What causes unmatched movies in Zidoo Z9x

The Zidoo Z9x is a media player that organizes your video files by matching them against online databases. When a movie file doesn't match correctly, the player either shows the wrong title, poster, and information, or leaves the file unrecognized entirely. This happens because the filename on your drive doesn't match what the database expects, or the database has multiple entries for the same film and the player picked the wrong one.

The most common cause is a filename that includes extra information — like the year, resolution, or file format — that confuses the matching system. A file named "Blade.Runner.1982.2160p.mkv" might match to a different Blade Runner film, or fail to match at all. Sometimes the database straightforward has the wrong information stored, or your file is a lesser-known cut or version that the system doesn't recognize.

Fixing this means either renaming your file to match what the database expects, or manually telling the Z9x which movie it actually is. Both methods work; which one you choose depends on how many files need correction and whether you want the fix to stick across all your devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Unmatched movies happen when your filename doesn't match the database entry, or the Z9x picks the wrong entry from multiple options.
  • The fastest fix for a single file is to rename it to just the movie title and year, then rescan your library.
  • For persistent problems, you can manually select the correct movie within the Z9x interface, which overrides the automatic match.
  • If the database has no entry for your file at all, you can add custom metadata using a text editor and an NFO file.
  • Rebuilding your library after changes forces the Z9x to re-scan and re-match all your files.

Rename your file to the standard format

The simplest fix is to rename your movie file so the Z9x can match it correctly. The database works best with filenames that follow a straightforward pattern: the movie title, the year in parentheses, and nothing else before the file extension.

For example, rename "Blade.Runner.1982.2160p.BluRay.mkv" to "Blade Runner (1982).mkv". The dots and extra information confuse the matching system. Use the actual title as it appears in the database — if the database lists it as "Blade Runner" not "Bladerunner", match that exactly. The year is important because many films share the same title; including it helps the system pick the right one.

After renaming, go into the Z9x settings and rebuild your library. This forces the player to re-scan all files and attempt to match them again. The renamed file should now match correctly. If it still doesn't, the database may not have an entry for that particular version or cut of the film.

Manually select the correct movie in the Z9x interface

If renaming doesn't work, or if the file is already named correctly but matched to the wrong movie, you can override the automatic match by hand. Open the Z9x, find the mismatched movie in your library, and select it. Look for an option to "edit" or "correct" the metadata — this is usually a button or menu option when you highlight the title.

The Z9x will show you a list of possible matches from the database. Scroll through and find the correct one. Select it, and the player will update the title, poster, synopsis, and other information to match your choice. This change is stored on your Z9x device, so it will persist even if you rescan the library later.

The downside is that this fix only applies to this one device. If you have the same file on another Z9x player or on a networked drive that multiple devices access, you will need to make the same correction on each device. For a single player with a few mismatched files, this is the fastest route.

Create an NFO file for custom metadata

For files that the database doesn't recognize at all, you can create a small text file that tells the Z9x what the movie is. This file is called an NFO file, and it contains the movie information in a format the player understands.

Create a new text file in the same folder as your movie. Name it exactly the same as the movie file, but replace the file extension with ".nfo". For example, if your movie is "My Obscure Film.mkv", create a file called "My Obscure Film.nfo". Open it in any text editor and paste the following basic structure:

<movie> <title>My Obscure Film</title> <year>2015</year> <plot>A brief description of the film</plot> </movie>

Replace the title, year, and plot with the correct information for your film. Save the file. When you rebuild your library in the Z9x, the player will read this NFO file and use the information you provided instead of searching the database. This method works for any file, including home videos or very new releases that haven't been added to the database yet.

Rebuild your library after making changes

After you rename files, manually correct matches, or add NFO files, you need to tell the Z9x to re-scan your library. Go to the Z9x settings menu and look for a "library" or "database" option. You should see a choice to "rebuild" or "refresh" your library. Select it and let the process complete — this can take a few minutes if you have many files.

During the rebuild, the Z9x will re-scan every file in your library and attempt to match it again using the new filenames or the NFO files you created. Files you manually corrected will keep their manual selections. Once the rebuild is done, your library should display the correct information for all your movies.

If some files still don't match after a rebuild, check that your filenames are spelled correctly and that any NFO files are in the same folder as the movie and named identically. The Z9x is strict about file naming and location.

Check the database for the exact title format

Sometimes a file won't match because your filename doesn't match the database entry exactly. Movie titles can be tricky — some databases list "The Dark Knight" while others list "Dark Knight, The". Some include subtitles, some don't. Before you rename a file, search the database directly to see how the title is actually stored.

You can do this by searching online for the movie title plus "TMDB" or "IMDB" — these are the two databases most media players use. Look at the exact title format in the database entry, including any articles like "The" at the beginning or end, and any subtitles. Then rename your file to match that format exactly, including the year.

This extra step takes a minute but saves you from renaming a file multiple times. It's especially useful for foreign films, films with long or unusual titles, or films that have multiple versions with different names.

Move files to a consistent folder structure

The Z9x works better when your movie files are organized in a consistent way. Create a folder for movies and keep all your movie files in it, with each film in its own subfolder if you want. For example: Movies/Blade Runner (1982)/Blade Runner (1982).mkv. This structure helps the Z9x scan and match files more reliably.

Avoid mixing movie files with other files in the same folder, and don't nest movies too deeply in subfolders. The Z9x can handle complex structures, but simpler is better for matching. If you have files scattered across multiple drives or network locations, consolidate them into one main movies folder if possible.

After reorganizing, rebuild your library again. The cleaner structure often resolves matching problems that renaming alone couldn't fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Z9x show the wrong poster or synopsis for my movie?

The player matched your file to the wrong database entry — usually because the filename was ambiguous or the database has multiple entries for films with the same title. Rename the file to include the year, or manually select the correct movie from the list of matches in the Z9x settings.

Can I fix unmatched movies on my phone and have the changes show up on my Z9x?

No. Manual corrections you make in the Z9x interface are stored on that device only. NFO files you create will work on any device that reads them, as long as the files are in the same folder. Renaming files works across all devices that access those files.

What if the movie isn't in the database at all?

Create an NFO file with the movie information and place it in the same folder as the film. The Z9x will read the NFO file and use that information instead of searching the database. This works for obscure films, home videos, or very new releases.

Do I have to rebuild my library every time I fix a movie?

Yes. The rebuild forces the Z9x to re-scan and re-match all files. Without it, the player won't see your renamed files or new NFO files. A rebuild usually takes a few minutes depending on how many files you have.

Will renaming my files affect playback or quality?

No. Renaming the file changes only the filename, not the video or audio inside it. Playback quality and performance are unaffected. The Z9x reads the content of the file, not just the name.