Settings, backup, and troubleshooting

Open Settings at the bottom of the sidebar. The left navigation takes you to General, Asset Storage, Index management, AI Agent, Pro License, Software Update, and Help & feedback.

Back up a library

1. Let imports, indexing, migrations, merges, and exports finish.
2. Quit ClipSeek completely before copying the library.
3. Copy the entire library directory, including library.json, images, and hidden .clipstudio data.
4. Save the copy on another disk or backup service.

Referenced originals live outside the library and need a separate backup. Copying just media files or the database does not create a complete library backup. Do not let two computers or a live sync service write to an active library concurrently.

Restore a backup

1. Copy the complete backup to a local disk.
2. Open ClipSeek, choose Import Library from the library menu, and select the restored directory or its library.json.
3. Check your media, organization, and search results.
4. If referenced source paths changed, re-import the same files from their new locations to restore the links.

If the library requires a newer version, update ClipSeek first. Do not change its version manually or open its database directly. Automatic database-upgrade backups contain only the database and cannot replace a complete library backup.

Manage search indexes

Open Settings → Index management to manage Visual index and Subtitle index separately. Visual indexes enable scene-description and image similarity search; subtitle indexes enable dialogue search in imported text subtitles.

Index management with visual and subtitle indexes, automatic indexing switches, and build controls

Index management with visual and subtitle indexes, automatic indexing switches, and build controls

Automatic indexing and manual builds

• Build visual indexes on import / Build subtitle indexes on import affect newly submitted imports only. Turning a switch off keeps existing indexes; turning it back on does not process older assets automatically.
• Build search indexes adds missing indexes and preserves existing results. Use Index management for the current library, or build from asset details or a selection of assets, folders, or tags.
• Subtitle indexes apply only to videos with associated text subtitles. If the status says No subtitles, import subtitles first.

You can turn automatic indexing off when you only need to organize media, then build indexes later. With automatic visual indexing off, videos still get a cover image but no search keyframes.

Check progress, cancel, and retry

The import queue shows importing, visual indexing, subtitle indexing, and notices for each asset. Asset details also show index status.

Status	What to do
Queued / Building	Wait, or cancel if needed. Cancellation takes effect after the current processing step.
Not indexed / Cancelled	Choose Build search indexes when you want this media to appear in search.
Failed	Review the error; check source access, permissions, models, and free space, then retry.
No subtitles	Import a subtitle file for the video, then build its subtitle index.
Indexed	Search in the corresponding mode.

A successful import does not mean indexing has finished. Unindexed assets can still be found by name or properties. Visual search returns assets with a usable visual index; subtitle search returns videos with a usable subtitle index. Unfinished tasks recover after restarting; cancelled tasks do not restart automatically.

Repair a damaged visual index

Use Build search indexes first when only some assets are missing indexes. If the visual index cannot be opened, try Retry. If the problem persists, open:

Settings → Index management → Visual index → Index repair → Rebuild visual index.

Rebuilding repairs the current library's visual search data. It does not delete originals, subtitles, folders, or tags. The confirmation shows the frame count, current index size, estimated temporary space, and free disk space. Review it, then keep ClipSeek open and the library disk accessible. You can cancel while it runs.

The old index is kept until the new one passes verification. If the app exits during the final swap, the next launch restores a consistent state. Unreadable thumbnails or keyframes are reported at completion. For dialogue-search problems, check subtitles and their indexes first; rebuilding the visual index does not repair subtitle search.

Detect invalid referenced assets

This check applies to referenced assets only. Copied originals are excluded.

1. Open Settings → Asset Storage → Detect invalid source files and choose Start scan.
2. If missing sources are found, choose View to inspect those assets.
3. Reconnect an offline disk first. If files moved or were renamed, re-import the same files from their new locations to restore their links.

Source-file check in Asset Storage settings

Source-file check in Asset Storage settings

You can cancel the scan. It does not delete or re-import files. Move unwanted invalid assets to Trash yourself; this does not delete their external source files.

General settings, updates, and licensing

Change the interface language, theme, and Trash retention under Settings → General.

Language, theme, and Trash retention in General settings

Language, theme, and Trash retention in General settings

Open Settings → Software Update → Check for Updates to check the version. Automatic checks run quietly after startup when enabled. You can also quit ClipSeek and install a new version from the official download page. Updates keep libraries and settings; a backup is still recommended before upgrading.

The Free edition permits up to 5 GiB of active original media across registered libraries, including referenced assets. Trash is excluded. See Software serial number for purchasing, activation, serial-number recovery, and changing devices.

Common problems

Problem	First steps
Model download fails	Check the network and free space, keep the app open, and retry. Restart the app if progress remains stalled.
Import finds no files	Check supported formats, source paths, and read permissions.
A file fails to import	Review the queue error; check space, source permissions, and the Free quota before retrying.
Duplicate count increases	The same content is already imported. This is expected.
Imported media is missing from visual search	Clear filters, describe visible content, and check visual index status.
Dialogue search finds nothing	Check subtitle association and index readiness; try a shorter query or Contains.
A referenced asset will not play, export, or trim	Reconnect its disk. If its path changed, re-import the same file from its new location.
Windows cannot play a video	Follow the decoding message to Windows video extensions and test the original in the system player.
An import was interrupted	Reopen the same library and continue the task. Abandoning keeps assets already imported.
A library will not open	Restore its disk or directory and retry authorization. Update the app if a newer version is required.
Migration or merging fails	Stop playback and resolve space, permission, or file errors before retrying. Do not manually delete the source.
Updating fails	Retry later; export logs if the failure continues.

Get help

1. Open Settings → Help & feedback → Export logs and save the last three days of redacted logs.
2. Email support@clipseek.ai with the ClipSeek and operating-system versions, reproduction steps, approximate time, and error message.

Logs do not include your media files. Do not share a serial number or MCP access Token in public feedback. Private media does not need to accompany the logs.