# Program clears out list dragging other files into it
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043
**Category:** Mac
**Tags:** feature
**Created:** [July 3, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043 "2025-07-03T19:39:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/1 "2025-07-03T19:39:33Z")
I have some audio files in one folder, so I drag them into the window. I have some other audio files I also want in the same window so I can copy/paste their tags easily.
That's not possible, because if I do that it clears out the window first.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/2 "2025-07-03T19:47:24Z")
See the documentation about how to add files to an existing set of files:
> [@Basics and Overview](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/basics-and-overview/51957):
>
> Mp3tag for Mac has two main window components: the Tag Panel on the left the File List where the files are listed Tag Panel The Tag Panel shows the tag field contents of the selected files and allows for editing the fields. It also has a dedicated area for displaying the embedded cover art of the selected files. If more than one file is selected, the Tag Panel shows \< keep \> for fields with values that differ between the files. It shows the actual field value, if it's the same for all sele…
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/3 "2025-07-03T20:14:06Z")
I see this portion which addresses this:
"The _File List_ lists all the files that are loaded either via _File → Open..._ **⌘ O** , drag and drop (also on the Dock icon), or via _Open with..._ from Finder. If you want to add files to the existing list of files you can use _File → Add..._ **⇧⌘ O** or hold down the option key **⌥** when dropping files."
It feels like adding files without them being cleared makes more sense and should be the default option.
If that's not possible, could a new option in Settings be added which allows you to toggle what the default is please?
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/4 "2025-07-03T22:29:31Z")
> [@godzfire](#):
>
> The _File List_ lists all the files that are loaded either via _File → Open..._ **⌘ O** , drag and drop (also on the Dock icon), or via _Open with..._ from Finder. If you want to add files to the existing list of files you can use _File → Add..._ **⇧⌘ O** or hold down the option key **⌥** when dropping files."
As an alternative you can also multi select all of the folders you wish to open and drag them all at once to mp3tag.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/5 "2025-07-03T22:42:08Z")
This wouldn't work for me as the files are in different locations and no way to select them all at the same time.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/6 "2025-07-03T22:52:05Z")
> [@godzfire](#):
>
> the option key **⌥** when d
Well you still have the option key **⌥** for now. Perhaps @Florian can consider the request for a toggle to swap the library loading function for replacing or contributing new files to the list.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/7 "2025-07-04T00:01:35Z")
That's the hope I have as it would make an immense productivity improvement for me.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2025, 11:09am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/8 "2025-08-12T11:09:56Z")
Any updates to this? It’s definitely a request other people want as well, as shown here for example: [List songs from a folder with & without songs from subfolders - #10 by ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/list-songs-from-a-folder-with-without-songs-from-subfolders/69372/10)
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/9 "2025-08-12T17:21:21Z")
> [@godzfire](#):
>
> It’s definitely a request other people want as well, as shown here for example
TBH I only see a query for the principal function to add files via drag&drop (which is already there) in the linked thread but not for a specific implementation.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/10 "2025-08-12T20:40:25Z")
Maybe I misinterpreted what he was wanting.
Nonetheless, how could I go about putting in a request to have at least the functionality I posted about here added, since I haven’t seen a developer comment on this.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2025, 5:09am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/11 "2025-08-13T05:09:33Z")
Your request has been noted, I can assure you.
Still, it is not the custom to comment on every suggestion.
You have to see what the time brings.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/12 "2025-11-06T01:48:59Z")
Hello @Florian, hoping this could still be added to MP3TAG
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### Author:  [@man\_like\_marv](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/man_like_marv)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/13 "2025-12-10T19:48:26Z")
+1
Coming from other tag editors, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed this behaviour anywhere else, or at least, not without an option to turn it off. I’m getting used to it but if would definitely be handy (and just feel right) to be able to drag and add to the list prior to doing some batch processing.
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/14 "2025-12-10T19:55:55Z")
> [@man\_like\_marv](#):
>
> definitely be handy (and just feel right) to be able to drag and add to the list prior to doing some batch processing.
Just to make sure you have seen this:
> [@Basics and Overview](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/basics-and-overview/51957/1):
>
> If you want to add files to the existing list of files you can use _File → Add..._ **⇧⌘ O** or hold down the option key **⌥** when dropping files.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/15 "2025-12-10T20:12:09Z")
As the OP of this thread, that's missing the point though. There should be an option to set it how you want it to function by default because it's doesn't follow the industry standard of things being added to a list when dragged, not cleared off first.
I say that out of respect to and appreciation of the devs.
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/16 "2025-12-10T20:16:58Z")
Yes, I understand you and it's on my internal wish list.
I also wasn't replying to you, but to the topic I quoted, which is from someone who's "coming from other tag editors" and might not know the options key trick yet.
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### Author:  [@man\_like\_marv](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/man_like_marv)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/17 "2025-12-10T20:31:40Z")
> [@Basics and Overview](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/basics-and-overview/51957/1):
>
> hold down the option key **⌥** when dropping files.
oh shoot! You’re right, I had no idea! Thanks! This will really help as it was slowing down my workflow. And. yes, it’d be ideal if we were able to simply click a checkbox and have it this way by default, but at least it’s possible and I can live with that whilst I live in hope. Going to read up on the basics now. Grazie
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2025, 5:47am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/18 "2025-12-11T05:47:40Z")
A post was split to a new topic: [Re-order cover images from Tag Panel](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/re-order-cover-images-from-tag-panel/70325)
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2025, 9:39am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/19 "2025-12-21T09:39:09Z")
[Mp3tag for Mac v1.10](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mp3tag-for-mac-1-10-released/70391) adds a new option to change drag-and-drop behaviour so files are added to the File List by default (available from **Settings → File List → Drag & Drop** ).
In addition, holding ⌥ while dragging toggles between **Add** and **Replace**.
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### Author:  [@godzfire](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/godzfire)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043/20 "2025-12-27T19:02:43Z")
Thank you for doing this, it’s already quickening my task workflow.
[Next page](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/program-clears-out-list-dragging-other-files-into-it/69043.md?page=2)