For the purposes of this guide, we will keep it simple and work only with two kinds of media: Movies and TV Shows.
Assumed Library Structure
You are managing HD and 4K versions in completely separate folders, like so:
/symlinks/movies/ → HD Movies
/symlinks/movies-4k/ → 4K Movies
/symlinks/series/ → HD TV Shows
/symlinks/series-4k/ → 4K TV Shows
This provides you with two options:
You can maintain different libraries for HD and 4K media.
You can merge your HD and 4K media together in libraries
Separate Libraries: Keep It Simple and Compatible
Add Plex Libraries per Resolution and Type
| Library Name | Path | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movies (HD) | /symlinks/movies/ |
All content ≤ 1080p | |
| Movies (4K) | /symlinks/movies-4k/ |
All 2160p content | |
| Shows (HD) | /symlinks/series/ |
TV Shows in ≤ 1080p | |
| Shows (4K) | /symlinks/series-4k/ |
TV Shows in 2160p | |
This setup gives you total control over what each client sees and plays — no ambiguity.
However, it is also possible to merge your HD and 4K media together.
Merged Libraries: Allow Plex to merge duplicates and choose the best version for playback
| Library Name | Paths | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movies | /symlinks/movies/ and /symlinks/movies-4k/ |
All HD and 4K content | |
| Shows | /symlinks/series/ and /symlinks/series-4k/ |
All HD and 4K content | |
That’s it! Now you are setup for success!