# Age old Question regarding sorting of mp3's on USB
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [September 4, 2024, 11:40am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824 "2024-09-04T11:40:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2024, 11:40am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/1 "2024-09-04T11:40:59Z")
Hi I have a new car with infotainment center. when i put the usb in the car the songs where mostly sorted in alphabetical order Artist - title with the exception here and there. I then used an application on my phone "automa tag" , before i found mp3tag, to edit tags. After editing tags and album art my songs are now sorted on car in alphabetical order according to title - artist. How do i sort the again to astist - title?
regards
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/2 "2024-09-04T11:57:59Z")
The first attempt would be:
Is there a "Change sort order" setting on your car info center?
If not:
You need to compare a song which is displayed in TITLE - ARTIST order with one that is sorted by ARTIST - TITLE.
Load such examples in Mp3tag, press Alt + T (View -\> Extended Tags) an see what differences appears.
You can show us a [screenshot](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190#use-screenshots-to-exemplify-the-issue-2) of such examples, maybe we can spot the reason.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/3 "2024-09-04T12:05:24Z")
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I converted all the songs on my usb, I have no reference songs. I do however have a similar usb in my wifes car, folders and songs are simimlar because it was copied from my usb. Would that work comparing the two different usb sticks? The Car info center does not seem to have the change sort order function.
---
### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/4 "2024-09-04T12:17:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> Unfortunately I converted all the songs on my usb
What format do you currently use on your USB stick for your car info center?
Mp3? WAV? FLAC? Something else?
BTW
What info center model exactly do you have in your car?
Do you have a link to the online manual (PDF?)?
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/5 "2024-09-05T05:38:57Z")
I cant find any information regarding the infotainment center, apart from operating it, on the owners manual or on the device itself. The car is a Haval H6 2022. as for the format I'm using mp3 format.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2024, 5:51am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/6 "2024-09-05T05:51:40Z")
Look, we cannot look over your shoulder.
So you would have to supply as much information as possible.
The next step would be as @LyricsLover has outlined:
> [@LyricsLover](#):
>
> You need to compare a song which is displayed in TITLE - ARTIST order with one that it sorted by ARTIST - TITLE.
> Load such examples in Mp3tag, press Alt + T (View -\> Extended Tags) an see what differences appear.
> You can show us a [screenshot](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/hints-for-asking-support-requests/56190#use-screenshots-to-exemplify-the-issue-2) of such examples, maybe we can spot the reason.
So, the next things would be screenshots of a files that works and one that does not.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/7 "2024-09-06T20:52:25Z")
Sorry for the delayed reply. Here are two screenshots. The "original mp3" was before i edited the mp3 tag, it will start of with this song based om the title being 10000 maniacs. The modified mp3 will now be organized base on the name "because the night" and play much later in playlist. hope this help.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/8 "2024-09-06T20:58:41Z")
You do realize that the second screenshot shows a file with the inferior ID3V1 tags - is that on purpose?
If that has happened accidently, check the option Ctrl-O \> Tags \> Mpeg and set the ID3V2.3 to read and write
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/9 "2024-09-06T21:27:46Z")
This is what I got when I pressed ALT and T on different "versions" of a specific mp3 prior and after editing the mp3 tag on my phone with an app called "Automa tag" as mentioned before. I'm trying to figure out why the play order changed on the USB drive after I edited the tags. So to answer your question I don't think it was on purpose, its how it was. PS i did check on that specific mp3 ID3V2.3 read and write was ticked prior to taking screenshot.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/10 "2024-09-06T21:36:03Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> after editing the mp3 tag on my phone with an app called "Automa tag" as mentioned before
Thank you for clearifying.
So it means that apparently the mobile app is not the best choice to edit tags.
To treat the file (and similar ones) from the second screenshot, I would suggest that you use the MP3tag function Convert\>Filename-Tag
Format string: `%artist% - %title%`
That should save the data in the fields ARTIST and TITLE - and if your player interprets the tags correctly, it should be possible to sort by artist or title.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/11 "2024-09-06T21:39:35Z")
Thanks for your patience and assistance. I will convert them as recommended and give you feedback regarding the results.
---
### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/12 "2024-09-06T21:51:33Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> The car is a Haval H6 2022. as for the format I'm using mp3 format.
As a side note, it does appear that the audio system in that vehicle supports both CarPlay and Android Auto. I would look into a compatible app for your phone and then use that to send audio from your phone to your car. Probably far easier to find an effective app than to try to get this directly integrated by USB.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/13 "2024-09-06T22:46:04Z")
Hi Motley. You are correct. it does support both. I'm using Android Auto. Do you have any suggestions as to what app? I noticed VLC was picked up by Android Auto. I'm assuming you are referring to an app that plays mp3's(not Spotify)
---
### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/14 "2024-09-06T23:07:56Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I'm assuming you are referring to an app that plays mp3's(not Spotify)
I much prefer my local media files over streaming. I did review a few Android based players some time ago. Feel free to take a read and find one that may suit your needs.
> [@Android Media Players](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/android-media-players/57992):
>
> There are many players on the Android platform, but almost all use the base Android APIs and media library that limits their functionality and performance that don’t make them much different than the stock player other than cosmetically. One player app that breaks from this trend and I have been using for some time is GoneMAD. It builds its’ own database library, and key to me is that it supports the use of sort tags for Album, Artist, AlbumArtist, and Composer. It also supports multi artist an…
GoneMAD has a very good playlist manager besides being a great music manager and player.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/15 "2024-09-11T15:55:54Z")
@ohrenkino I did the file conversion as you described with still no luck. @MotleyG I will have a look at GoneMAD. I had to travel a bit over these past few days and was very impressed with Android Auto functionality and ease of use
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/16 "2024-09-11T16:34:11Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I did the file conversion as you described with still no luck
Could you show us the converted file by the 10,000 Maniacs?
Right now it has a TITLE only but no ARTIST. Has that changed?
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/age-old-question-regarding-sorting-of-mp3s-on-usb/65824/17 "2026-02-09T12:30:20Z")