rwyarbrough 8 Posted December 30, 2025 Posted December 30, 2025 (edited) Hi Ya'll, Having a heck of a time getting the .embyignore to work. I sure liked it when all I had to do was put .ignore in the directory I didn't want scanned and that was it, but post 4.9 that all has changed. I have tried having the .embyignore file at different levels of the directory structure. I re-scanned the library after every iteration and I have yet to find the "secret". Could someone please point out what I'm doing wrong? Thanks in advance...My current TV directory folder structure is as follows: video_library ├── tv_shows --> I've tried a .embyignore with classics-1980-1989/AfterMASH/info/* - no work │ ├── classics-1980-1989 --> I've tried a .embyignore with AfterMASH/info/* - no work │ │ ├── AfterMASH --> I've tried a .embyignore with info/* - no work │ │ │ ├── Season_00 │ │ │ ├── Season_01 │ │ │ ├── Season_02 │ │ │ └── info --> I've tried a .embyignore with * - no work │ │ ├── Cheers.1982-1993 │ │ │ ├── Season_00 │ │ │ ├── Season_01 │ │ │ ├── Season_02 │ │ │ ├── Season_03 │ │ │ ├── Season_04 │ │ │ ├── Season_05 │ │ │ ├── Season_06 │ │ │ ├── Season_07 │ │ │ ├── Season_08 │ │ │ ├── Season_09 │ │ │ ├── Season_10 │ │ │ ├── Season_11 │ │ │ └── extrafanart │ │ ├── Magnum_P_I.1980-1988 │ │ │ ├── Season_01 │ │ │ ├── Season_02 │ │ │ ├── Season_03 │ │ │ ├── Season_04 │ │ │ ├── Season_05 │ │ │ ├── Season_06 │ │ │ ├── Season_07 │ │ │ ├── Season_08 │ │ │ └── artwork │ │ │ ├── actors │ │ │ ├── banners │ │ │ ├── character_art │ │ │ ├── clearart-fanart │ │ │ ├── clearart-logo │ │ │ ├── covers │ │ │ ├── fanart │ │ │ ├── posters │ │ │ ├── screenshots │ │ │ └── thumbs oddly extrafanart isn't picked up for somereason... hmmm.. Edited December 30, 2025 by rwyarbrough Typos
rwyarbrough 8 Posted December 30, 2025 Author Posted December 30, 2025 (edited) As you can tell in the screenshot there are 29 folders in the TV library. Here are those 29 folders... tv_shows ├── action -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/action ├── adventure -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/adventure ├── childrens -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/childrens ├── christmas-classics -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/christmas-classics ├── christmas-post_2000 -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/christmas-post_2000 ├── classics-1970-1979 -> ../../multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/classics-1970-1979 ├── classics-1980-1989 -> ../../multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/classics-1980-1989 ├── classics-1990-2000 -> ../../multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/classics-1990-2000 ├── classics-pre_1970 -> ../../multimedia-03/video_library/tv_shows/classics-pre_1970 ├── comedy -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/comedy ├── crime-drama -> ../../multimedia-06/video_library/tv_shows/crime-drama ├── detective -> ../../multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/detective ├── documentary -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/documentary ├── drama -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/drama ├── fantasy -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/fantasy ├── hobbies -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/hobbies ├── horror -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/horror ├── military_science_fiction -> ../../multimedia-10/video_library/tv_shows/military_science_fiction ├── mystery -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/mystery ├── police_forensics_procedural -> ../../multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/police_forensics_procedural ├── police_procedural -> ../../multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/police_procedural ├── post-apocalyptic -> ../../multimedia-10/video_library/tv_shows/post-apocalyptic ├── reality -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/reality ├── science_documentary -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/science_documentary ├── science_entertainment -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/science_entertainment ├── science_fantasy -> ../../multimedia-10/video_library/tv_shows/science_fantasy ├── science_fiction -> ../../multimedia-07/video_library/tv_shows/science_fiction ├── thriller -> ../../multimedia-04/video_library/tv_shows/thriller └── westerns -> ../../multimedia-05/video_library/tv_shows/westerns Edited December 30, 2025 by rwyarbrough
rwyarbrough 8 Posted December 30, 2025 Author Posted December 30, 2025 My info directory contents: info ├── .ignore ├── .nomedia └── After MASH Episode List.txt My attempts: 1st attempt .embyignore file location: /diskmounts/datastore/multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows 1st attempt .embyignore file contents: classics-1980-1989/AfterMASH/info/* 2nd attempt .embyignore file location: /diskmounts/datastore/multimedia-08/video_library/tv_shows/classics-1980-1989 2nd attempt .embyignore file contents: AfterMASH/info/* What emby displays both attempts...
