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+--- Thread: how to completely delete movie (/t-how-to-completely-delete-movie)
how to completely delete movie - Drake97 - 2025-08-09
The other day, I deleted a corrupted MKV file and then i performed a library scan, thinking it would be deleted. However, I then added another MKV file of the same movie, and it turned out that everything was brought back, including the viewing history. The transcoding logs still showed the old file name (for example, the log still said movie - hdrip.mkv, even though I knew the new one was called movie -IMAX.mkv).
So my question is, how can I completely delete a movie's record from Jellyfin? Besides deleting the MKV, what else should I do?
I'm asking this because I'm constantly updating the MKV versions of movies, and my idea is that when I add the new one, it should be “clean.”
Thanks in advance!
RE: how to completely delete movie - Jacob - 2025-09-29
I'm having a similar issue. Were you able to find a solution?
RE: how to completely delete movie - jellykrabbypatty - 2025-09-30
I had this issue with a library and I had an empty folder I had to search on my system and delete and that cleared it up.
Normally if I'm having a problem with a movie and need to replace it I take the movie file off the scanned directory and put it in a brand new folder and delete the entire folder off permanently off the scanned directory. Scan the library so it removes the old stuff and then replace the folder in the scanned directory and scan again. If it still pull stuff then Jellyfin is still seeing a folder/directory/subdirectory somewhere that you have to search and delete.
If all else fails, just create another library and move everything over to it. Massive headache. Only for last resort for me.
RE: how to completely delete movie - Drake97 - 2025-10-01
(2025-09-29, 04:46 PM)Jacob Wrote: I'm having a similar issue. Were you able to find a solution?
In the end, what I'm doing is deleting all traces of the movie, whether it's the MKV or MP4 file. I scan the library and clean up the database with the task that says “optimize database.”
To finish, I restart Jellyfin, then add the new MKV file for the movie, and it analyzes it as if nothing happened. Although it's a bit tedious, I haven't had any problems, and at least it “works.”