# can I save a file list? **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [March 28, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681 "2007-03-28T22:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NovaGuy](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/9fc29f/32.png) [@NovaGuy](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/NovaGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681/1 "2007-03-28T22:50:19Z")
Hi everyone, This is my first post here, so please be gentle 😃 Can I save the tag data for a folder or folder tree so that MP3tag doesn't have to scan the folder(s) every time? Scanning thousands of files takes quite awhile when I only want to find one file. sorry if this is a dumb question... I haven't been able to find the answer on my own thanks NovaGuy ---
**Author:** ![dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/dano/32/6_2.png) [@dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dano)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681/2 "2007-03-29T16:49:42Z")
There's no such feature. But why don't you use for example the explorer to find your file and then start Mp3tag via context menu. The latest beta also supports loading single files. ---
**Author:** ![NovaGuy](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/9fc29f/32.png) [@NovaGuy](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/NovaGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681/3 "2007-03-29T20:58:47Z")
Thanks Dano, I don't want to edit the tags, I just want to use MP3tag (in this situation) for filtering, sorting and creating a playlist. I thought that the program would have the ability to save all the files for a fast load of the data then use the refresh to pick up changes... oh well 😳 WinExplorer wouldn't work as I want to search and sort on the tag contents.. usually some sub-string of TITLE. NovaGuy ---
**Author:** ![LastCatraxxUser](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/71e660/32.png) [@LastCatraxxUser](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LastCatraxxUser)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681/4 "2019-08-21T13:55:13Z")
First post too, I know it's an old topic, still.. a reason I would want to save a scan: after rescuing a large failed HDD you'll end up with lots of folders like $$$Folder8585217. MP3Tag will hopefully restore the folder strucure for tagged files but scanning takes several hours and has to be redone each time you close the program.. ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681/5 "2019-08-21T14:16:05Z")
I can't think of any other way to do it: the tags could have been changed by other programs, files could have been removed or moved to other folders - so MP3tag would have to check every file it finds. It may go a little quicker if you switch on the library as then only those files will be read that have a different modification date from the ones in the library. for the others the data from the library will be taken. See File\>Options\>Library for the library feature. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-save-a-file-list/4681/6 "2026-02-09T12:20:13Z")