (Attached are my settings).
3. It is possible to have a metadata folder per drive, instead one master folder, so I can maintain mobility and still have .bif files created?

 

On a side note:
I tried to generate the .bif file manually using the Scheduled Task, but that fails, which is most likely because I removed the drive (i.e. D-drive from the docking station) that contains the Emby metadata folder. It works fine when the D-drive is there, but not without. 

Quote

2025-07-01 18:13:32.463 Error ChapterImagesTask: Error extracting chapter images for E:\Movie\The Batman (2022).mp4
*** Error Report ***
Version: 4.9.1.1
Command line: C:\Users\peterer\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system\EmbyServer.dll
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10.0.26200
OS/Process: x64/x64
Framework: .NET 8.0.16
Runtime: C:/Users/peterer/AppData/Roaming/Emby-Server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll
Processor count: 24
Data path: C:\Users\peterer\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata
Application path: C:\Users\peterer\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system
System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path 'D:\Emby-metadata\metadata\library\a8\a85a9ba7af29564b19dc505f9f9f8ee4\chapters'.
at System.IO.FileSystem.CreateDirectory(String fullPath, Byte[] securityDescriptor)
at Emby.Server.Implementations.IO.ManagedFileSystem.CreateDirectory(String path)
at Emby.Providers.MediaInfo.ThumbnailGenerator.RefreshChapterImages(Video item, MediaSourceInfo mediaSource, MediaStream videoStream, ReadOnlyMemory`1 inputPath, MediaProtocol protocol, Nullable`1 mediaContainer, IDictionary`2 requestHeaders, IDirectoryService directoryService, List`1 chapters, Boolean extractImages, Boolean replaceExistingImages, Boolean saveChapters, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
Source: System.Private.CoreLib
TargetSite: Void CreateDirectory(System.String, Byte[])
2025-07-01 18:13:32.770 Info TaskManager: Video preview thumbnail extraction Completed after 0 minute(s) and 0 seconds
2025-07-04 18:14:55.109 Error ImageService-0HNDQQ7UDUH6B:0000000A: Error processing request

 

 

Edited July 4, 2025 by PeterEr
Improved readability

[Luke 42795]

Hi, these will be in the server's metadata folder (based on your settings).

Quote

I tried to generate the .bif file manually using the Scheduled Task, but that fails, which is most likely because I removed the drive (i.e. D-drive from the docking station) that contains the Emby metadata folder. It works fine when the D-drive is there, but not without. 

The server expects the metadata folder to always be available, so I wouldn't put it on a drive that is frequently detached.

[Happy2Play 9838]

Per your settings you will not get a bif file as you have it set to Chapter Markers not Interval Images.

Once you change that you will be given a option to where to save the bif files.

[PeterEr 2]

On 7/4/2025 at 5:30 PM, Luke said:

Hi, these will be in the server's metadata folder (based on your settings).

The server expects the metadata folder to always be available, so I wouldn't put it on a drive that is frequently detached.

Hi Luke

Thanks for the response.

An idea - I suppose would require a lot of re-wiring - is if the metadata-folder could follow the drive, so one metadata folder per drive. Perhaps this would kill some performance but gain in flexibility.

 

[PeterEr 2]

On 7/5/2025 at 4:44 PM, Happy2Play said:

Per your settings you will not get a bif file as you have it set to Chapter Markers not Interval Images.

Once you change that you will be given a option to where to save the bif files.

Oh, I was under the impression that in order for me to get chapter markers (i.e. thumbnails for every 5 minutes) I needed the .bif files. But I take it, that is not the case meaning .bif is for video preview thumbnails only, correct?

[Happy2Play 9838]

2 hours ago, PeterEr said:

Oh, I was under the impression that in order for me to get chapter markers (i.e. thumbnails for every 5 minutes) I needed the .bif files. But I take it, that is not the case meaning .bif is for video preview thumbnails only, correct?

No as the bif file will still be used to populate the Chapter images.