# File disappears from list after being dragged out
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561
**Category:** No Bugs
**Created:** [January 13, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561 "2021-01-13T19:54:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@super3345](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/super3345)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/1 "2021-01-13T19:54:09Z")
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 20H2
Mp3tag v3.04a
Windows Explorer integrtation not installed
1. Add two or more files into Mp3tag
2. Drag one file out, to a Windows Explorer folder or in my usual case, Audacity
3. File disappears from list in Mp3tag
4. Refresh Mp3tag list with F5, file reappears in list
In File \> Options \> General, I have enabled Keep moved files in file list option so I believe this should not be happening and it is a bug.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/2 "2021-01-13T20:12:30Z")
Whether a file is moved or copied from a list or not depends on the accepting application.
See this thread:
> [@\[X\] Audacity file load bug](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-audacity-file-load-bug/17381):
>
> I've noticed either a bug or just a very user unfriendly behavior If I have a list of files in the main window of Mp3tag and then select one for the purpose of dragging it and releasing it in [on window of] Audacity [2.1.0], then this file is loaded in Audacity- but at the same time it disappears from the list in Mp3tag; just as if it was removed or deleted by me. That kind of behavior is simply annoying and also time consuming- because usually I have to once again load that file into Mp3tag I…
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### Author:  [@super3345](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/super3345)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/3 "2021-01-13T20:58:18Z")
Yep that's the exact same "bug" I'm facing. Audacity is definitely not physically moving the file on the disk, nor is it editing/modifying it. Plus, when refreshing the Mp3tag file list interface the fiile shows back up.
This is only a recent bug. I'm not sure whether it's a Windows update, Audacity update or Mp3tag update triggering it. Is there any way we can disable this from happening? Plus, it raises the question, what is the "Keep moved files in file list" option if not for resolving this?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/4 "2021-01-13T21:03:26Z")
Then have a look at this thread:
> [@Drag and drop file out of Mp3tag into ...](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/drag-and-drop-file-out-of-mp3tag-into/14484/2):
>
> Drag&Drop is an interaction between 2 programs. After a D&D action the receiving program gives a feedback of what the action should be interpreted. The possible feedback ist the following: 0 DROPEFFECT\_NONE Drop target cannot accept data. 1 DROPEFFECT\_COPY dropping invokes copying. 2 DROPEFFECT\_MOVE dropping invokes a move 4 DROPEFFECT\_LINK dropping creates a link The source application then acts accordingly. So apparently some of your applications report "move" and others "co…
It is not MP3tag that determines what happens to the files but the accepting application.
So please turn to the Audacity developers and tell them that this is not the way you like it.
The option that you quote is an option to set whether you still want to see files in MP3tag that have been moved by MP3tag to a different folder than the current working directory.
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/5 "2021-01-13T21:04:53Z")
> [@super3345](#):
>
> Is there any way we can disable this from happening?
You can try holding the Ctrl down when performing the drag and drop operation. Does this help?
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### Author:  [@super3345](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/super3345)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/6 "2021-01-13T21:55:16Z")
Thanks! It's actually not Audacity inducing this behaviour, but the latest Windows 10 update. I've verified by using the latest Audacity versions on two machines, one with all Windows Updates installed and one without.
The Windows machine with all updates installed will make the file vanish from Mp3tag, but the machine without updates will not. Furthermore, I have just updated the eldest machine to the latest Windows Updates and now the same bad behaviour is observed on both.
I'm not sure whether it is Explorer or Audacity's changed behaviour but I will take this up with the Audacity team like you mentioned.
PS, the weirdest thing though. One machine is still removing the file when I drag it out of Mp3tag to Explorer, but one is not. (:
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### Author:  [@super3345](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/super3345)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/7 "2021-01-13T21:55:52Z")
Yes indeed it does, in both instances. Thanks Florian.
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### Author:  [@poster](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/poster)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2021, 5:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/8 "2021-01-14T05:52:38Z")
> [@super3345](#):
>
> This is only a recent bug.
No, it is not. To use CTRL only helps with Audacity, not with the mentioned "Mp3 Qualiity Modifier".
> [@\[X\] Drag & Drop to external Software removes files from list-view](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/x-drag-drop-to-external-software-removes-files-from-list-view/18557):
>
> I don't believe this behaviour is an intended feature: If you drag & drop a files from Mp3Tag to some externel software (i.e. Audacity, Mp3 Quality Modifier) these files vanish from the list-view-frame. You have to refresh the view to get them back again.
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2021, 9:34am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/9 "2021-01-14T09:34:34Z")
I've reviewed the code in question again and it still holds. Audacity returns `DROPEFFECT_MOVE` at drag and drop without any modifier keys pressed and `DROPEFFECT_COPY` when Ctrl is pressed.
When the target app of the drag and drop reports that files are moved, I have no other chance than removing the files from the file list. I have no indication of where the files are moved to and would end up with orphaned files on actual moves.
One option to circumvent these problems would be to disallow move operations via drag and drop from Mp3tag all together. However, this would probably and most likely disappoint people who are using the feature as intended.
Once again, I'm moving this to #bug-reports:no-bugs
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/file-disappears-from-list-after-being-dragged-out/51561/10 "2026-02-09T12:19:08Z")