Boulvejak 1 Posted December 31, 2025 Posted December 31, 2025 .embyignore requires file contents in it. .embyignore can operate exactly like legacy .ignore if the only thing in it is "*". So create .embyignore as a blank text file containing a single asterisk and add it to every location where you currently have a .ignore file. I am keeping both. Who knows what could change in the future without warning. Adding .embyignore for additional functionality is great. Suddenly no longer honoring .ignore files that are already present is bewildering and inconvenient. Making this change to the filesystem with no warning on a routine upgrade is unfathomable stupidity. I am now spending hours of evening after work cleaning up .nfo and thumbnail files from previously hidden directories in my media library. 1
IAmHugh 63 Posted December 31, 2025 Posted December 31, 2025 35 minutes ago, Boulvejak said: .embyignore requires file contents in it. .embyignore can operate exactly like legacy .ignore if the only thing in it is "*". So create .embyignore as a blank text file containing a single asterisk and add it to every location where you currently have a .ignore file. I am keeping both. Who knows what could change in the future without warning. Adding .embyignore for additional functionality is great. Suddenly no longer honoring .ignore files that are already present is bewildering and inconvenient. Making this change to the filesystem with no warning on a routine upgrade is unfathomable stupidity. I am now spending hours of evening after work cleaning up .nfo and thumbnail files from previously hidden directories in my media library. I for one could not have said it any better. This is just another case where the enduser was ignored. embyIGNORED to be exact.
rwyarbrough 8 Posted December 31, 2025 Author Posted December 31, 2025 (edited) 53 minutes ago, Boulvejak said: .embyignore requires file contents in it. Yes, I was putting lines in the .embyignore file like "classics-1980-1989/AfterMASH/info/*" and "**/classics-1980-1989/AfterMASH/info/* " ect. but no joy... I've spent some time searching the community forums and found a couple of threads, but so far nothing I've tried has worked 53 minutes ago, Boulvejak said: .embyignore can operate exactly like legacy .ignore if the only thing in it is "*". So create .embyignore as a blank text file containing a single asterisk and add it to every location where you currently have a .ignore file. I am keeping both. Who knows what could change in the future without warning. That is the way I initially understood how it worked, what happens is the files in the folder are excluded, but not the folder itself... 53 minutes ago, Boulvejak said: Adding .embyignore for additional functionality is great. Suddenly no longer honoring .ignore files that are already present is bewildering and inconvenient. Making this change to the filesystem with no warning on a routine upgrade is unfathomable stupidity. I wouldn't care to comment on the "unfathomable stupidity." of the change, but it certainly is a royal pain in the <fill in the blank> DEFINITELY bewildering and inconvenient. 53 minutes ago, Boulvejak said: I am now spending hours of evening after work cleaning up .nfo and thumbnail files from previously hidden directories in my media library. Unfortunately I'm right there wid ya... (My Library of Movies and TV shows is up to 15+ TB now) Edited December 31, 2025 by rwyarbrough
rwyarbrough 8 Posted December 31, 2025 Author Posted December 31, 2025 Did a test with * in the info folders .embyignore file. Adding a mp4 file and thumb jpeg as a test (scanned library files after all was added...) here are the results
Solution Luke 42077 Posted December 31, 2025 Solution Posted December 31, 2025 Quote classics-1980-1989/AfterMASH/info/* Hi, this says ignore everything under info, but not info itself. Try just: classics-1980-1989/AfterMASH/info 1
Luke 42077 Posted December 31, 2025 Posted December 31, 2025 Quote Did a test with * in the info folders .embyignore file Same idea. That will ignore everything in the folder, but not the folder itself. You want to move the embyignore up a level and put info in it.
