Best Way To Handle Mass File Path Change

[bugman9317 6]

Hello, I have been using Emby for quite some time, and have everything running perfect. I am moving the media for about half of my library to where the file path is going to change. What is the best way to handle this change? I made a backup copy of my Emby Database right before the move.

After the move yesterday, I started Embay up, and it started to do a scan of my libraries, but it has been taking forever. At this pace, it is probably going to take over a week to rescan. Is there a better way to do this? I also notice that all of my manually created collections are gone, but maybe after the scan has completed those will come back? 

 

 

[Luke 42921]

HI, do you have nfo files with your media? did you previously enable saving of those prior to moving the files?

[bugman9317 6]

Unfortunately, no, I don't have the NFO files for the titles.

[js28194 69]

Read this ENTIRE thread before you try anything.  The OP of the thread was NOT successful but YMMV.

 

 

[bugman9317 6]

Thanks for the reply. I tried to let Emby do a scan of the files in their new location,  and it kept getting stuck at like 52.3% for 13 hours.

I ended up deciding to just do a fresh install and scan. I started my largest library of TV shows this morning, and it's at 98% finished. 

I didn't really want to redo everything, but this way will probably be quicker in the end.

[Luke 42921]

7 hours ago, bugman9317 said:

Thanks for the reply. I tried to let Emby do a scan of the files in their new location,  and it kept getting stuck at like 52.3% for 13 hours.

I ended up deciding to just do a fresh install and scan. I started my largest library of TV shows this morning, and it's at 98% finished. 

I didn't really want to redo everything, but this way will probably be quicker in the end.

HI, in all likelihood it was not stuck but rather just taking a long time. The process has to not only scan in the new files, but also clean out the old entry. Glad to hear you are back up and running. Thanks.

[bugman9317 6]

Thanks.. your probably right and it was scanning and cleaning up the location. I just helped it out, and took cleanup out of the equation. I had it scanning all day and it's 95% through.

[js28194 69]

You really should consider going to .nfo files as it makes life much easier.  

[bugman9317 6]

What would I need to do to switch over to NFO files?

[Luke 42921]

On 8/15/2026 at 5:30 PM, bugman9317 said:

What would I need to do to switch over to NFO files?

 

Hi, you can enable saving nfo files for each of your library, but it's not really a switch. It means that nfo files will be saved going forward whenever metadata needs to be saved.

[bugman9317 6]

Thanks. I gotcha, I take it, if I would ever need to do a full restart again, if I had that checked, it would do everything with NFOs as it went along?

[Luke 42921]

For the most part, yes. I would also suggest enabling saving images to media folders.