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Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries: How to Fix

In this guide, we will show you the steps to fix the issue of the Plex server being stuck at scanning libraries. Offering both the ad-supported video-on-demand services as well as its plethora of live streaming TV channels, Plex beholds quite an impressive catalog of contents. Add to that, its presence over all the major platforms, including the likes of Shield TV, Fire Stick, Windows, and mac, and there’s not much left to ask, except for maybe a bug-free user experience.

Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries

At the time of writing, various users have voiced their concern that their Plex server is stuck at scanning libraries. While sometimes users are able to press the Cancel button to stop the scan, in other instances, it’s much worse and they have to instead restart the server. Upon a restart, the issue does go away but only to come back later after a few hours or even minutes in some instances. So is there a permanent fix for this bug? Well, turns out there is one, and in this guide, we will make you aware of just that. So without further ado, let’s get started.

How to Fix Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries

Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries

Plex recently rolled out an update and that is proving to be the root cause of its server getting stuck at scanning the libraries. So to rectify it, you will have to roll back the app to the earlier stable build. To do so, you may refer to our detailed guide on How to Downgrade Plex on Windows, macOS, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Firestick. Or you may also refer to the shorter instructions given below:

Windows

Uninstall the currently installed version of Plex via Control Panel. Then download and install the older version of the Plex server from a third-party site.

Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries

macOS

Access the currently installed Plex app via Finder and then send the app icon to Trash to uninstall it. After that, download and install the older version of the Plex server from a third-party site.

Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Uninstall the currently installed version of Plex from the Settings > Applications > Managed Installed Applications. Then install the Downloader app from Amazon App Store and download the older version of Plex.

Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries

Nvidia Shield TV

Uninstall the currently installed Plex version via Settings > Apps. Then download an older version of Plex APK on your ‘phone’. After that, transfer the said APK via a network-supported File Explorer (such as Send files to TV) don’t your TV and subsequently install it.

Plex Server Stuck at Scanning Libraries
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Once you downgrade the Plex server to an earlier build on your platform, it would no longer get stuck at scanning libraries. As far as the official stance on this matter is concerned, Plex is yet to acknowledge it or give out an ETA for the rollout of a fix, As and when any of these two things happen, we will update this guide accordingly. In the meantime, you should stick with the downgraded version.


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