FileBot

Frequently Asked Questions


⭑⭑ Please watch the Getting Started and Video Tutorials if you have not done so already. ⭑⭑


Q: Can I move files? Can I rename folders? Can I change how files are named?
Yes, the naming scheme is extremely flexible. You can transform the given variables into any file path you can conceive. Sorting files into a new folder structure is thus fully supported. Please use Double-Click ➔ Edit Format to open the Format Editor for the selected New Names item and then edit your custom naming scheme to your liking.

You can define an absolute path in the naming scheme: If you are organizing files for Plex then the {plex.id} binding will give you the path you want: {drive} refers to the file system root. If you want to organize files into a specific folder, please modify your naming scheme accordingly, e.g. X:/{plex.id} on Windows or /Volumes/Media/{plex.id} on macOS.

Please read How do I organize files for Plex? if you are renaming and organizing files for Plex.


Q: How do I fix misidentified files?
If series / movie auto-detection does not work, then you can use SHIFT-CLICK <database> to force manual input and selection of the series or movie. You can manually fix an individual match via Double-Click ➔ Edit Match. As a last resort, you can always grab the episode list in in the Episodes panel and then drag-and-drop or selectively copy-and-paste the episode data you want over into Rename for manual matching. Click Match to automatically align files with episodes or use drag-n-drop to realign files and episode data.

If you're using the command-line you can do the same via the --q and --filter options. Please read --q manual lookup and --filter and fine-tuning manual. The --mapper option may also come in handy. If your files are already in order, then you can use Linear Rename instead of automatic matching. When dealing with problematic files manually on the command-line, the --action test and --mode interactive options can be used for testing and checking.

Consider using Match Mode: Strict instead of Match Mode: Opportunistic to favour simple matches / no matches over excessive guesswork.

Translating ⇆ is difficult and may require some finesse. Please read How do I convert AniDB Absolute numbers to TheTVDB Airdate SxE numbers? if you are struggling with Anime episodes.

If the episode SxE number and the episode title refer to different episodes, then the SxE number takes precedence. Please read How do I match episode files by episode title? if you want episode titles to take precedence over SxE numbers.


Q: FileBot keeps asking me to select a series. How can I make FileBot remember my decisions?
Please toggle Manual Confirmation to Automatic Selection to remember your decisions. You can override a previously remembered decision via SHIFT-CLICK <database> to force manual input. Please read Match Mode: Opportunistic vs Strict for details.


Q: How do I exclude a file from the renaming?
Select the file that you want to exclude from renaming and press DELETE or BACKSPACE to remove the selected row from both Original Files and New Names. Use SHIFT-DELETE or SHIFT-BACKSPACE to remove a selected item from Original Files but not New Names or vice versa.


Q: FileBot does not give me the season number. I have {s00e00} in my format, but it'll only give me the episode number. What did I do wrong?
Have you set your preferred Episode Order to Absolute Order in Preferences ? Please use Airdate Order or DVD Order instead.
Are you using AniDB data? AniDB only provides absolute episode data since Anime do not have seasons. Use TheTVDB instead.


Q: How can I make FileBot only process video files? i.e. ignore artwork, nfo files, etc
You can selectively drop files, e.g. search for *.mkv, select all and drag into FileBot. Please read How to process only specific kinds of files for more options and examples.


Q: How can I rename folders? It's only letting me rename files when I drop folders!
When you drop a folder into Original Files, then FileBot will add all the files within that folder to the list. You can use LINK-DROP to add the selected folder as a single item. Please read Rename Folders for details.

DVD and BluRay folders are added as a single Folder item by default.


Q: FileBot is highlighting episodes in shades of red colour. What does this mean?
Shades of RED colour highlight potential mismatches at varying degrees of oddness. RED colour does not mean that the match is incorrect, and merely suggests that something seems to be a bit off. Please double-check everything before hitting Rename.


Q: FileBot is deleting the extension from files when renaming. What did I do wrong?
You have set Extension: Override in Rename Options and ignored the Missing Extension warnings before renaming. Please set it back to Extension: Preserve.


Q: Can I undo rename operations? Can I revert previously renamed files to their original names?
Yes. Please click Open History and then right-click any item and select Revert. You can revert the most recent rename operation by calling filebot -revert on the command-line. Please read Rename History for details.


Q: How can I get rid of (US) (UK) (2005) etc at the end of the series name?
Please adjust your custom format according to what you want.
Q: Can I quickly switch to a previously used naming scheme?
Yes. Please click Change Format and then select one of the previously used custom formats from the list.


Q: I'm trying to run FileBot from the console, but I'm having trouble passing in --format because of spaces or double-quotes?
Please read up on how Cmdline and Argument Passing works. Please consider using @file syntax for reading command-line arguments from text files instead of passing complex arguments on the command-line.

Please use the sysenv script to print the argument array so that you can see what is being passed in:
Q: Why are some bindings not working in the Format Editor? It says "BindingException: Sample file has not been set"
You have not yet selected a media file for testing. Please click Change Sample to set a sample media.


Q: How can I enter my OpenSubtitles login details?
You can enter your OpenSubtitles login details by clicking Login in the Desktop application or calling filebot -script fn:configure on the command-line:
Q: UI is glitching. FileBot crashes on startup. What's wrong?
Graphics glitching all over? FileBot not working via remote desktop (RDP)? You may need to tell Java Swing to turn off Direct3D rendering: Are you using ZoneAlarm or MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner? Any 3rd party software that interferes with Windows internals (e.g. filesystem, registry, Direct3D render pipeline, etc) can cause applications to crash.


Q: Does FileBot have keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Please read Keyboard Shortcuts for details.


Q: How can I tell what version of FileBot I've got installed?
GUI: Press F5 to open the Groovy Pad and then press System Information: CLI: Run filebot with the -version flag:
Q: Where are the logs? What does the log say?
GUI: Press F5 to open the Groovy Pad and then press Error Log: CLI: Run the logs script:
Q: Where is the application data folder? How do I backup my settings? How do I restore my settings?
The default location for application data (e.g. settings, logs, etc) is %APPDATA%\FileBot on Windows and $HOME/.filebot on macOS and Linux. You can backup and restore your settings via Export User Data and Restore User Data.



e.g. Windows: Press Win+R, then paste %APPDATA%\FileBot, then hit ENTER to open the FileBot application data folder.

e.g. Mac, Linux, BSD: e.g. Mac App Store: e.g. Microsoft Store Store:
Q: How do I clear the cache?
Please call filebot -clear-cache on the command-line. Please read Clear Cache for details.


Q: <something> doesn't work. Is there something wrong with my license key?
No, there's probably nothing wrong with your license key. Please read How to Request Help so that we can help you find out what's actually going on.


Q: Where can I find the latest beta builds?
Please read Latest Beta Revisions and Release Candidates for details on the latest builds and revisions.