# When processing a song fails a temp directory is left **URL:** \ **Category:** Mac\ **Tags:** bug-fixed\ **Created:** [February 7, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904 "2021-02-07T19:36:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AvidMusicRenamer](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@AvidMusicRenamer](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AvidMusicRenamer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/1 "2021-02-07T19:36:26Z")
When mp3tag fails to process a song a temp directory is created and left hanging around. Error: > **Cannot write tags to file "01 Bullet Catch.m4a" in folder "Bullet Catch - Single"** Directories created: > 01 Bullet Catch.m4a.sb-e612fab9-9BPbXm > 01 Bullet Catch.m4a.sb-e612fab9-hjrZKb > 01 Bullet Catch.m4a.sb-e612fab9-HNUr2s > 01 Bullet Catch.m4a.sb-e612fab9-vMVEqG Is there anyway to have to have it remove the directories it creates after a processing failure? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/2 "2021-02-07T20:17:40Z")
Thanks! Do you know what caused Mp3tag to not be able to write to the file? ---
**Author:** ![AvidMusicRenamer](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@AvidMusicRenamer](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AvidMusicRenamer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/3 "2021-02-07T21:15:33Z")
I actually don't know. Is there a way to debug this if I wanted to find out? My music collection is all purchased music from iTunes. I re-downloaded the album from iTunes and it was able to process it but that doesn't really tell me why mp3tag is having issues. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 7:28am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/4 "2021-02-08T07:28:26Z")
I thought that it's caused by another process locking the file and was interested in the circumstances. If it's a specific file that causing trouble, it's always possible to send me the file for analyzing purposes. ---
**Author:** ![AvidMusicRenamer](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@AvidMusicRenamer](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/AvidMusicRenamer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 11:13am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/5 "2021-02-08T11:13:48Z")
I ended up running exiftool with a find across my entire collection of music and it turns out iTunes has been randomly sending me a DRM protected file which was causing mp3tag to fail. I'm having to go back to iTunes and re-download the songs that were sent with DRM. None of the music I buy from iTunes should have DRM. This fixes the issue I was seeing. > find . -name "\*m4a" -exec exiftool -a {} ; | egrep -e "Audio Format|Directory|File Name" | grep drms -B3 Thanks again for the help. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/6 "2021-02-10T13:34:06Z")
I've fixed this with Beta 12. Thanks for reporting! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/when-processing-a-song-fails-a-temp-directory-is-left/51904/7 "2021-03-12T13:34:56Z")
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