# Filename to tag conversion?
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [April 30, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933 "2005-04-30T23:46:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@b83768](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/b83768)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933/1 "2005-04-30T23:46:59Z")
Hello, I'm a newbie.
How do I configure Mp3tag to write the ID3v1, ID3v2 tags **automatically** based on the filenames?
I looked in the FAQ and didn't see anything that specifically addressed this.
Right now the filenames are configured as "track number - artist - title.mp3"
It's really a pain having to go into every track and having to retype everything manually from the filename into the ID3 fields.
Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@beaker](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/beaker)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933/2 "2005-05-01T02:45:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> How do I configure Mp3tag to write the ID3v1, ID3v2 tags **automatically** based on the filenames?
>
> Right now the filenames are configured as "track number - artist - title.mp3"
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
In options (Ctrl - O)
Click on Convert -\> Tag, and change Filename - Tag to this:
%track% - %artist% - %title%
---
### Author:  [@b83768](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/b83768)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933/3 "2005-05-02T20:31:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> In options (Ctrl - O)
> Click on Convert -\> Tag, and change Filename - Tag to this:
>
> ```
> %track% - %artist% - %title%
>
> ```
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
So right after I do what you suggested, I open mp3tag, click on the "change directory" button, load the directory into the large pane on my right, hit Ctrl+A to highlight and select all the files, then hit ALT+2 and it should enter those filename sections into the tag fields on my left. Correct?
Sorry, but after it flickers for a couple of seconds, I go to highlight each filename and the tag fields to my left are still empty.
Do you know what I'm doing wrong, here? 
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933/4 "2005-05-03T05:05:16Z")
If the formatstring you're using matches the filename of the files, you should get a dynamic preview at the Filename - Tag dialog at [Alt+2].
Otherwise Mp3tag won't import tags.
Best regards,
~ Florian
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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/filename-to-tag-conversion/1933/5 "2026-02-09T12:19:22Z")