Media and Videos folders keep recreating themselves after deletion

[squijello]

I've encountered an issue where the default Media and Videos folders keep recreating themselves after being deleted through HexOS Command Deck.

I originally removed both folders because they were empty and unnecessary for my setup. However, they reappeared the following day, complete with ZFS datasets (HDDs/Media and HDDs/Videos), permissions, and enabled SMB shares.

I investigated the recreation using TrueNAS middleware audit logs. On October 20, 2026, at approximately 4:30 PM, both datasets were recreated through authenticated API calls. The operations included pool.dataset.create, pool.dataset.update, filesystem.setacl, and sharing.smb.create.

Interestingly, these operations occurred within the same authenticated session that subsequently initiated upgrades for several applications, including Jellyfin, Immich, OpenCloud, Vaultwarden, and HexOS.

I also verified that neither dataset is mounted by any Docker container, referenced in the inspected TrueNAS application configurations, or associated with any ZFS snapshots. Both folders were empty.

I've now removed them again through HexOS, but I'm concerned they'll simply reappear during another application upgrade.

Is HexOS intentionally recreating default folders during application updates or maintenance? If so, is there a way to permanently disable this behaviour for folders that aren't needed?

If this isn't expected behaviour, could the team investigate whether folder deletions are being properly persisted?

Happy to provide the relevant audit logs if useful.

[Mobius]

Can you check your settings > default locations
try setting your default locations to somewhere else and then delete the ones you don't use

[squijello]

6 hours ago, Mobius said:

Can you check your settings > default locations
try setting your default locations to somewhere else and then delete the ones you don't use

Thanks for the suggestion. I found the Default Locations settings, and I can see that Media and Videos are both assigned to their respective datasets.

What I'm trying to understand is what purpose these two default folders actually serve. HexOS already has separate Movies, Shows and Music folders, which I'm using, and none of my applications appear to reference Media or Videos.

I also noticed that Documents and Downloads are listed as "Not Created." Why can't Media and Videos be configured the same way?

If I change their default locations and delete the existing folders, wouldn't HexOS simply recreate them at the new destinations during the next upgrade?

Ideally, I'd like to disable default folders that aren't needed rather than relocate them. Is that currently possible, or are Media and Videos required for some underlying HexOS functionality?

[squijello]

One additional thought: could this behaviour be related to HexOS's curated Jellyfin installation?

I originally installed Jellyfin through HexOS, which I understand automatically preconfigures media libraries and storage locations. We subsequently removed the unused Media and Videos locations from Jellyfin itself.

Could HexOS still consider those folders required by the Jellyfin curation and recreate them during its application-management or upgrade process, even though Jellyfin no longer uses them?

Or does HexOS recreate any missing folders assigned under Settings → Default Locations, regardless of whether an application actually requires them?

I'm trying to understand whether this is an application-specific dependency or a broader default-folder provisioning behaviour.

[Mobius]

13 hours ago, squijello said:

Could HexOS still consider those folders required by the Jellyfin curation and recreate them during its application-management or upgrade process, even though Jellyfin no longer uses them?

Or does HexOS recreate any missing folders assigned under Settings → Default Locations, regardless of whether an application actually requires them?

If you installed our curation of jellyfin the self healing function of HexOS may be bringing back those datasets.

15 hours ago, squijello said:

I also noticed that Documents and Downloads are listed as "Not Created." Why can't Media and Videos be configured the same way?

They are not created until you create them manually or install a curated app that uses those datasets

15 hours ago, squijello said:

Ideally, I'd like to disable default folders that aren't needed rather than relocate them. Is that currently possible

it is not currently possible