For the purposes of this guide, we will keep it simple and work with only two kinds of media: Movies and TV Shows.
Assumed Library Structure
The assumption here is that 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 | |
Both options are solid. Some people like the simplicity and tidiness of keeping things in only two libraries and allow Plex to handle those duplicates. However, perhaps you want to limit your users to only HD media, rather than worrying about their ability to direct play 4K media. That is scenario where having separate libraries can shine!
That’s it! Now you are setup for success!