Migrate from Mac to Windows

[thegrunge 29]

I have 2 emby servers, one on Mac and the other on Windows. I am thinking of passing people to the windows server following a hardware update, but I do not know if the simple backup will work, because when I went from windows to mac it did not work. I had only restored members. and what they’ve seen in my bookstores, but it looks like it’s not working

 

@@cayars

[Carlo 4561]

Since you have both systems working you should be able to basically use the directions from the knowledge base: https://emby.media/support/articles/Connectivity.html

 

The database is pretty easy to move by both the directory copy method and the use of the backup plugin.  So you should not need to recreate users if done right.

Obviously your libraries could be quite different and need to be re-setup due to path difference but that can be easily done and fixed up with library scans.

 

Give it a go and let us know where you get stuck, hit an obstacle or need help.

Edited November 6, 2025 by GrimReaper
KB article link updated

[thegrunge 29]

in fact the 2 servers have exactly the same content, I just want to be sure of the method used for the "already seen" part of each member. the last time I used the backup configuration server plugin. I had used the back up of My Windows server and I had used it on the Mac to restore only this portion, but it seems that it did not work

[Carlo 4561]

It should work just fine.  Take your time and test things out well and you shouldn't have a problem.  If you do just let us know.

[thegrunge 29]

I confirm that the transfer has been completed. Above all, do not forget to check that the users of the 2 servers have exactly the same name!

[Luke 42077]

Are you all set now?

[thegrunge 29]

@Luke yes everything that was shown as seen on the mac is shown as seen on Windows.  I restored only the "already seen" part of the Mac on Windows and I made sure that the users on Windows have exactly the same name as on the mac

[Happy2Play 9780]

As a note for others, database userdata is stored with a id for said user not Name, so id 1 is the first user created so the order of users created matters also.

So without all the proper context ID 1 could be the wrong person depending on the order of first person added to the server.

With the Server Configuration Plugin all this is taken into account for User and Userdata, just like the ability to map one users data to another during a restore.

[michaeltruncale 6]

@CarloWas trying to move a Mac Mini M4 Emby Server setup to Windows 11. I tried clicking the knowledgebase link you left a few years ago but I get a 404 error. 

[Neminem 1518]

You will run into the old path issue when moving from mac/  linux to windows and vice versa 

Its all about / vs \ in the paths.