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To play trailers automatically before a Plex movie, enable Cinema Trailers. Plex also supports two separate features: local trailers attached to individual movies as extras, and a custom movie pre-roll for logos, countdowns, or house announcements. Choosing the right feature prevents the most common setup mistakes.
First, choose the experience you want
| What you want | Plex feature |
|---|---|
| Trailers selected before most movies | Cinema Trailers |
| A specific trailer on one movie’s details page | Local movie extra |
| A logo, countdown, safety message, or theater announcement | Movie pre-roll video |
| Current theatrical or Blu-ray previews | Plex Pass Cinema Trailers sources |
| An entirely offline, curated setup | Local trailer files and local assets |
A trailer attached to one movie is not automatically added to the global pool used before every film.
Fastest setup: enable Cinema Trailers
1. Choose the server-side trailer pool
- Open Plex Web and select Settings.
- Select the correct Plex Media Server.
- Open Server > Extras.
- Configure Choose Cinema Trailers from, such as all movies or only unwatched movies.
- Choose whether to include trailers from movies in your library, new and upcoming theatrical releases, and new and upcoming Blu-ray releases.
The theatrical and Blu-ray sources require Plex Pass. Server settings define which trailers are eligible; they do not determine how many will play.
2. Set the number in the player
In Plex Web, open Settings > Player and find Cinema Trailers to Play Before Movies. Start with one or two. More trailers create a longer pre-show and can become repetitive when the eligible pool is small. Labels and locations vary by client, and Plex notes that not every app supports Cinema Trailers, so check the actual TV, streaming-box, or HTPC app you use. See the Plex Web settings guide and Plex’s Extras documentation.
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Have Plex fetch movie extras automatically
For a current Plex Movie library, open the library’s settings and then Advanced. Enable:
- Find extras to let Plex retrieve available trailers and other extras (Plex Pass required).
- Only show trailers if you do not want deleted scenes, interviews, featurettes, and similar extras.
- Allow red band trailers only if restricted-audience previews are acceptable.
Enable Use local assets as well if you plan to add your own files. Save the library settings, then use a movie’s menu and choose Refresh Metadata; refresh the whole library when appropriate. Availability depends on Plex’s provider, so some titles will have no extras. Automatically retrieved extras are streamed rather than downloaded to your server, and therefore depend on internet access. Details are in Plex’s Cinema Trailers and Extras article and Plex Movie agent settings.
Add your own local trailer files
Local trailers are available without Plex Pass. Use media you are legally entitled to store and play.
Option 1: use the -trailer suffix
Place the file beside the main movie and end its filename exactly with -trailer (the hyphen is required):
/Movies
/The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix (1999).mkv
Theatrical Trailer-trailer.mp4
Teaser Trailer-trailer.mkvOther recognized suffixes include -behindthescenes, -deleted, -featurette, -interview, -scene, -short, and -other.
Option 2: use a Trailers folder
/Movies
/The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix (1999).mkv
/Trailers
Teaser Trailer.mp4
Theatrical Trailer.mp4Plex also recognizes directories such as Deleted Scenes, Featurettes, Interviews, and Behind The Scenes.
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After copying files, confirm they are inside the correct movie folder and that the folder is under a movie-library path. Enable Use local assets in the library’s Advanced settings, then open the movie menu and choose Refresh Metadata. A normal library scan alone may not update an existing item. Keep movie and television content in separate top-level directories to avoid incorrect matching. See Plex’s local trailers and extras guide; older agents may instead require the Local Media Assets agent.
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For a branded ident, “please silence your phones” clip, countdown, or seasonal message, use Movie pre-roll video:
- Put the video on storage readable by Plex Media Server.
- In Plex Web, open Settings > Server > Extras (show advanced settings if needed).
- Enter the complete server-side filesystem path.
/Media/preroll.mp4
C:MediaPlexpreroll.mp4The path must exist from the server’s perspective. A file visible on your laptop is useless if Plex Media Server runs on a NAS or another computer, or if the Plex service account lacks read permission.
Separate multiple paths with commas to play every file in sequence, without spaces around the separators:
/Media/intro.mp4,/Media/countdown.mkv,/Media/notice.mp4Use semicolons to select one file randomly:
/Media/intro-1.mp4;/Media/intro-2.mp4Plex’s documented order is Cinema trailers → custom pre-roll → feature film. Pre-roll is not a replacement for Cinema Trailers: the client must support Cinema Trailers, the player must have it enabled, and the movie library’s relevant Cinema Trailers setting must be enabled. Configure syntax and behavior using Plex’s server Extras documentation.
Troubleshooting checklist
The trailer appears on the movie page but does not play automatically
Confirm that the file is recognized as an extra, Cinema Trailers is enabled in the client, the trailer count is above zero, and the server’s trailer sources include an eligible pool. Visibility as an extra does not guarantee automatic selection.
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A local trailer is not detected
- Check that it is in the movie folder or a supported
Trailersfolder. - Verify the inline filename ends exactly in
-trailer. - Confirm the movie folder has a recognizable title and year.
- Enable Use local assets.
- Refresh metadata after copying the file.
- If using multiple editions, keep the trailer with the matching edition folder.
Pre-roll does not play
Recheck the full path, server permissions, comma/semicolon syntax, library Cinema Trailers setting, and client support. Test the file itself in Plex before troubleshooting the pre-roll chain.
Fewer trailers play than configured
The configured number is a maximum, not a guarantee. Plex can filter by content rating—for example, a PG film may receive only G or PG trailers—and the eligible pool may be too small. Reduce the count, include trailers from all movies rather than only unwatched titles, add local trailers, or enable additional Plex Pass sources.
It works in Plex Web but not on the television
Treat this as a client-support or client-setting issue first. Look for Cinema Trailers, Cinema Extras, or an equivalent experience setting in that app. Plex documents different controls for Android TV and Roku.
An unsuitable red-band trailer appears
Disable Allow red band trailers in the movie library’s Advanced settings for a family-friendly setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Practical configurations
- Minimal: one trailer, sourced from your local library.
- Hands-off: Plex Pass automatic extras, plus one or two Cinema Trailers.
- Family room: local trailers, red-band trailers disabled, one trailer maximum.
- Dedicated theater: one or two trailers followed by a short custom pre-roll.
If you only want to preview one movie, use its Play Trailer action instead of changing global playback behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Plex Pass to add trailers to Plex?
No. Local trailer files work without Plex Pass. Plex Pass is required for automatically retrieved extras and the new/upcoming theatrical and Blu-ray trailer sources.
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Are automatically retrieved trailers downloaded to my server?
No. Plex streams available online extras as needed, so they depend on the provider and an internet connection.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteCan one local trailer play before every movie?
Not through the movie-extra system. A local trailer attached to one movie is associated with that title. Use Cinema Trailers sources for a general trailer pool.
Why does Plex play fewer trailers than I selected?
Rating filtering and a small eligible pool can reduce the number. The player setting is a maximum, not a guarantee.
Can I make my custom intro play before the trailers?
Plex’s documented order is Cinema Trailers, then movie pre-roll, then the feature. A pre-roll therefore follows the trailers rather than preceding them.
The Bottom Line
Use Cinema Trailers for automatic previews, local extras for title-specific control, and Movie pre-roll video for theater branding. Start with one or two trailers, refresh metadata after adding local files, and verify support in the Plex app on the device where you actually watch.
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