# Padding for tag
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [May 8, 2020, 1:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881 "2020-05-08T01:28:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rajanna](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/rajanna)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 1:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881/1 "2020-05-08T01:28:32Z")
I request, mp3tag to let assign the "padding size" under settings.
1. Retain existing padding after new field added or existing pad removed. Meaning, final file size must not expand or contract with changes in tag.
2. If the padding is not sufficient for the new field, then it must add value (a large value) given in the setting.
This way, files are not re-written only the small bytes are made in the songs.
I have a large collection of songs. mp3tag crashes all the time.
I have started to mutagen in python. They have this feature.
'''
from mutagen.mp3 import MP3
def retainpadding(info):
if info.padding \< 0: # in case there is no padding left after write add lots
return 50000 # bytes
else: # if there is some left, just use it
return info.padding
f.save(padding=retainpadding)
'''
This way the music files have sufficient breathing space to add and remove tags after the first save.
---
### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881/2 "2020-05-08T04:44:41Z")
This has been a topic since 2005:
> [@setting padding size](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/setting-padding-size/1813):
>
> another cry for help i am having problems seeing the tag data with my iriver h320, one of the topics on misticriver suggest setting the padding size to 512 bytes. can Mp3tag do this and also tell me what size the padding is to start with. many thanks will get the hang of tagging some day
---
### Author:  [@Crissov](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Crissov)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 8:03am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881/3 "2020-05-08T08:03:52Z")
I would also want Mp3tag to not make the tag or the padding a specific fixed size, but make the resulting file size an integer multiple of common file system cluster sizes.
---
### Author:  [@incifinci](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/incifinci)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881/4 "2020-05-08T14:43:18Z")
I recently noticed: if i delete a cover from the MP3 file, there will be no unnecessary empty space, Mp3tag delete it. This is new. **It would also be good for FLAC.**
> [@Crissov](#):
>
> ...an integer multiple of common file system cluster sizes
**...adjustable** (4 KB, 64 KB...)
---
### Author:  [@SpirosG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/SpirosG)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2022, 10:23am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/padding-for-tag/48881/5 "2022-04-28T10:23:49Z")
Lately i'm facing a problem which is being resolved when i increase the padding size of the files through mp3diags which, unfortunately, is not able to load playlists and so, it's impossible to increase the padding size for specific files especially when they are located in different folders.
If there is a chance to add a slider or "something" to control the padding size, it will be very useful.
Thanks!