# how do i remove \\ (backslash) from file names
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [August 30, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077 "2014-08-30T15:11:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fatmanpeters](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fatmanpeters)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/1 "2014-08-30T15:11:53Z")
how do i remove \ (backslash) from file names when i copying from tag as it will turn it into folders
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/2 "2014-08-30T15:45:48Z")
You can keep the mask to create the filename. Only you have to treat it again.
So instead of only entering (example):
%track% - %artist% - %title%
append the following:
$replace($validate(%track% - %artist% - %title%),'','\_')
This will replace any backslash with an underscore.
---
### Author:  [@stevehero](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/stevehero)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/3 "2014-08-30T15:57:36Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> You can keep the mask to create the filename. Only you have to treat it again.
> So instead of only entering (example):
> %track% - %artist% - %title%
> append the following:
> $replace($validate(%track% - %artist% - %title%),'','\_')
> This will replace any backslash with an underscore.
Just released $validate doesn't work with \
Is this a known bug?
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/4 "2014-08-30T16:07:21Z")
> [@stevehero](#):
>
> Just released $validate doesn't work with \
>
> Is this a known bug?
I fell into the same trap as I thought that the backslash would be replaced.
But as the backslash is a valid character for a fully qualified filename it is ignored by the $validate() function.
The help categorizes /?\*"\<\>|: as illegal.
---
### Author:  [@stevehero](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/stevehero)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/5 "2014-08-30T16:17:16Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I fell into the same trap as I thought that the backslash would be replaced.
> But as the backslash is a valid character for a fully qualified filename it is ignored by the $validate() function.
> The help categorizes /?\*"\<\>|: as illegal.
I would say the function could work for both.
For a filename remove all:
\ /?\*"\<\>|:
And for filepaths remove just:
/?\*"\<\>|:
Just the function coded differently under the hood. Least now I know this is the case. Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/6 "2014-08-30T16:40:17Z")
> [@stevehero](#):
>
> I would say the function could work for both. For a filename remove all:
> \ /?_"\<\>|:
> And for filepaths remove just:
> /?_"\<\>|:
> Just the function coded differently under the hood. Least now I know this is the case. Thanks.
Note: The colon is allowed for filepath, at the position right beside the drive letter.
See also ...
[[F] $validate() broken?](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/8311/12)
DD.20140830.2040.CEST
---
### Author:  [@stevehero](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/stevehero)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/7 "2014-08-30T16:54:18Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> Note: The colon is allowed for filepath, at the position right beside the drive letter.
>
> See also ...
> [[F] $validate() broken?](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/8311/12)
>
> DD.20140830.2040.CEST
Well instead of:
> [@](#):
>
> And for filepaths remove just:
> /?\*"\<\>|:
Remove:
/?\*"\<\>|
---
### Author:  [@fatmanpeters](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/fatmanpeters)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2014, 6:54am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/8 "2014-09-02T06:54:51Z")
so what do I need to put in my actions
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### Author:  [@stevehero](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/stevehero)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/9 "2014-09-02T07:15:40Z")
> [@fatmanpeters](#):
>
> so what do I need to put in my actions
>
> 
$replace($validate($num(%track%,2) %title%),'','\_')
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2014, 7:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/10 "2014-09-02T07:28:57Z")
> [@stevehero](#):
>
> $replace($validate($num(%track%,2) %title%),'','\_')
**$replace($validate($num(%TRACK%,2)' '%TITLE%,'\_'),'\','\_')**
Note: The picture from 'fatmanpeters' does not show backslash in the TITLE column, but slash.
DD.20140902.1130.CEST
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2014, 7:33am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/11 "2014-09-02T07:33:28Z")
> [@DetlevD](#):
>
> ...
> Note: The picture from 'fatmanpeters' does not show backslash in the TITLE column, but slash.
>
> DD.20140902.1130.CEST
True.
Yet, the question was about the backslash. Let's see what the OP tells us.
Anyway: the slash (no "back") gets treated by the $validate() function. The backslash does not.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/how-do-i-remove-backslash-from-file-names/16077/12 "2026-02-09T12:25:13Z")