# Can I stop MP3tag from automatically reading the directory
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [November 19, 2021, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156 "2021-11-19T13:12:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@John\_D](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/John_D)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/1 "2021-11-19T13:12:00Z")
Each time I run the Mp3tag, it automatically scans my directory, and I happen to have a thousand MP3 files there. I would like it to open and stay empty, and allow me to drag the several MP3 files into it manually, for my editing work. Right now, I quickly see it "reading directory" and I quickly hit "Cancel", and then select the 50+ files it has already brought in, and then click "Remove". So this is a little cumbersome. is there a setting that can turn off the auto-scan feature?
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/2 "2021-11-19T13:22:25Z")
Yes, you can stop MP3tag to read those files.
See e.g. here:
> [@Past files that I worked on re-appears when I start new mp3tag](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/past-files-that-i-worked-on-re-appears-when-i-start-new-mp3tag/43224/2):
>
> In its standard configuration, Mp3tag loads whichever directory was loaded in the previous session. If you want to use another fixed (and possibly empty) directory as a startup directory for Mp3tag, you can configure a favorite directory at "Options \> Directories" and enable the "start from this directory" checkbox.
Preferably, select a starting folder without supported file types in it.
> [@John\_D](#):
>
> and then click "Remove
This is not really necessary. If you d&d new files from the explorer, then these will replace the currently loaded files in the list. If you want to add files to the current list, then you have to press Ctrl whille dragging&dropping
---
### Author:  [@John\_D](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/John_D)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/3 "2021-11-19T13:45:03Z")
Thank you very much Ohrenkino - what you tried to send to me after "See e.g. here: " did not come through. But I understand your solution to my issue -- can you tell me where do I find the "starting folder" so that I can set a new entry that contains no mp3 files? Many thanks, this helps me LOT! I do love this app. 😄
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/4 "2021-11-19T13:49:46Z")
wherever that went ...
SeeFile\>Options\>Directories
---
### Author:  [@John\_D](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/John_D)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/5 "2021-11-19T14:08:30Z")
Excellent! Thank you very much, that has solved the issue for me. Because I had a new install, there was nothing specified, so I gave it my root drive which never has any audio files, and then I set the "Start from this Directory" checkbox. Now it works perfectly as I wanted! Thank you again for your help! 👍
---
### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/6 "2021-11-19T14:17:33Z")
> [@John\_D](#):
>
> so I gave it my root drive which never has any audio files
If you're using the root drive here, it can take some time until all directories are enumerated (if you have the subdirectories option enabled).
I'd really use a dedicated folder just for that, e.g.,
`C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Mp3tag\Startup\`
---
### Author:  [@John\_D](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/John_D)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/7 "2021-11-19T15:18:24Z")
Ohhh - I see. Excellent then, I will create an empty folder under my profile and give it that.
Thank you very much!
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/can-i-stop-mp3tag-from-automatically-reading-the-directory/55156/8 "2022-04-04T21:00:55Z")
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.