Unwanted fanart.jpg files being saved to Movie folders

[Luke 42128]

46 minutes ago, tanStaafl said:

So you're saying that Emby saves the actual URL that an image is pulled from? It doesn't just scan for missing images and download missing images? 

Anyway, I have adding dozens of movies since this started and it is hit and miss those that get the fanart treatment. I'll try to run a control on a couple of movies and see what happens.

It depends on whether you have the option enabled to download images in advance or not. Make sure to read the help text underneath the option before changing it.

In either case the same image gets downloaded. The option only determines when that happens.

[Happy2Play 9795]

44 minutes ago, Luke said:

It depends on whether you have the option enabled to download images in advance or not. Make sure to read the help text underneath the option before changing it.

In either case the same image gets downloaded. The option only determines when that happens.

But what would prevent Emby for seeing the existing Backdrop?

Maybe Locked metadata?

[tanStaafl 15]

I have never had the download in advance set, and just checked it again to make sure the Gremlins didn't turn it on  I've never manually locked the metadata, I just let Emby do its thing. 

@Happy2Play that has been my question from day one.. if there are backdrops existing, why the fanart?

Thanks again for the help.

[Happy2Play 9795]

6 hours ago, tanStaafl said:

@Happy2Play that has been my question from day one.. if there are backdrops existing, why the fanart?

Is the metadata locked on your content?  Pick a problem item and edit metadata and scroll to the bottom.

[tanStaafl 15]

@Happy2PlayI checked a couple that had the fanart added, and at the bottom the the Lock this Item to Prevent Future Changes is not set and the SAVE button is available.

[tanStaafl 15]

The is me beating a dead horse..

Updated a couple of movies in my collection and AFTER the movie was updated and 3 backdrop images downloaded, I got this:

I'm showin this because oddly enough, the -thumb.jpg's are actually images that were missing, HOWEVER, it doesn't put in the missing -thumb.jpg's for Movies, only TV Series..?? All Image Fetchers are set the same be it Movie or TV Series.

Curiouser and Couriouser.. 

[Luke 42128]

I would try adding a new movie and see how that compares.

[tanStaafl 15]

I add movies all the time, and when a new movie is added no fanart is generated, it just generates them randomly? at a later date..

but this one has me curious, here are three images,
1. the actual directory where the files are
2. a snapshot from a computer on the network
3. a snapshot taken from the server

I have save to folder toggled on.

One of these things is not like the other:

 

Edited February 25 by tanStaafl

[Happy2Play 9795]

1 hour ago, tanStaafl said:

I add movies all the time, and when a new movie is added no fanart is generated, it just generates them randomly? at a later date..

but this one has me curious, here are three images,
1. the actual directory where the files are
2. a snapshot from a computer on the network
3. a snapshot taken from the server

I have save to folder toggled on.

One of these things is not like the other:

 

Not sure what is going on as your first two images are I will guess server url images "Fanart/1" then Emby sees your backdrop images.  But have no idea how to reproduce this.

[tanStaafl 15]

The first image is an actual snapshot of my physical directory on the PC that is the Emby server.

The second is a snapshot from another network PC that is viewing Emby and has Admin access to view images, modify etc.

The third is a snapshot from the Emby server, again viewing emby and selecting view images.

Pretty sure the horse is dead...

Edited February 25 by tanStaafl

[tanStaafl 15]

On 2/6/2026 at 7:51 AM, Happy2Play said:

Not sure how to reproduce this as I have existing backdrops and never get Emby downloading fanart images.  Even after touching files.

LOL.. I can reproduce without even trying.. 

Anyway, I think the horse is in its final throes, so I will leave it at this:

It appeared out of nowhere, and no configuration, delete and rebuild etc. seemed to fix it. It started with a rash of fanart images and then seemed to ebb.. litle by little.. and now it is only happening few and far between.

Somthing triggered it, it started to fill it's purpose (and I truly think it has to do with viewing the video either just by opening the info page or actually watching) once it created an image for a video it flagged it as DONE, it didn't do it again (I'm 99% sure of this... wasn't really paying attention at the beginning, should have kept all my persaonl program logs) so it is pretty much done with me for now. Until whatever it was that triggered it rears it's ugly head again.

I offically declare this horse dead. There will be no Autopsy as someone stole the horse...