Plex Not Displaying TVDB Season Numbers Correctly: Troubleshooting Guide
Plex is a popular media center application used by many home theater enthusiasts. It integrates with various online media databases, including TheTVDB, to provide metadata and cover art for movies and TV shows. However, some users have encountered issues where Plex incorrectly displays TheTVDB's season numbers for TV shows.
Understanding TheTVDB Season Numbers
TheTVDB uses a unique system for season numbering that can sometimes be confusing. For example, it counts specials or unaired episodes as part of the season numbers, even if they are not broadcasted. This system can be particularly troubling for some users of Plex, who may prefer a more traditional season numbering format.
It's important to note that Plex does not control the season numbering on TheTVDB. Instead, it pulls season data from TheTVDB directly. If TheTVDB's data is incorrect or inconsistent, Plex will also reflect those inaccuracies.
Verifying Plex and TheTVDB Settings
The first troubleshooting step is to ensure that your Plex and TheTVDB settings are configured correctly. Here are some things to check:
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Plex Agency: Ensure that Plex is set up to use the "TheTVDB" agency for TV shows.
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TheTVDB API Key: Verify that your Plex server has a valid TheTVDB API key. You can obtain an API key from TheTVDB's website. TheTVDB API Documentation
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TheTVDB Language Preferences: Check your TheTVDB language preferences and ensure that the correct language is selected. Sometimes, language differences can cause issues with how season numbers are displayed.
Checking for Incorrect Metadata
If Plex and TheTVDB settings are configured correctly, the issue may be with the metadata itself. Here are some steps to check:
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Season Data: Verify that the data on TheTVDB for the TV show in question is accurate. If the data is incorrect, you can fix it yourself by contributing to TheTVDB. TheTVDB Series Editing Guide
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Local Files: Ensure your local media files have correct and consistent naming conventions, including season numbers. Plex uses the file names to determine the correct metadata to display, and inconsistent or incorrect naming can cause issues.
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Agent Priorities: Verify your agent priorities in Plex. It's possible that another agency, like TVDB v3 or Moviefone, has taken precedence over TheTVDB.
Additional Troubleshooting Steps
If you've tried everything above and still encounter issues, here are a few more things to check:
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Clear Plex Cache: Clearing your Plex server's cache can resolve some display issues. You can find the option to clear the cache by going to
Settings→General→Clear Cache (in the advanced section). -
Rebuild Library: If all else fails, try rebuilding your Plex library. This will force Plex to re-scan your media files and update the metadata.
References
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Plex Knowledge Base: Plex Support
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TheTVDB API Documentation: TheTVDB API Documentation
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TheTVDB Series Editing Guide: TheTVDB Series Editing Guide