# Operations

## Dry Run First

Keep this in `.env` until destination paths look correct:

```bash
SORTARR_DRY_RUN=true
```

Then switch to:

```bash
SORTARR_DRY_RUN=false
```

Restart:

```bash
docker compose up -d
```

## Logs

Backend logs are written to `/logs/sortarr.log` in the container and to the host path configured by `LOGS_PATH`.

## Backups

Back up:

- `.env`
- `config/`
- `data/state.json`
- `logs/` if you need historical audit trails

Media files are not stored inside containers.

## Updating

Because all source is mounted or copied from this project, update by editing files and rebuilding:

```bash
docker compose up -d --build
```

## Transcoding

The backend image includes `ffmpeg`. The dashboard Tools page can build a queue from the cached library index and run the next conversion. Keep dry-run enabled while checking output paths; actual transcoding only runs when `SORTARR_DRY_RUN=false` or dry-run is disabled from the runtime Settings page.

## Track Editing

The Library detail panel can inspect a selected file with `ffprobe` and remux embedded audio/subtitle streams to set defaults or remove tracks. Dry-run mode returns the planned `ffmpeg` command only. Disable dry-run only after confirming the command and keep media backups for any bulk edits.

## Cache

Reusable metadata and ffprobe results are cached under `/data/cache`. The default cap is 20GB and pruning removes oldest cache files first.

## Recovery

Sortarr moves through a temporary `.sorting` file before final placement. If a container stops mid-move, check the destination folder for `*.sorting` files and compare against `/downloads`.

The app intentionally avoids deleting source folders and does not run destructive cleanup by default.