Where Is the Plex Media Server Data Directory?
Where Plex Media Server stores its databases, metadata and transcode temp files on Windows, macOS and Linux, and how to confirm the path.
Last updated
Plex Media Server keeps its bookkeeping in one data folder: the SQLite databases behind your libraries, the artwork and metadata it has downloaded, watch state, and the temp files it writes while transcoding. None of your actual movies or music live there.
The folder grows for a few predictable reasons, mostly generated artwork, preview thumbnails and leftover transcode output. Its exact location depends on how you installed the server, which is why the path is worth confirming instead of assuming.
Where Plex Media Server stores this, by platform
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server
Inside it: Plug-in Support\Databases\com.plexapp.plugins.library.db for the libraries, Metadata and Media folders for downloaded artwork, and Cache\Transcode for temporary output. A few settings are stored in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server instead of on disk, so back up both when you copy a server to a new machine.
~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server
Same layout: Plug-in Support/Databases holds the SQLite files, Media and Metadata hold downloaded artwork, and Cache/Transcode holds temporary output. Some settings sit in a separate .plist outside this folder, so copy that too if you are rebuilding the server rather than just clearing space.
/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server
That path belongs to the Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and CentOS packages. Snap installs use /var/snap/plexmediaserver/common/Library/Application Support, Docker depends entirely on the volume you mapped at deploy time, and a server running as your own user commonly writes to ~/.local/share/Plex Media Server. The official Plex support article lists these variants side by side, and the log paths show which one your server is using.
Frequently asked questions
where is the plex database file
Inside the data folder at Plug-in Support/Databases/com.plexapp.plugins.library.db. On Windows that expands to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\Plug-in Support\Databases. It is a SQLite database that backs every library, so stop the server completely before you touch it.
does plex store my media files in its data folder
No. Library items point at the folders you chose when you added them, and the originals stay right there. The data folder only carries metadata, artwork, watch state, server settings and temporary transcode output, all of which Plex can rebuild from a rescan.
how do i find my plex media server data folder
Read the official support article called Where is the Plex Media Server data directory located, or open Settings > Troubleshooting in Plex Web and use Download Logs: the paths inside those logs name the data directory your server is really using. That beats guessing from your package type.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.