Managing your Plex library can be a complex task when the number of files and content grows. If you’re like me and have a large media library, you’ll want to get some help instead of doing all the work yourself.
Fortunately, there are a number of apps that can help you organize your library more efficiently. From optimizing file order to managing metadata, these tools make organizing your Plex library easier and more seamless. Check out these hidden Plex settings you should be using to improve your experience.
Organize Movies and TV Shows in Plex
Plex allows customers to store their digital media collections on its servers, which can be accessed through any compatible device. However, for this process to go smoothly, you need to pay attention to how you name your files and the meta tags you use. According to PlexAt a minimum, movies and TV shows should be kept in separate files, but more specific grouping should be used as your library becomes larger.
If you have a large database of digital media, the process of renaming and tagging can quickly become tedious, especially if you have multiple seasons of shows, special editions, trailers, or external media like subtitles or artwork. In this case, an organizational app will cut some of the work and help streamline your collections.
FileBot
For everything to work smoothly in Plex, all of your available movies and TV shows need to be named correctly, which can be especially tricky when it comes to multiple seasons and episodes of a show. FileBot can locate all of your files related to a particular title and, with the click of a button, rename them so that they are in the correct Plex style structure.
FileBot has some additional features, too. You can download artwork and cover art, find subtitles for any show or movie in most languages, and search IMDB for episode lists of your favorite shows. The only downside to FileBot is that it’s not free. Instead, you have to pay a $6 annual subscription fee or purchase a lifetime license for $48.
Download: FileBot for Windows | Mac | Linux ($48 lifetime, $6 annual subscription available)
tinyMediaManager
tinyMediaManager is a great open source alternative to FileBot, which means it’s free! The app is written in Java, so it’s available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It uses the same databases as FileBot, so it does a similar job of renaming your files and can provide you with translations and any related artwork.
Another useful feature of tinyMediaManager is its ability to extract some more technical data from movie files, such as aspect ratio, bitrate, and resolution. Additionally, it can provide you with a list of available trailers for all your saved movies.
Download: tinyMediaManager for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free, subscription available)
Sonarr
Sonarr is a very useful application for downloading content from multiple sources. While its primary function is to monitor RSS feeds and download the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows, it can also scan your existing libraries and download missing episodes or automatically upgrade the file format and quality if there is a better option.
When you integrate Sonarr with Plex, you can take automation one step further — it will convert content into the correct file names and meta tags so all your downloads instantly appear on Plex.
Download: Sonarr for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free)
Rename My TV Series 2
Another popular option is Rename My TV Series, which works exactly as its description says. Version 2.0 has some notable upgrades and now uses the latest version of the TVDataBase API, meaning it works seamlessly with Plex.
Other improvements include dark theme support, notifications, the ability to merge two episodes into one file, and caching of shows and banners for faster reload times.
Download: Rename My TV Series 2 for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free)
Organizing your digital content can be a daunting task. However, with one of these handy apps, it can be done quickly and with minimal fuss, allowing you to get down to the all-important task of watching. Check out the best Plex add-ons to customize your Plex experience.
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