IAmHugh 63 Posted December 31, 2025 Posted December 31, 2025 6 hours ago, Luke said: Same idea. That will ignore everything in the folder, but not the folder itself. You want to move the embyignore up a level and put info in it. 8 hours ago, Boulvejak said: Adding .embyignore for additional functionality is great. Suddenly no longer honoring .ignore files that are already present is bewildering and inconvenient.
rwyarbrough 8 Posted December 31, 2025 Author Posted December 31, 2025 (edited) 11 hours ago, Boulvejak said: I am now spending hours of evening after work cleaning up .nfo and thumbnail files from previously hidden directories in my media library. I found the following works and you don't have to touch every directory, only the root directory of the folder. For example on my TV shows Library I have 29 folders I had to add to emby. This is due to my file organization with my TV shows adding a directory. SO in my TV Library I have 29 folders as follows Since each category directory is the "root" of the emby library folder, I added 29 .embyignore files to get the job done. If you only have 1 folder in you library, then you only need 1 .embyignore to accomplish what the .ignore files did. All 29 .embyignore files are identical to further ease the task. My 29 .embyignore files contains the following: */info */artwork This works great! Edited December 31, 2025 by rwyarbrough
IAmHugh 63 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Add back the .ignore since it is a system function so we have a choice between .ignore and .embyignore. 1
rwyarbrough 8 Posted January 1 Author Posted January 1 (edited) 4 hours ago, IAmHugh said: Add back the .ignore since it is a system function so we have a choice between .ignore and .embyignore. I agree that you should have an option to use either one or the other. Call it legacy ignore and new ignore, or something of the sort... I could see how using both might conflict with each other... Luke? Honestly, after I learned the idiosyncrasies with the new .embyignore nuances, I like that better and it is more flexible, I just didn't appreciate the way the old .ignore was yanked out of the system so willy nilly... Edited January 1 by rwyarbrough 2
IAmHugh 63 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 8 hours ago, rwyarbrough said: Honestly, after I learned the idiosyncrasies with the new .embyignore nuances, I like that better and it is more flexible, I just didn't appreciate the way the old .ignore was yanked out of the system so willy nilly... Actually it's a basic system function which means the devs for Emby deliberately chose to IGNORE it.
Luke 42077 Posted January 11 Posted January 11 Hi, Normally when a feature is changed, we want to support both the new way and the old way. In this case, some significant performance improvements to the library scan were identified that would only be possible if the old way were eliminated. That made it a more difficult decision since ignores is not a heavily used feature anyway. Apologies for the disruption.
