> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.crosswatch.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.crosswatch.app/crosswatch/main-dashboard/tools/import-export/recover-plex-history.md).

# Recover Plex history

Recover older Plex watch events for movies and episodes no longer in your libraries.

Recover watch events for movies and episodes no longer in your Plex libraries.

You can also open this tool from **Interactive Sync** when Plex is selected.

<figure><img src="https://565675962-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F3rh5THg1PdhVsBt3GALo%2Fuploads%2FZJrwWoYWKxddKiVND1MM%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=76da6f02-3338-4016-a34b-5fd1c3d85fca" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Plex server owner access is required.

Recovery reads the server's full play history. Shared or managed-user connections may not expose it.
{% endhint %}

You need a Plex connection and a CrossWatch tracker profile.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Choose the source and destination

Select the **Plex instance** and **CrossWatch tracker profile**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Scan older history

Select **Scan older history**.

The scan uses the Plex user's configured history library scope. It checks accessible libraries and excludes items still available in Plex.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Resolve unmatched items

Select **Match unresolved items** and choose a configured search provider. Then use **Auto match**.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Be careful when matching or auto-matching large result sets. Each movie may require an API request. For example, matching 2,000 movies can require up to 2,000 API requests.
{% endhint %}

Movies and series are grouped. One confirmed series match covers its unresolved episodes and rewatches. Original episode numbers and watch dates remain unchanged.

Review suggestions. Choose ambiguous matches manually. Retry unresolved titles with another provider. Select **Save checked matches** to update the recovery preview.

Saving matches does not import anything.

You can also select **Edit match** for an event. Enter IDs or correct episode numbers there.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Select events

Select the events to import. Nothing is selected automatically.

**Select all matching** skips unreviewed title guesses. Selecting a guessed event individually confirms it.

**Duplicate in scan** means another recovered event has the same matched identity and watch timestamp.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Import history

Select **Import selected history**.

CrossWatch skips invalid events, duplicates, and events already in the tracker.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review imported events

Optionally select **Open imported items in Editor**.

This opens only this recovery's imported events. Use the existing **Send** action when ready.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### What recovery preserves

CrossWatch stores imported events in the CW tracker with the standard file importer.

Original watch dates and distinct repeat watches remain preserved. Recovery does not run a sync pair.

Existing scheduled pairs using the CW tracker can synchronize the recovered history afterward.

### Limits and temporary data

Plex must retain the original history records.

Search providers can identify items. They cannot retrieve history Plex no longer retains or exposes. Events without usable watch dates cannot be imported.

A failed or cancelled scan imports nothing. Scan previews, unsaved suggestions, and the Editor batch shortcut are temporary.

Recovery previews expire after inactivity or an application restart. Imported history remains in the tracker.

### Replaces Fallback GUID

The former **Fallback GUID** pair option has been removed.

Old configuration keys remain for compatibility with existing identity and cache keys. They no longer enable title searches during regular history or ratings syncs. Previously cached identity matches remain usable.


---

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