# Cannot rename file **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [March 10, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016 "2018-03-10T17:28:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/msrberlin/32/5000_2.png) [@msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/msrberlin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/1 "2018-03-10T17:28:15Z")
I am using MP3tag for some years on windows. Since some month I get the following error when I try to rename files: Datei "E:\Temp\Musik\Grundhass - Stromkastenphilosophie\Grundhass - Stromkastenphilosophie - 01 Intro.mp3" konnte nicht in "D:\Musik\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music\Grundhass\Stromkastenphilosophie\01 - Grundhass - Intro .mp3" umbenannt werden. Die Syntax für den Dateinamen, Verzeichnisnamen oder die Datenträgerbezeichnung ist falsch. The format string `D:\Musik\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music\%artist%\%album%\$num(%track%,2) - %artist% - %title%` has worked for years. Any ideas? ---
**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:** [March 10, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/2 "2018-03-10T17:59:28Z")
Perhaps .... total length of filename (incl. path and drive) more than 254 characters Access rights not sufficient. Strange: why is there a line break in front of the extension? Just a copy problem? ---
**Author:** ![msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/msrberlin/32/5000_2.png) [@msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/msrberlin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 9:25am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/3 "2018-03-11T09:25:33Z")
The string worked for years, access rights are ok. Started application as admin. The line break was just a copy problem. Length should also be no problem, as i tried to write to d:\temp and got the same error. I tried Musicbrainz to rename files and it worked. It's just MP3Tag that has a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 10:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/4 "2018-03-11T10:52:09Z")
- After the failed renaming and closing of Mp3tag, what are the contents of `%APPDATA\Mp3tag\Mp3tagError.log` - Are there any other programs accessing the file at the time of renaming? You can check with [Microsoft/SysInternals Process Explorer](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer) Go to _Find \> Find Handle or DLL_. In the _Handle or DLL substring_ text box, type the path to the file (e.g. `E:\Temp\Musik\Grundhass - Stromkastenphilosophie\Grundhass - Stromkastenphilosophie - 01 Intro.mp3`) and click _Search_. All processes which have an open handle to that file should be listed. ---
**Author:** ![msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/msrberlin/32/5000_2.png) [@msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/msrberlin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/5 "2018-03-11T12:36:09Z")
No other programs are accessing the files. The problem appears with any MP3 file, on any harddrive. I also tried an USB drive as destination, same error. Copying are renaming the files with other tools (Explorer, Musicbrainz, Total Commander) works without any problems. The content of Mp3tagError.log: ```nohighlight ================================================================================ Mp3tag v2.86e - 11.03.2018 - 13:26:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OS-Version: Windows 10, 64-bit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Build: Mar 9 2018 18:26:15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AppPath: 60.420.665.344 Bytes frei (C:\Program Files (x86)\Mp3tag\) DataPath: 60.420.665.344 Bytes frei (C:\Users\Marco\AppData\Roaming\Mp3tag\data\) TempPath: 60.420.665.344 Bytes frei (C:\Users\Marco\AppData\Local\Temp\Mp3tag v2.86e\) ================================================================================ ``` ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/6 "2018-03-11T12:46:30Z")
> [@msrberlin](#): > > Started application as admin The ownership of the files has to be in such a way that either access is granted to everybody or that the current user-id is also the owner of the files. Being admin is not enough in many cases. ---
**Author:** ![msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/msrberlin/32/5000_2.png) [@msrberlin](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/msrberlin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/7 "2018-03-11T12:54:15Z")
I created the files, I am the owner, other programs have no problems. Property changes with MP3Tag are working. The only thing not working is renaming. Screenshot from a sample MP3 ![image](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/b/b66c7eb56389cdc094ddecb3da91c40bc707156c.png) ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/8 "2018-03-11T12:59:09Z")
So what has changed in your system since the last time you successfully renamed a file with MP3tag? I have no problems to rename files with version 2.86e. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/9 "2018-03-11T13:04:02Z")
You (and the Mp3tag.exe process) also need permission to create files and folders at `D:\Musik\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music\` given the format string you've mentioned in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/10 "2018-03-13T12:57:51Z")
Okay, after inspecting the error message from the OP again, I don't think it's a permission problem. Given the details at > Die Syntax für den Dateinamen, Verzeichnisnamen oder die Datenträgerbezeichnung ist falsch. I'd rather guess that there is some kind of special, possibly not visible, character in the format string. Maybe a return at the end? @msrberlin, can you check again, also and especially around - and spaces? ---
**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, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cannot-rename-file/41016/11 "2026-02-09T12:27:16Z")