Transferring your Plex Server to another computer can be a time-consuming task. But if you use the right approach, then it can be a simple process. Plex Media Server is a robust platform that organizes different media and streams.
Whether you are updating your computer with a powerful one or switching to another operating system, even if you have optimized your setup, careful planning is required to maintain Plex Server.
This blog post will show how the Plex Server can be moved to another computer.
Easiest Way To Migrate Your Plex Server To Other Computer
The proces of moving a Plex server is straightforward. If you move it by following the proper instructions, you should not face any issues.
Step 1: Take a Copy Of Your Important Data
First, migrate to the Plex server & back up all your essential data. Go to your current device's Plex Media Server data directory and copy all the data to the new location. This directory will give you all the metadata, libraries, and media information.
Step 2: Stop Plex Server
Stop the Plex server on your current computer. You will not face issues transferring the Plex media server’s data from one computer to another.
Step 3: Install Plex On New Computer
Install the new version of the Plex server on your new computer. Install the server by following the proper instructions.
Step 4: Transfer Data
Copy the Plex server content and paste it into the new computer. Try to store the data in the same path as you stored it in the old computer in the new computer. If you use a different operating system, try to copy the Plex server data in a path without errors.
Step 5: Restore Backup Data & Verify It
Once the data has been successfully transferred, go to the Plex server settings on the new computer and click on the "Restore" button of the backed-up file. It will restore your settings and the libraries you have set.
After completing the copy process, you must check all the folders containing your media files and their contents for visibility and proper playback.
Now, find the total number of media items in each library on both servers to ensure they are matched. At the end, make sure that all other posters, & user-created playlists are saved successfully.
Step 6: Update Network Settings & Launch Server
If your Plex server is connected to the internet, make sure your internet settings are correct and your router ports are configured correctly. Finally, run the Plex Media Server on your new device.
Depending on the server's speed, updating the library and rebuilding the metadata could take some time. But once it is done, you should be able to access all your media as you did before.
What to Avoid While Move Plex Server To Another Computer
Whenever you transfer a file from one computer to another, keep some things in mind so that there are no errors during the transfer and there is no issue of data loss.
Migrate Without Backup
When you migrate without backup, you will lose almost all your data. So, always back up your data before transferring it to prevent loss.
Do Not Stop Plex On Old Computer
If you first stop the Plex Media Server on your old computer while transferring data, your data could be recovered or corrupted.
Check Version Compatibility
Be sure the Plex media version you called on your new computer is compatible with your older computer. If both versions are incompatible, then issues could arise while transferring the Plex Server.
Do not Change the structure
Try to keep the same folder of media files on your new computer as the old one. If the folder of your backup data on both computers changes, issues could arise, too.
Skipping Data Verification
Complete the transfer and perform verification. Using various tools, you can compare file sizes and counts between the old server and the new one.
Failure to update settings in the local network
If your Plex server is also accessible remotely, update your remote access settings and port forwarding configurations on the new computer. Otherwise, you need to gain access to it on your smartphone.
Read also: What is Cloud Computing?
Issues We Face while Moving a Plex Server to Another Computer
Here are some common issues we face while moving a Plex server to another computer.
Metadata missing
If the metadata or the file is missing, it will be missing after migration. But you can force refresh it from your library. The process is very straightforward. Simply select the Plex web interface for your library, click on the three dots, and select refresh.
Scanning library issue
We often face the issue of our library needing to be scanned. It is mentioned that the paths between our new computer and the old computer are different. So, if you face an issue, ensure the path where you store your Plex server library is the same as the old computer.
Incompatible Plex version
If the compatibility of the Plex version on the new computer does not match the old computer's libraries or data, then we also face the issue. Always check whether the versions you are installing on the new computer are compatible with the old computer's library.
FAQs
Can I move the Plex server from one computer to another?
Yes, you can easily migrate the Plex Media Server. You can manually move your Plex media server to different devices to ensure your backup is done correctly. The Plex server you install on the new device should be compatible with the data from the old computer.
Should I rebuild the entire media library on a new computer?
No, if you properly migrate data to your new server, you do not have to rebuild your media library.
What If not player correctly after transfer?
Check if the paths for the files are correct on the new system. If difficulties remain, refer to the document's list of solutions to library and media problems.
Conclusion
Transferring Plex to another computer is straightforward if you transfer it carefully. Before transferring, take a good backup of the data, match the compatibility of data on both computers and keep the directory path the same on both computers.
If you migrate carefully, you will not face any issues with the Plex server on the new computer.