To rename files from tags in Mp3tag, select the files and use Convert > Tag - Filename with a format string. This page walks through it step by step, then covers the reverse direction, folders and the preview.
This is an independent guide, not the developer's site. Download buttons lead to the official Mp3tag pages. Facts were read on mp3tag.de on 14 November 2026.
To rename files from tags in Mp3tag, select the files, open Convert > Tag - Filename and enter a format string such as $num(%track%,2) - %artist% - %title%. The program builds each new name from that file's tags, and a slash in the string creates folders. Hold Shift while running the converter to preview the result first.
Before you start
Renaming files from tags only works as well as the tags themselves. If artist, album, title or track number are missing or misspelled, fix them first in the Tag Panel or fill them from an online source with the Discogs and MusicBrainz lookup. Then the names you build will be consistent across the whole album.
Work on a copy of a folder the first time, or use the preview described below. A rename is a change to the files on disk; if a music player or library keeps its own database, it may need a rescan afterwards.
- Check that every file has artist, title and track number
- Decide on one naming pattern for your whole library
- Close players that might lock the files
- Install the current version from the official download page if you have not yet
Rename files from tags step by step
- Open the folderUse File > Change Directory or drag the folder into the file list. All supported audio files in it appear in the list.
- Select the filesSelect the files to rename, for example all tracks of one album, with Ctrl+A or by clicking with Shift.
- Open the converterChoose Convert > Tag - Filename. A dialog opens with a field for the format string.
- Enter the format stringType the pattern, for example $num(%track%,2) - %artist% - %title%. Placeholders in percent signs are replaced by each file's tag values; $num pads the track number to two digits.
- Preview the resultHold Shift when running the converter to see the old and new names without changing anything.
- Run itConfirm with OK. The files are renamed; the extension stays as it was.
Format strings that work well
A format string is any text mixed with placeholders and scripting functions. Placeholders such as %artist%, %album%, %title%, %track% and %year% insert the field values. Functions such as $num() reshape a value, for example padding a track number so that files sort correctly in a file manager.
A slash in the string tells the converter to create a folder from the part before it. That lets you sort a messy folder into an artist and album tree in one run.
| Goal | Format string |
|---|---|
| Track, artist, title | $num(%track%,2) - %artist% - %title% |
| Track and title only | $num(%track%,2) %title% |
| Artist and album folders | %artist%/%album%/$num(%track%,2) %title% |
| Year in the album folder | %artist%/%year% - %album%/$num(%track%,2) %title% |
The reverse: tags from filenames
When the names are good and the tags are empty, use Convert > Filename - Tag. Here the format string describes the structure of the existing name, for example %track% - %artist% - %title%. The separators must match the real names exactly: if the files use a hyphen with spaces between artist and title, the string needs the same, or the converter cannot split the fields.
To skip part of a name you do not want in any field, put the placeholder %dummy% in its place. Folder names can be read too, so a path that already holds artist and album can fill those fields for every file inside.
Common problems
- Nothing happens: check that files are selected before opening the converter.
- Fields end up in the wrong place: the separators in the format string do not match the names exactly.
- Track numbers sort as 1, 10, 2: pad them with $num(%track%,2).
- Characters disappear: Windows does not allow some characters such as a colon or question mark in filenames, so they are replaced.
- Files on old systems: the full syntax needs a current version; see the system requirements.
Try it on one album
Install the current version from the developer's site and rename a single album first, with the Shift preview.
Frequently asked questions
How do I rename files from tags in Mp3tag?
Select the files, choose Convert > Tag - Filename and enter a format string such as $num(%track%,2) - %artist% - %title%. Each file is renamed from its own tags, and the extension is kept.
Can it create folders while renaming?
Yes. A slash in the format string creates a folder from the text in front of it. For example %artist%/%album%/%title% sorts files into artist and album folders.
Can I preview a rename before it happens?
Yes. Hold Shift when you run the converter to see the result without changing any file.
How do I fill tags from existing filenames?
Use Convert > Filename - Tag with a format string that describes the current names, such as %track% - %artist% - %title%. The separators must match the real names exactly.
What does %dummy% do?
It marks a part of the filename that should be read but not stored in any tag. Use it to skip text you do not need.