{"id":12606,"date":"2010-04-21T15:43:18","date_gmt":"2010-04-21T10:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=12606"},"modified":"2026-10-12T09:51:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T04:21:41","slug":"fix-mp3-meta-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix MP3 Metadata (ID3 Tags) on Windows, Mac and Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do your songs show up as &#8220;Track 1&#8221; by &#8220;Unknown Artist&#8221;, play in the wrong order, or split one album into three? The fix is clean MP3 metadata. Every MP3 carries ID3 tags for title, artist, album, year, track number, genre and cover art, and music players, phones and car stereos use them to sort and display your library. Here&#8217;s how to fix <strong>MP3 metadata<\/strong> in 2026 on Windows, Mac and phones, updated from Brenda Hineman&#8217;s original guest guide.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/mp3-meta-data.png\" alt=\"MP3 metadata in Windows file properties\" width=\"375\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/mp3-meta-data.png 375w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/mp3-meta-data-109x150.png 109w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/mp3-meta-data-219x300.png 219w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> For a few files, right-click an MP3 in Windows File Explorer, choose Properties &gt; Details and edit the fields. For whole albums, use a free tag editor such as Mp3tag or MusicBrainz Picard, which can fill in titles, track numbers and cover art automatically from online databases. Keep Album Artist identical across an album so it stays together.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af0a5b53bceb\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af0a5b53bceb\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#The_MP3_metadata_fields_that_matter\" >The MP3 metadata fields that matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#How_to_fix_MP3_metadata\" >How to fix MP3 metadata<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Windows_File_Explorer_a_few_files\" >Windows File Explorer (a few files)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Mp3tag_best_for_bulk_edits\" >Mp3tag (best for bulk edits)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#MusicBrainz_Picard_automatic_matching\" >MusicBrainz Picard (automatic matching)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Apple_Music_iTunes_and_other_players\" >Apple Music, iTunes and other players<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Tips_for_a_tidy_library\" >Tips for a tidy library<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Why_does_my_album_show_up_split_into_several_albums\" >Why does my album show up split into several albums?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Why_do_songs_play_in_alphabetical_order\" >Why do songs play in alphabetical order?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/fix-mp3-meta-data\/#Can_I_edit_metadata_for_streaming_songs\" >Can I edit metadata for streaming songs?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_MP3_metadata_fields_that_matter\"><\/span>The MP3 metadata fields that matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Title:<\/strong> the song name, without the track number in front.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Artist (Contributing artists):<\/strong> the performers of this track, including featured artists. Separate several with a semicolon in Windows.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Album Artist:<\/strong> one name for the whole album, such as &#8220;Santana&#8221; even when a track features another singer, or &#8220;Various Artists&#8221; for compilations. This is what keeps an album together.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Album:<\/strong> spelled exactly the same on every track.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Track number (#) and Disc number:<\/strong> so albums play in order instead of alphabetically.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Year:<\/strong> lets you sort or build playlists by era.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genre:<\/strong> use the standard ones or create your own, from &#8220;Jazz&#8221; to &#8220;Bebop&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cover art:<\/strong> embedded album artwork shows on phones, cars and smart speakers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Watch out for small differences: &#8220;The Ramones&#8221; on one album and &#8220;Ramones&#8221; on another will show as two artists.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_MP3_metadata\"><\/span>How to fix MP3 metadata<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Windows_File_Explorer_a_few_files\"><\/span>Windows File Explorer (a few files)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Right-click the MP3 and choose <strong>Properties &gt; Details<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click a value to edit it, then click <strong>Apply<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select several files first to change a field, such as Album, on all of them at once.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mp3tag_best_for_bulk_edits\"><\/span>Mp3tag (best for bulk edits)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mp3tag.de\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mp3tag<\/a><\/strong> is free for Windows (paid on Mac). Load a folder, edit many files in a grid, rename files from tags (or tags from file names), and use <em>Tag sources<\/em> to pull track lists and cover art from MusicBrainz or Discogs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MusicBrainz_Picard_automatic_matching\"><\/span>MusicBrainz Picard (automatic matching)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/picard.musicbrainz.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MusicBrainz Picard<\/a><\/strong> is free for Windows, Mac and Linux. It identifies songs by audio fingerprint, then fills in correct titles, track numbers and artwork from the MusicBrainz database. Great for messy collections.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apple_Music_iTunes_and_other_players\"><\/span>Apple Music, iTunes and other players<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Apple Music (Mac) or iTunes (Windows):<\/strong> select songs, right-click &gt; <strong>Get Info<\/strong>, edit the Details and Artwork tabs.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foobar2000.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">foobar2000<\/a><\/strong>: free player with powerful tag editing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Android:<\/strong> apps such as Automatic Tag Editor can edit tags on the phone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_a_tidy_library\"><\/span>Tips for a tidy library<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Back up your music folder before bulk edits.<\/li>\n<li>Save as ID3v2.3 for the widest compatibility with car stereos and older players.<\/li>\n<li>Embed cover art at about 500 x 500 to 1000 x 1000 pixels to keep files small.<\/li>\n<li>After editing, rescan or refresh the library in your player.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Want to use a tidy track as a ringtone? Here&#8217;s how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/01\/create-custom-iphone-ringtones\/\">create custom iPhone ringtones<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_album_show_up_split_into_several_albums\"><\/span>Why does my album show up split into several albums?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Album or Album Artist fields differ slightly between tracks. Make them identical.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_songs_play_in_alphabetical_order\"><\/span>Why do songs play in alphabetical order?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The track number field is empty. Fill it in, or let Picard or Mp3tag do it from an online database.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_edit_metadata_for_streaming_songs\"><\/span>Can I edit metadata for streaming songs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. Only files you own and store locally can be edited.<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally written by guest author Brenda Hineman, a self-confessed audiophile. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do your songs show up as &#8220;Track 1&#8221; by &#8220;Unknown Artist&#8221;, play in the wrong order, or split one album&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[44,49],"class_list":["post-12606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gadgets","tag-guest-posts","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12606"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64169,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12606\/revisions\/64169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}