QuickTagMP3 uses AI to instantly tag your music, retrieving metadata and album art for hundreds of tracks without import, and directly rewrites tags on disk.

How does QuickTagMP3 work in 3 steps?

QuickTagMP3 works in three simple steps: 1) open a folder of MP3 files from your computer (Chrome desktop); 2) each track is automatically identified from its file name and duration via the Deezer and MusicBrainz databases; 3) once the title, artist, album, year, genre and HD cover are filled in, click 'Rewrite all tags' to write ID3v2.3 tags directly to your disk. Nothing is uploaded.

Which browsers and devices are supported?

QuickTagMP3 runs in the browser and uses the File System Access API to read and write your MP3s directly on disk. It works on Chrome, Edge and other Chromium browsers on desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux). A computer is recommended: mobile browsers have limited support for direct file writing. No software to install.

What happens to my files during tagging?

Your MP3 files never leave your computer. Only the file name and the track duration are sent to the Deezer (then MusicBrainz) API to identify the track. The audio content and ID3 tags are read and written locally via the File System Access API. Nothing is uploaded, stored or shared with a server.

What is an ID3 tag on an MP3 file?

An ID3 tag is a metadata block embedded in an MP3 file. It stores the title (TIT2), artist (TPE1), album (TALB), year (TYER), genre (TCON) and album cover (APIC frame). Players such as iTunes, the iPod Classic, VLC or Windows Media Player read these ID3v2 tags to display track info and sort the music library.

What is the difference between ID3v1, ID3v2.3 and ID3v2.4?

ID3v1 (1993) is limited to 30 characters per field and accepts no cover art. ID3v2.3 (1999) is the standard used by iTunes and the iPod Classic: it supports long strings, UTF-16 and the APIC frame for album art. ID3v2.4 (2000) adds UTF-8 and multiple fields, but its compatibility with some iPod firmwares is partial. For maximum compatibility, QuickTagMP3 writes ID3v2.3.

How do I add album cover art to an MP3 file?

Album cover is embedded via the ID3v2 APIC frame (Attached Picture). A JPEG image of at least 1000×1000 px is recommended for a crisp result on iTunes and the iPod Classic. QuickTagMP3 automatically fetches the official HD cover via the Deezer API and writes it to the APIC frame directly on disk, with no upload.

Why are my MP3s poorly sorted in iTunes?

iTunes builds its library from ID3v2 tags. If the TPE1 (artist), TALB (album) or TYER (year) fields are empty or inconsistent, tracks are grouped under 'Unknown Artist' or scattered. Also check the track number (TRCK) to preserve the playback order of an album.

How do I sync MP3s to an iPod Classic?

The iPod Classic requires clean ID3v2.3 tags and a cover embedded in an APIC frame. Use MP3 320 kbps CBR for accurate playback time. Tag your files with QuickTagMP3 (artist, album, year, genre, HD cover), re-import them into iTunes, then sync by album or by full playlist to preserve track order.

What is the APIC frame and why is it essential?

The APIC frame (Attached Picture) is the ID3v2 field that embeds the album cover inside the MP3 file itself. Unlike an external Folder.jpg placed in the folder, the APIC cover travels with the track and shows up on iTunes, the iPod Classic, Android and Windows. Without an APIC frame, the iPod Classic displays no cover.

How are a track's metadata retrieved automatically?

From the file name (in 'Artist - Title' format) and the track duration, QuickTagMP3 queries the Deezer API to fetch the exact title, artist, studio album (not the compilation), release year, genre and 1000×1000 HD cover. If Deezer doesn't know the track (notably independent artists), the search automatically continues on MusicBrainz, cross-referencing title and duration. Duration helps discard live, sped-up or remix versions.

What is the difference between MP3 320 kbps, VBR and FLAC?

MP3 320 kbps CBR offers near-transparent quality and accurate playback time on the iPod Classic. VBR (Variable Bitrate) optimizes size but can skew the duration display on some firmwares. FLAC is a lossless format, larger and not natively read by the iPod Classic. For iTunes and iPod, MP3 320 kbps CBR remains the best compromise.

How do I fix wrong tags and Various Artists compilations?

A 'Various Artists' compilation is detected when the album artist doesn't match the track artist. QuickTagMP3 automatically detects these compilations and re-runs a search to find the artist's original studio album, replacing the cover and year with the official studio recording values.

Can I tag MP3s without sending them to a server?

Yes. QuickTagMP3 works 100% locally thanks to the File System Access API: only the file name and duration are sent to the Deezer API (then MusicBrainz as a fallback) for recognition. Audio content and ID3 tags are read and written directly on your disk. No MP3 is uploaded or stored on a server.

What are the Chromaprint and AcoustID audio fingerprints?

Chromaprint is the open-source algorithm that computes an audio fingerprint from the sound content of an MP3. AcoustID is the public database that maps this fingerprint to a recording (MusicBrainz). Used when the file name isn't usable, the Chromaprint/AcoustID pair identifies a track with certainty, regardless of the title.

How do I change the genre and year of an MP3?

Genre is stored in the ID3v2 TCON field and year in TYER. In QuickTagMP3, after automatic identification, these fields are pre-filled from Deezer and remain manually editable before writing tags to disk. A single genre per album is recommended to make smart iTunes playlists easier.

Which cover image formats do iTunes and the iPod support?

JPEG is the universal format for the APIC frame, compatible with iTunes, the iPod Classic, Android and Windows. PNG is accepted but makes the MP3 file heavier. Avoid unsupported BMP and covers over 1 MB that can slow down navigation on the iPod Classic.

How do I rewrite all tags of an MP3 folder at once?

Select several MP3 files in QuickTagMP3. Each track is recognized in parallel from its name and duration. Once covers and metadata are loaded, the 'Rewrite all tags' button applies ID3v2.3 tags + APIC frame to all ready files in a single pass. Each tagging is saved to your history.

Does QuickTagMP3 work offline?

ID3 tag writing and MP3 file handling are 100% local. Only metadata recognition (title, artist, album, cover) requires access to the Deezer API, then MusicBrainz as a fallback. Once metadata is fetched, you can edit fields manually and write tags to disk even offline.

FAQ

All the answers to your questions about MP3s, tags, iTunes, the iPod Classic, album covers and audio quality.

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