# Copy id3V1 into id3V2 if id3V2 is Empty

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-id3v1-into-id3v2-if-id3v2-is-empty/12907
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 6, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-id3v1-into-id3v2-if-id3v2-is-empty/12907 "2012-01-06T22:18:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![taggnfool](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@taggnfool](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/taggnfool)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-id3v1-into-id3v2-if-id3v2-is-empty/12907/1 "2012-01-06T22:18:55Z")

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Hello.

Regarding Mp3tag v2.49a

Is is possible (if so, how) to copy id3v1 tag fields into id3v2.3 fields,  
'only' if the fields in v2 are empty ?

Thank you for your support.

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### Author: ![DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/detlevd/32/123_2.png) [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-id3v1-into-id3v2-if-id3v2-is-empty/12907/2 "2012-01-07T04:46:40Z")

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> [@taggnfool](#):
>
> Hello. Regarding Mp3tag v2.49a  
> Is is possible (if so, how) to copy id3v1 tag fields into id3v2.3 fields, 'only' if the fields in v2 are empty ?  
> Thank you for your support.

No, there is no readymade button to 'pull up' ID3v1 content into ID3v2 stage.

But there is a way to go.

1. Set Mp3tagOptions/Mpeg/Read to only read ID3v1.

2. Set Mp3tagOptions/Mpeg/Write to only write ID3v2.

3. Refresh the list view. Now you see only ID3v1 tag-fields and their values.

4. Copy the values from the existing tag-fields to new helper tag-fields using an action group.  
Create an actiongroup with six actions.  
For example ...  
Action: Format value  
Field: ID3V1\_ALBUM  
Formatstring: %ALBUM%  
... and so on for the other ID3v1 tag-fields.

5. Execute this action group against the files you want.  
The new tag-fields will be written into the target ID3v2 tag.

6. Set Mp3tagOptions/Mpeg/Read to read ID3v2, disable reading of ID3v1 or let it as is.

7. Refresh the list view. Now you see ID3v2 tag-fields and their values.  
Using dialog "Extended tags..." you can see the new helper tag-fields and their values, e. g. tag-field ID3V1\_ALBUM.  
You may set up additionally columns in the list view to show the values from the helper tag-fields beside the other standard tag-fields.

8. Using an action group you can compare tag-fields and write values if available.  
Create an actiongroup with six actions.  
For example ...  
Action: Format value  
Field: ALBUM  
Formatstring: $if2(%ALBUM%,%ID3V1\_ALBUM%)  
... and so on for the other ID3v1 tag-fields.

9. Execute this action group against the files you want.  
Previously not existing tag-fields will be created, existing tag-fields will not be touched.

10. Remove the six helper tag-fields.  
Action: Remove fields  
Fields to remove: ID3V1\_ALBUM;ID3V1\_ARTIST;ID3V1\_COMMENT;ID3V1\_TITLE;ID3V1\_TRACK;ID3V1\_YEAR

11. Ready.

DD.20110107.0648.CET

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![taggnfool](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@taggnfool](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/taggnfool)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-id3v1-into-id3v2-if-id3v2-is-empty/12907/3 "2012-01-07T12:17:57Z")

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Thank you very much for your help.

Bye for now.

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### 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, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/copy-id3v1-into-id3v2-if-id3v2-is-empty/12907/4 "2026-02-09T12:23:33Z")

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