# 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:** 1
**Showing post:** 2

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### 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: [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")

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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

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