Lat31320 2 Posted February 3 Posted February 3 Hello, I'm hesitant to start a new thread for a topic (ignore file) that's already been discussed many times. Please excuse me if this isn't the right approach. # Context : I took a long break (server down) from using Emby due to a reorganization of my infrastructure, specifically switching everything to PVE-OS. Previously, Emby ran on the PVE host (it was a standard Debian 12 with PVE installed on top). This weekend, I finally attempted to rebuild an Emby instance (LXC this time) using my backups. After a few attempts, I had to abandon the backup idea: the metadata folder was gaining gigabytes every night until Emby crashed due to storage saturation. # Action : So I restored my backup to recover my settings (users, network, etc.), deleted my libraries and completely purged the metadata folder, updated to the latest version of Emby... and finally, I'm starting to rebuild my libraries. Fortunately, unlike some people here who have terabytes of movies, my collection consists mainly of photos (and a lot of music, but it all contains its mp3 tags and image files—covers, etc.—so that's not a problem). After noticing that all my "raw" folders, which contained the very useful ".ignore" file, were being indexed, I learned on your site that this file has been discontinued and that you now need to use a ".embyignore" file containing the appropriate instructions. This probably explains why my metadata folder was taking up gigabytes every night... but never mind, it's too late now. Like a good student, I'm trying to use a single ".embyignore" file in the root folder of my "Photos" library to ignore all "raw" folders, regardless of their location in the directory structure. I have a "Photos" library configured on "/media/Images/Photo" (it's a read-only LXC mount) which looks like this (shortened list): root@lxc-emby:~# ll /media/Images/Photo/ total 16 dr-xr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Feb 2 23:08 . drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Jan 30 22:55 .. -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 17 Feb 2 23:08 .embyignore drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jun 11 2024 1999 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jun 27 2024 2003 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jun 27 2024 2004 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jun 11 2024 2005 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jun 11 2024 2006 etc. The ".embyignore" file contains: root@lxc-emby:~# cat /media/Images/Photo/.embyignore # */raw/* (that was my 1st try) */raw/ My directory structure is built according to the following logic: |-- 2024 | |-- 2024-01 | | `-- 2024-01-01_Lieu1 | | `-- raw | |-- 2024-04 | | `-- 2024-04-00_Lieu2 | | `-- raw | |-- 2024-07 | | `-- 2024-07-13-20_Lieu1 | | `-- raw | |-- 2024-08 | | |-- 2024-08-04-17_Lieu3 | | | `-- raw | | `-- 2024-08-19_Lieu1 | | `-- raw | |-- 2024-10 | | |-- 2024-10-16_Lieu1 | | | `-- raw | | `-- 2024-10-18_AFS | | `-- raw | |-- 2024-11 | | `-- 2024-11-05_Lieu1 | | `-- raw | `-- 2024-12 | |-- 2024-12-22-29_Lieu1 | `-- 2024-12-31_Lieu4 When I refresh the library's contents and browse through it, I see my "raw" (with no raw photos shown) folders. I would like them to be hidden completely. Is there a solution using a single ".embyignore" file placed in the library's root directory? Previously, I had a photo sorting routine that automatically built the directory structure (years, etc.), including creating a raw folder (when there were raw files for the folder in question) and automatically placing a ".ignore" file in it. If a single file in the root directory is sufficient, that would simplify things! This is ultimately the only remaining issue. Thanks to your pages (and a few others), I was able to resolve everything else (GPU support - i7 gen13 - for the container, in particular). Thanks you
Luke 42077 Posted February 4 Posted February 4 Hi, try just having the ignore file contain raw i don’t think this is related to the size of your metadata folder. Plain folders don’t really have metadata that gets saved.
Lat31320 2 Posted February 4 Posted February 4 Hi Luke, Thanks, indeed, why complicate things: simply using "raw" did the trick. Thank you ! ~~ Regarding the exponential growth of the metadata folder, I must say I don't know how to explain it... so I mentioned it but without going into detail. What I can say is that my backup was taking up over 90 GB in /var/lib/emby/metadata/library/. When I restarted the Emby service after restoring this backup, it took 10 GB overnight (default scheduled tasks) until it stopped because the volume was full. I then increased the volume by 30 GB... and the following night, it was completely full again. That's when I gave up and removed the Emby libraries and deleted all the contents of the metadata folder in order to restart from scratch. Today, for the same (indexed) libraries, I don't even reach 1 GB for the entire /var/lib/emby directory. I don't know when this started happening (a long time ago, since I was carrying around a 90 GB backup). Anyway, that's ancient history for me now. If you'd like some data from the backup (I doubt you'd be interested, given that it's from an old version of Emby Server), just let me know. Regards,
Luke 42077 Posted February 4 Posted February 4 It depends on what is in there. It usually comes down to what features are enabled. And also there is always the chance that an older version of the server was guilty of leaving some folders dangling in there.
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