Prevent Accidental Deletion - Need Read Only Setting in Windows

[Tom Phillips]

I was very unpleasantly surprised today to find that deleting folders from my library also deleted the files from the folders I added to my library in Jellyfin.  I was extremely surprised that by default Jellyfin would have the rights to delete files directly from my PC and more importantly, that deletion from the library and permanent irrevoccable deletion from my hard drive were two things so easily confused in the UI and, IMHO, so poorly delineated via pop-ups/confirmations in the software.

I was thankfully able to get most of my photos back, but not all.  I lost forever some treasured family vacation photos and I'm quite heartbroken over it.


Upon this unfortunate series of events occuring I immediately set out to see if (on my Windows install) there was a way to limit the Jellyfin app from deleting files (it should ONLY ever be able to add remove them from it's sources for the Jellyfin library, I don't want it to ever be able to delete a file.  I so far have been unable to find the settings in the application.  Does this exist?

Thank you for your help.

Tom

[TheDreadPirate]

Dashboard > Users > Select User > "Allow deletion from" and uncheck everything.

   

I'm not sure how in Windows (I've been a Linux admin mostly), but I'd imagine there is a way to set the Windows file permissions so that at an OS level you couldn't delete files via Jellyfin.

Many many of us have made this mistake or had some other computer catastrophe where we lost data.  Create a backup regime for important or irreplaceable files.

Do keep in mind that if you do remove items (without deleting them) from Jellyfin, the next time Jellyfin scans your library it will re-add them.