Completed Bring back the old folder view

[WinXP 15]

On 28/11/2025 at 07:12, Zelig said:

I use it EXCLUSIVELY.

Long ago, I tied to use other tabs but, having a HUGE movie collection (8,000+ films) it's almost impossible to find something the way i want it.

So I developed a Folder  structure dividing movies first by decade, each decade by genre and each genre by subgenre.

 

I also have a 5000+ movie collection - all in folder structure - some by genre - some by decades.  I usually sort movies by date added - which for folders which are numbered - I change the 'date added' for the folder via metadata - so that folders will sort by that date (01 - Genre A - date added 17/07/2023, 02 - Genre B - date added 16/07/2023).
For Film Noir - I have hundreds of movies - sorted by Date Added - and then use the green tick (watched) - to know which one to next pick.  That no longer works.
4.9.1.80 ruined that.  The first nightly run of the server after I upgraded to 4.9.1.80 - 8 November 2025 - changed the DATE ADDED to that date.
Bottom line - for 5 years I have meticulously curated my movie collection into folders - as instructed - with the .nfo files and artwork.
The server upgrade prompt for 4.9.1.80 made no mention or warning that I was about to destroy that 5 years structure.
EMBY - I trusted you.  I supported you $$.  Those of us that use folder structures - deserve better than being ambushed by 4.9.

[mrmixed 77]

4 hours ago, WinXP said:

4.9.1.80 ruined that.  The first nightly run of the server after I upgraded to 4.9.1.80 - 8 November 2025 - changed the DATE ADDED to that date.
Bottom line - for 5 years I have meticulously curated my movie collection into folders - as instructed - with the .nfo files and artwork.
The server upgrade prompt for 4.9.1.80 made no mention or warning that I was about to destroy that 5 years structure.
 

In case it has gotten lost in the voluminous posts made in this subject, I wanted to emphasize that you can possibly preserve all of your data and even temporarily restore your original content configuration if you preserve your 4.8 backup (and then disable the scanning task that whacks the metadata by inserting the new folder layers).  Important to get it done fast before you lose it in the backup rotation.  Cross-linking to the post with more information.  

 

[mrmixed 77]

I stumbled across yet another related topic (which was also started by our champion, @Zelig!), which anticipated this unfortunate change to folders in 4.9.  I thought was worth yet another tie-in post just to continue linking together the long, shared history of this issue.  Oddly, it suggests that there were disgruntled users back in 2019 who were complaining then about the intrusive folder layer appearing in certain content types, I assume due to different default values being used for the collapsing metadata setting.  

I appreciate the debate which took place across some posts earlier in this topic about "options are great" vs. "options add complexity/costs"; however, if Emby users have really been having this particular debate over Folders since Emby version 3, it seems to me that this is one place where it is truly necessary to provide the option, in order to finally settle the debate and offer the best usability experience to both sides.

[One2Go 120]

Even before that post Feb 3 2019, ALL my libraries that have movies, documentaries, single videos, sports videos and New Years Fireworks videos are ALL mixed content ever since Emby 4.* and it works in the folder view the way I like it. In addition I create my own collections with the top folder having images and meta data for the collection and the sub folders being the individual movies with their meta data. In addition I use Media Center Master to collect all my meta data plus in some instances I create my own xml files because the content doesn't exist anywhere else. 

This is what I like about Emby you can fool it in doing things the way you want the content to display. Everyone of my movie.xml files has the tag <SortTitle> which allows me to sort my content where I want it to appear. The more you can customize the content display yourself, more work, but more to your liking. The Devs here love their creation but there surely must be a limit to their engagement. 

[Teddy 100]

And I think it's getting worse.

I'm still on version 4.8 (I have disabled the update to 4.9), But despite being on version 4.8, with the new Amazon Fire TV app update that fixed the trailer issue, I no longer see my nested folders, which made it difficult to find what I want.

[kikinjo 281]

PPl, try to sort movies in folder view by date added in web browser..... 

What a mess.

[Teddy 100]

3 hours ago, Teddy said:

And I think it's getting worse.

I'm still on version 4.8 (I have disabled the update to 4.9), But despite being on version 4.8, with the new Amazon Fire TV app update that fixed the trailer issue, I no longer see my nested folders, which made it difficult to find what I want.

P.D. However, for the time being, the current version of the Android app still works fine and shows nested folders.

[One2Go 120]

Just for laughs, I have an Intel NUC running Windows 7, It has the Windows Media Center running because the themes for it from Throgmorton were bar none Oscar wining but they only run on WMC. Therefore that NUC runs Emby Server version 4.0.10 and that is it. Does what I want and the wife is happy.

It is not uncommon and recommendable to stop upgrading a server when you have reached a version that does what you want it to do and now instead of spending time futzing around with settings and directory structures, you spend the time watching content.

