Plex Media Server Backup Script (PowerShell + 7-Zip)

This PowerShell script performs automated backups of Plex Media Server configuration and registry data. It supports both application mode and service mode installations, and can optionally compress the backup using 7-Zip if installed. The script is designed to run headlessly, making it ideal for overnight automated backups.

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Features

• Stops all Plex processes and the Plex service (if installed) to ensure clean backups.
• Copies Plex configuration to a timestamped backup folder, excluding cache and codecs.
• Optionally compresses the backup folder with 7-Zip (.7z) for smaller storage size.
• Retains a configurable number of backups, deleting older ones automatically.
• Restarts Plex after backup, attempting both service and application launches for reliability.
• Fully headless and suitable for scheduled tasks.

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Configuration

Edit the following variables at the top of the script:

Configure the following variables in the script to match your setup

• $kill_plex = $false #determines whether the script tries to terminate plex processes at start

• $BackupRoot = "D:\Plex_backup" # Folder where backups will be stored

• $PlexDataFolder = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Plex Media Server"

• $PlexExePath = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe"

• $SevenZipPaths = @( *"C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe", *"C:\Program Files (x86)\7-Zip\7z.exe" )

• $RetentionDays = 30 # Number of days to keep old backups

• $Always_Restart_Plex = $true # Restart Plex after backup (true/false)

Ensure that $BackupRoot exists or the script will create it automatically.

Usage

Open PowerShell as Administrator (required to stop/start services and kill processes).

Run the script manually:

.\plex_backup.ps1

Check the console or the log file (if configured) to verify backup completion.

Setting Up a Scheduled Task (Windows)

To run this script automatically overnight:

Open Task Scheduler.

Create a new task:

    Name: Plex Backup

    Run whether user is logged on or not

    Run with highest privileges

Triggers: Set your preferred schedule (e.g., daily at 2:00 AM).

Actions:

    Program/script: powershell.exe

    Add arguments:

    -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Path\To\plex_backup.ps1"

Conditions: Optional – e.g., only run if on AC power.

Settings: Allow task to be run on demand, stop if runs longer than a set time (optional).

Best Practices

• I have this schedule to run early morning, once a week.

• 7-Zip Installation: Install 7-Zip to enable compression. The script falls back to uncompressed backups if not found.

• Test First: Run the script manually before scheduling to ensure paths and permissions are correct.

• Retention Policy: Adjust $RetentionDays to match available storage.

• Headless Operation: $Always_Restart_Plex = $true ensures Plex is back online after backup.

• Monitoring: Consider redirecting output to a log file for automated monitoring:

• .\plex_backup.ps1 *> "D:\Plex_backup\PlexBackupLog.txt"

License

This script is provided as-is for personal use. Modify and redistribute freely, but use at your own risk.