Import Existing Vault Media into the Library

If you started using Media Extended after collecting videos and audio in your vault, those files are not in the media library yet. The library only tracks files the plugin has imported. You can add them all at once with a single command, or have the plugin do it automatically as you drop new files in.

Import everything already in your vault

Run this from the command palette to scan the vault and create a media note for every untracked media file.

1. Open the command palette (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P)
2. Run Import existing media files in vault to library
3. Wait for the import notice to clear

The plugin walks every supported file in the vault, skips anything already in the library, and creates media notes for the rest. Each new note shows up in the media library view with title and duration filled in where the file's tags have them.

For large vaults the import may take a moment. The notice tells you how many notes were created, or which files failed.

Auto-import new media files

Auto-import watches your vault and creates a media note for new audio and video files as they land. It is off by default, so dropping a file into the vault doesn't touch the library unless you turn it on.

1. Open Settings → Community plugins → Media Extended
2. Scroll to the Media Library section
3. Toggle Auto-import media files on

From then on, any new media file added to the vault gets a note automatically. Moving or renaming an existing file doesn't trigger a re-import, because its current note already tracks it.

To pause auto-import (for example, while copying in a folder you don't want indexed), flip the toggle back off. You can re-run the bulk import command later to catch up on anything you missed.

See also

• Media Library & Media Note — what a media note is and how the library works
• Organize with Media Library — guided walk-through of the library view
• Commands — every command, including the import and library management ones