# mp3tag rewrites entire mp3 file to update tags?
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mp3tag-rewrites-entire-mp3-file-to-update-tags/2719
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 3, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mp3tag-rewrites-entire-mp3-file-to-update-tags/2719 "2006-01-03T18:24:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mike.iles](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mike.iles)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mp3tag-rewrites-entire-mp3-file-to-update-tags/2719/1 "2006-01-03T18:24:57Z")
I noticed that mp3tag seemed very slow to update tags on mp3 files, and further exploration showed that when it was updating tags on an mp3 file it was rewriting the entire file, rather than just the portion containing the tags.
Is this intentional?
mp3tag updates tags in a flac file without rewriting the whole file, and other taggers (The Godfather, e.g.) don't rewrite the whole file when updating mp3 tags.
I have two concerns with mp3tag's behaviour: (1) possible file corruption if it crashes part-way through rewriting an mp3 file, and (2) speed (it's very slow).
Any info appreciated...
Mike.
(PS - Thanks for a great utility, BTW.)
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### Author:  [@Sebastian\_Mares](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Sebastian_Mares)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mp3tag-rewrites-entire-mp3-file-to-update-tags/2719/2 "2006-01-03T19:25:36Z")
Please consult the [FAQs](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/965/1) before posting. 🙂
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### Author:  [@mike.iles](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/mike.iles)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mp3tag-rewrites-entire-mp3-file-to-update-tags/2719/3 "2006-01-03T20:21:15Z")
Aha, sorry for that. Thanks for your help.
Mike.
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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/mp3tag-rewrites-entire-mp3-file-to-update-tags/2719/4 "2026-02-09T12:19:34Z")