Jellyfin: Fix Season Detection Bug After Update

Hey everyone! It looks like there's a bug in the newer versions of Jellyfin (10.11.0+) that's causing issues with how it recognizes and organizes TV shows. Specifically, it seems like Jellyfin has become more strict with season naming conventions, leading to problems with shows not being detected properly. Let's dive into the details and see how we can work around this issue.

The Problem: Strict Season Naming in Jellyfin

The core of the issue lies in how Jellyfin now interprets season folders. Before the 10.11 update, Jellyfin was more lenient in recognizing season folders, even if they had descriptive names. Now, it seems to be strictly looking for S01, S02, etc. If your folder structure deviates from this, Jellyfin might not recognize the show at all, treating the season folders as random, unrelated directories. This can be a real headache, especially if you've spent time organizing your media library in a specific way.

To illustrate, consider this file structure:

└── /media/Andor [tmdbid-83867]/
    ├── FunkyName.S02/
    │   └── E01.mp4
    └── FunkyName.S03/
        └── E01.mp4

In previous versions, Jellyfin would have recognized this structure and correctly identified the show "Andor" with its respective seasons. However, with the newer versions, Jellyfin fails to recognize the show, treating FunkyName.S02 and FunkyName.S03 as just random folders.

Why is this happening?

It's tough to say definitively without looking at the Jellyfin source code, but it appears that the developers might have tightened the season detection logic, possibly to improve accuracy in some cases. However, this change has unintentionally broken compatibility with existing file structures that were previously working fine.

Workaround: Reorganize Your Folders (Temporarily)

For now, the most reliable workaround is to rename your season folders to the S01, S02, S03 format. This will ensure that Jellyfin correctly identifies the seasons and retrieves the appropriate metadata for your shows. Using the example above, the corrected structure would look like this:

└── /media/Andor [tmdbid-83867]/
    ├── S02/
    │   └── E01.mp4
    └── S03/
        └── E01.mp4

While this workaround gets Jellyfin working again, it's not ideal, especially if you prefer a more descriptive naming scheme for your season folders. Hopefully, the Jellyfin developers will address this issue in a future update, restoring the previous level of flexibility.

How to Report the Bug and Help Fix It

If you're experiencing this issue, the best thing you can do is to report it to the Jellyfin developers. This will help them understand the scope of the problem and prioritize a fix. Here’s how you can contribute:

1. Confirm the Bug: Make sure you're running a version of Jellyfin Server that's affected (10.11.0+).
2. Search for Existing Reports: Before creating a new report, check the Jellyfin GitHub issues page to see if someone has already reported the same issue. Add your voice to the existing report to provide more context and emphasize the importance of the fix. If you are 100% sure it has not been raised then proceed to the next step.
3. Create a Detailed Bug Report: If you can't find an existing report, create a new one on the Jellyfin GitHub issues page. Be sure to include the following information:
   • Jellyfin Server Version: Specify the exact version of Jellyfin Server you're using (e.g., 10.11.2).
   • File Structure: Provide a clear example of your file structure, including the show name, season folder names, and episode filenames.
   • Expected Behavior: Describe what you expected Jellyfin to do (e.g., recognize the show and season).
   • Actual Behavior: Describe what Jellyfin is actually doing (e.g., not recognizing the show).
   • Workaround (if any): Mention the workaround of renaming the season folders to S01, S02, etc.
4. Provide Logs (if relevant): If you think the Jellyfin logs might be helpful, include them in your report. However, in this particular case, the logs might not be very informative.

By providing detailed and accurate bug reports, you can help the Jellyfin developers quickly identify and fix the issue.

Community Discussion and Support

In the meantime, feel free to discuss this issue and share your experiences in the Jellyfin forums or chat rooms. Other users might have found alternative workarounds or have additional insights into the problem. Collaboration within the community can help us find solutions and ensure that Jellyfin continues to be a great media server.

Example of a Detailed Bug Report

To give you an idea of what a good bug report looks like, here's an example based on the information provided:

Title: Regression: Jellyfin no longer works with some file organizations

Description of the bug:

Season naming got more restrictive between 10.10 and 10.11.2.

Reproduction steps:

Try the following structure:

└── /media/Andor [tmdbid-83867]/
    ├── FunkyName.S02/
    │   └── E01.mp4
    └── FunkyName.S03/
        └── E01.mp4

What is the current bug behavior?

Jellyfin doesn't even recognize the show. It considers everything as random folders.

A workaround is to switch to this structure:

└── /media/Andor [tmdbid-83867]/
    ├── S02/
    │   └── E01.mp4
    └── S03/
        └── E01.mp4

What is the expected correct behavior?

Jellyfin used to detect seasons well and get the right metadata for the show.

Jellyfin Server version:

10.11.0+

Specify the build version

10.11.2

Final Thoughts

This regression in Jellyfin's season detection is definitely a frustrating issue for those with existing media libraries. However, by understanding the problem, implementing the workaround, and reporting the bug, we can help the Jellyfin developers resolve it quickly. Remember to stay active in the community forums and share your experiences to help others facing the same problem. Let's work together to make Jellyfin even better!