Not all videos show on the Twonky Server

If not all videos are showing on your Twonky Server, the issue is usually related to how the server scans, indexes, or filters your media files rather than the files themselves being missing. Twonky is designed to automatically detect and organize media, but several factors can prevent certain videos from appearing.

One common reason is unsupported file formats. Twonky relies on DLNA standards, and not every device or configuration supports all video codecs or containers. For example, formats like MKV or certain high-efficiency codecs (H.265/HEVC) may not be indexed properly or may be hidden if your playback device doesn’t support them. Even if the file exists in your folder, Twonky may skip listing it.

Another frequent issue is incomplete or outdated media indexing. Twonky scans folders you specify, but if new files are added after the last scan, they may not show up immediately. A manual rescan or restarting the server often resolves this. Similarly, if the scan was interrupted or corrupted, some files might never be indexed at all.

Folder configuration is also critical. Twonky only shows media from directories you’ve explicitly shared. If some videos are stored outside those directories—or in subfolders that are excluded—they won’t appear. It’s worth checking your shared folders in the settings and confirming that all relevant paths are included.

File naming and metadata can also play a role. Twonky sometimes relies on file structure and naming conventions to categorize content. Files with unusual characters, very long names, or missing extensions may be ignored. In some cases, duplicate or conflicting metadata can cause files to be hidden or miscategorized.

Permissions are another possible cause, especially if your server is running on a NAS or Linux-based system. If Twonky doesn’t have permission to read certain files or folders, it simply won’t display them. This can happen if files were copied from another system with restricted access settings.

Additionally, Twonky has filtering and view settings that affect what is displayed. For instance, if you’re browsing by “Video” but the file is incorrectly classified as “Other,” it won’t show up. Similarly, parental controls or media filters could hide certain content unintentionally.

Device compatibility also matters. Some DLNA clients (smart TVs, consoles, etc.) request only specific types of media from the server. So even if Twonky has indexed the video, your device might not ask for it or display it.

Finally, database corruption can occur over time. If Twonky’s internal database becomes inconsistent, some files may disappear from view. Resetting or rebuilding the database often fixes this, though it requires a full rescan of your media library.

To troubleshoot, start by forcing a rescan, checking shared folders, verifying file formats, and ensuring proper permissions. If the issue persists, rebuilding the database or updating Twonky to the latest version can often resolve hidden indexing problems.