@Lukeplease let me know where was the WMC sub forum moved to as I visit it every time I come to the site in case I can help with problems.

[Luke 42077]

5 hours ago, One2Go said:

 

@Lukeplease let me know where was the WMC sub forum moved to as I visit it every time I come to the site in case I can help with problems.

It's a the bottom of the Other section now.

[One2Go 120]

DOH, thank you

[lost4 5]

I'd like to go back to the pre-4.8 folder display mode, which can be sorted by time or other options

[Smitty018210 143]

10 hours ago, One2Go said:

Just for laughs, I have an Intel NUC running Windows 7, It has the Windows Media Center running because the themes for it from Throgmorton were bar none Oscar wining but they only run on WMC. Therefore that NUC runs Emby Server version 4.0.10 and that is it. Does what I want and the wife is happy.

 

You have no idea how much I wish I had done this................

Edited December 3, 2025 by Smitty018210

[Scarm10 2]

Just wanted to add a +1 to this, it's made navigating seasons in shows worse, I lost my season artwork display when I jump into a show, and it's made navigating more kludgy. The entire UI in web, android, lg app, only used to use drop downs for setting and filters. having drop downs for every season sucks, and I'm not happy with the UI change, and no ability to customize it back to the old way. If I had an option, I wouldn't be posting. 

[Teddy 100]

It would be helpful if the developers stated whether or not they plan to fix this issue with nested folders, which is a concern for many of us and has complicated our lives.

In my case, I've reverted to version 4.8, but I'd like to know if it will be the last version I can use with nested folders.

[ebr 16169]

13 hours ago, Scarm10 said:

Just wanted to add a +1 to this, it's made navigating seasons in shows worse, I lost my season artwork display when I jump into a show, and it's made navigating more kludgy. The entire UI in web, android, lg app, only used to use drop downs for setting and filters. having drop downs for every season sucks, and I'm not happy with the UI change, and no ability to customize it back to the old way. If I had an option, I wouldn't be posting. 

Hi. This doesn't sound like anything to do with folder view.  This sounds like you are describing the TV Series detail view - which does have an option to show either the old season posters like before or the new drop-down view...

[Luke 42077]

A folder scanning option is being added for the next release to allow you to use the previous scanning method:

[mrmixed 77]

17 hours ago, Luke said:

A folder scanning option is being added for the next release to allow you to use the previous scanning method:

 

 

Happy days and jubilation!  This is fantastic news--thank you so much!!

Do you have a timeframe in mind for when this release will be available (in beta form, or otherwise)?

[Luke 42077]

35 minutes ago, mrmixed said:

Happy days and jubilation!  This is fantastic news--thank you so much!!

Do you have a timeframe in mind for when this release will be available (in beta form, or otherwise)?

Should be very soon. 

[Zelig 48]

I LOVE YOU SO SO SO MUCH LUKE

Best Christmas Gift EVER

 

I'm so Happy

[cp41 42]

I see this now in the release notes for 4.9.4.1-beta. Not sure how long the beta to stable cycle is but I will be counting the days.
Thank you for being open and listening to the user feedback. 

[Happy2Play 9780]

57 minutes ago, cp41 said:

I see this now in the release notes for 4.9.4.1-beta. Not sure how long the beta to stable cycle is but I will be counting the days.
Thank you for being open and listening to the user feedback. 

Unless specific features are going to be ported to stable early it could be a while as the beta cycle has just started.  But only the devs can say for sure.

[soderlund91 50]

On 12/14/2025 at 4:48 AM, Luke said:

A folder scanning option is being added for the next release to allow you to use the previous scanning method:

@LukeWhere can I find this setting? I'm on the latest beta (4.9.4.1), but i cant seem to find this anywhere?? 
From what it looks like from your screenshot its just above the "Ignore files" section in the library settings? 

But i have no such option.. I have tried with both a new and existing library, and with toggles on/off. Am I just stupid?? 

(Running the Emby server as a Docker container if that makes any differences)

[GrimReaper 4739]

20 minutes ago, soderlund91 said:

Where can I find this setting? I'm on the latest beta (4.9.4.1), but i cant seem to find this anywhere??

What content-type library you're looking at?

[soderlund91 50]

1 minute ago, GrimReaper said:

What content-type library you're looking at?

I tried both TV-Shows and Movies. 

Now when you mention it i tried the others as well, and i can see it in Mixed. Maybe that's the point? I was kind of hoping it would be there for movies and shows aswell.. 

[GrimReaper 4739]

1 minute ago, soderlund91 said:

and i can see it in Mixed. Maybe that's the point?

Correct.

1 minute ago, soderlund91 said:

I was kind of hoping it would be there for movies and shows as well.. 

As I understood it, it might get added for Movie-type libraries as well.