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Backup and Recovery
A library backup includes saved catalog records, corrections, uploaded artwork, physical copies, collections and managed files. A complete recovery point also pairs the catalog with its installed offline-pack assets.
Indexing and linking leave original movies, music, books and other files on their drives. A library recovery point does not copy an entire drive or recreate missing linked originals. Copies of eligible photos, home videos and personal files require a separate confirmed Import action. Protect original source bytes separately if you need them recoverable.
Use the Recovery guide included with your installation. Create a complete recovery point on a separate configured backup drive and wait for success. Keep the whole blank-box-backup tree, including shared managed media and paired snapshot assets.
For a separate Linux restore test, extract the matching Community installation package and backup tree into separate folders. Do not run the normal setup wizard first. restore.py --full creates a new empty data destination; server.py then runs that review copy on a separate port. This is a foreground test, not a systemd replacement. Keep your main library authoritative and both original folders intact.
Compare IDs, ownership/copy counts, owner corrections, artwork, collections, managed-file hashes and installed pack versions privately. Test linked records with the source absent and then safely reconnected; a different absolute source path or changed drive identity may require review and relinking. Do not alter the household source drive just to run a test.
Portable recovery excludes account/session and provider secrets. Claim the restored box with its new recovery key and owner profile. Reconnect Plex/Jellyfin using a reachable address and credentials. Saved addresses may still refer to the old network.
Owner-uploaded covers are catalog data. Provider covers are connected references; metapacks do not contain cover art. After reconnection, Settings → System & About → Restore saved provider covers can review and fill missing covers from saved provider references. It should preserve uploaded art, metadata choices and existing title identities. An unreachable provider cannot supply its images.
Keep old catalog/asset pairs and rollback software until you deliberately retire them after checking your recovery options. Retention is manual. For public support, describe the step and outcome without sharing catalogs, backups, IDs, file paths or credentials.
Use the guides included with your installed version for its exact commands. Windows remains experimental. Report feedback without sharing household data or credentials.