Plex Failed to Determine Decision for Content | Steps to Fix

The error “Plex Failed to Determine Decision for Content” usually happens when Plex Media Server is trying to analyze or manage media but can’t figure out how to handle it.

This can occur in several contexts—such as during library scanning, content matching, or transcoding. Here’s a structured breakdown of the issue and how to fix it:

Common Causes

1. Metadata Issues

   • Plex can’t match the media file to its database due to missing or conflicting metadata.

   • Examples: Unusual file names, missing season/episode numbers, or incorrect extensions.

2. Unsupported File Format

   • Plex might not recognize the media format or codec.

   • Examples: Rare video codecs, corrupted files, or obscure audio formats.

3. Corrupt Media or Incomplete Files

   • Plex may fail to read the file properly.

4. Plex Database or Library Issues

   • Database corruption or temporary inconsistencies can prevent Plex from making decisions about content.

5. Third-Party Agents / Plugins

   • Custom metadata agents may fail to parse certain files correctly.

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Steps to Fix

1. Check File Naming

   • Use Plex’s recommended naming conventions:

     • Movies: MovieName (Year).ext

     • TV Shows: ShowName/Season 01/ShowName - s01e01 - EpisodeName.ext

   • Avoid special characters that may confuse Plex.

2. Check File Integrity

   • Make sure the file plays outside Plex.

   • Re-download or re-rip if it’s corrupt.

3. Force Refresh Metadata

   • In Plex:

     1. Go to the library.

     2. Select the item → … → Refresh Metadata.

4. Check Library Settings

   • Ensure the correct library type (Movies, TV Shows, Music) is selected.

   • Verify that the agent (TheMovieDB, TheTVDB, etc.) is enabled.

5. Update Plex Media Server

   • Older versions can have bugs causing this error.

6. Clear Plex Cache / Database (Optional Advanced Fix)

   • Sometimes the database gets stuck:

     • Stop Plex Media Server.

     • Delete Plug-in Support/Cache or Cache folder.

     • Restart Plex.

7. Check Plex Logs

   • Logs often give detailed info:

     • Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\Logs\Plex Media Server.log

     • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs/Plex Media Server.log

     • Linux: /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs/Plex Media Server.log

   • Look for entries around the time the error appears to see which file or metadata is causing it.