# Cover art display on external drive
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [October 3, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907 "2026-10-03T20:16:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/21 "2026-10-07T12:53:16Z")
MP3tag does not edit metadata in jpg files, like EXIF or IPTC
If you want to add a description in MP3tag, then the action `Set cover properties` only allows a string but not format string - which means that you cannot use any field variables.
This information would not be added to the picture but only to the metadata section in the audio file.
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### Author:  [@dp19](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dp19)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/22 "2026-10-07T13:03:58Z")
so how would set and action to do this please?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/23 "2026-10-07T13:09:30Z")
a) you cannot set tag data to an external file.
b) To add a description to an embedded picture, you have to enter a fixed string without variables.
The description is probably not visible in other programs.
> **[Set Cover Properties – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/actions/set-cover-properties/)**
>
> Documentation on the Set Cover Properties action type that can be performed as Quick Action or as reusable workflow from Action Groups. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor.
So please tell me: are we talking about embedded or external pictures?
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### Author:  [@dp19](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dp19)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/24 "2026-10-07T13:18:01Z")
so from what you are saying mp3tag creates a embedded jpg when a pic is added so i guessing embeeded, but i keep copies of the jpg on an external drive this where i like to add info to.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/25 "2026-10-07T13:21:43Z")
You can export the embedded picture to a file an use a format string to create the filename.
But for that the picture has to be embedded.
It is a pity that you never answered
> [@Moving covers to network drive with an action](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/moving-covers-to-network-drive-with-an-action/66806/11):
>
> Are the covers embedded or is you claim from
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > Good Morning, i having a problem with moving my covers to a network drive. my action is format value field \_directory string \mh\y my problem is that i don't know what i need to put after \mh\y to only move the cover, i now when i do this action it's oullung the mp3 file itself. so can someone help with to comman i need to just pull the jpg. file? Thank You DP
>
> > [@Moving covers to network drive with an action](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/moving-covers-to-network-drive-with-an-action/66806/11):
> >
> > I DON"T USE EMBEDDED ALBUM COVEER ART.
>
> still valid.
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### Author:  [@dp19](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dp19)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/26 "2026-10-07T13:42:33Z")
i suppose embedded since mp3tag creates the metatag. and i have an action to export the covers which now is not vaild since tmp3tag can't input extended tags info as to what i thought it was doing. thanks for the support pleas close this.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/27 "2026-10-07T13:49:42Z")
> [@dp19](#):
>
> i suppose embedded since mp3tag creates the metatag
This is really annoying: you do not answer questions (which I don't ask because I have nothing better to do), you do not supply screenshots and you assume things without any further proof.
And finally, you ask to close a thread - although it is you who can tick an post as solution which triggers the closing of a thread.
So: where do you see the solution?
If you have not got one yet - please try the following filter:
`%_covers% MISSING`
Ideally, no file should show up in the file list - this would be the proof that all the pictures are embedded.
All the files that are still listed in the file list live without embedded pictures. In for a missing embedded picture no action would have any effect.
So: what is the result after you have applied the filter?
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/28 "2026-10-07T14:17:34Z")
@dp19 Your lack of input is an ongoing issue here.
> [@Guess value action](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/guess-value-action/70607/13):
>
> @dp19 If you are the one asking for help, it is in your best interest to provide real file info so an accurate answer can be provided. This has been an ongoing omission from many of your requests. In this example that was finally provided, only three fields are visible - ARTIST, CD, and TITLE. And further the full file path is D:\()\ALLURE & 112.ALL CRIED OUT.mp3 Nowhere do I see anything related to a country code. However, a hint is there right at the top of the window. This file contains ID3…
The people responding here trying to help are not AI bots. We are all people like you, just with more experience using mp3tag. We are here offering community support to others. So when asked for more info and a helpful screenshot or two, please provide it. It would certainly help reduce the amount of time it takes to respond to your asks. Especially since this thread is now 26 posts long for what very likely required just a simple response.
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### Author:  [@dp19](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dp19)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/29 "2026-10-07T16:57:41Z")
Thank You for the kind words, i have however explain what i like to do and i'm sure you come across many questions with many answers that non programming people really can't answer, so on this note i'm totally out of here...HELLO MUSICBEE!!!!
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/30 "2026-10-07T20:03:23Z")
Looks like we are not getting any more information so there will be no solution.
This thread will now get closed.
If the desire should arise to pursue the topic further, I suggest to start from scratch in a new thread.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/cover-art-display-on-external-drive/71907/31 "2026-10-07T20:03:29Z")
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