Wiki: Tag mappings and software compatibility

Mp3tag does a great job at mapping several different standards into one tag but it's not always obvious what tags other software supports.

There are tags that aren't defined by Mp3tag's internal mappings, typically for formats like MKA/MKV or software that uses their own custom naming; in these cases, Mp3tag can still save a valid, working tag to a file by using the same name required.

Some software has certain behaviours to look out for like tags only being read when first imported in or have reduced the use of tags as legacy options compared to other formats like XML files. Some tags can only be edited by Mp3tag, others don't update in the other software due to it preferring what's stored in its own separate database.

Here are lists of popular software that the community can edit and contribute their findings:

Key

Tag type

:large_orange_diamond: - Mapped by Mp3tag
:blue_square: - Format-specific
:red_circle: - Software-specific

Tag Status

:check_mark:- Readable in a format
[1] - Hover for more information
:cross_mark: - Unused/deprecated in software
:pencil: - Can't edit in software, can edit using Mp3tag
:red_exclamation_mark: - Only read when imported due to database[2][3]
:warning: - Buggy in software or associated apps/hardware[4]

To Do

List to do
  • MacOS Finder
  • Windows Media Player 12 (2009-2022)
  • Windows Media Player (2022-Present)
  • VLC
  • foobar2000
  • MusicBee
  • MediaMonkey
  • Audiobookshelf
  • Rekordbox
  • Serato
  • Traktor Pro
  • VirtualDJ
  • djay Pro
  • BSI Simian
  • Plex
  • Emby
  • Jellyfin
  • Kodi
  • Universal Media Server

Windows File Explorer

TAG COLUMN MP3 WMA WAV FLAC OPUS M4A MKA MP4 MKV WEBM
:large_orange_diamond: - Cover art :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUM Album / Album ID[5] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUMSORT Sort album :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUMARTIST Album artist / Album ID[6] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUMARTISTSORT Sort album artist :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ARTIST Contributing artists / Authors / Creators / Participants :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:[7] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:[8] :check_mark:[9]
:large_orange_diamond: ARTISTSORT Sort contributing artists :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: BPM Beats-per-minute :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMMENT Comments :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:[10] :check_mark: :check_mark:[11] :check_mark:[12]
:large_orange_diamond: COMPILATION Part of a compilation :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMPOSER Composers :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMPOSERSORT Sort composer :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: CONDUCTOR Conductors :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: DESCRIPTION Comments / File description[13] [14] :check_mark: :check_mark:[15] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COPYRIGHT Copyright :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: DATE Year :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: DIRECTOR Directors :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: DISCNUMBER Disc[16] / Part of set :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:[17] :check_mark:[18]
:large_orange_diamond: ENCODEDBY Encoded by :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ENCODINGTIME Date / Date acquired / Media created :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: GENRE Genre :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: INITIALKEY Initial key :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:blue_square: KEYWORDS Tags :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: LANGUAGE Language :check_mark: :check_mark:
:blue_square: LAW_RATING Parental rating :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: LYRICIST Writers :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: MOOD Mood :check_mark:[19] :check_mark:[20] :check_mark: :check_mark:[21] :check_mark:[22] :check_mark:[23]
:large_orange_diamond: MOVEMENTNAME Title :warning:[24] :warning:[25] :warning:[26]
:large_orange_diamond: ORIGYEAR[27] Broadcast date / Year :check_mark:
:blue_square: PRODUCER Producers :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: PUBLISHER Publisher :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: RATING WMP Rating :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: RELEASETIME Date released / Year :check_mark: :warning:[28]
:large_orange_diamond: SETSUBTITLE Subtitle / Episode name :warning:[29] :warning:[30] :warning:[31]
:large_orange_diamond: SUBTITLE Subtitle / Episode name :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :warning:[32] :warning:[33] :warning:[34]
:large_orange_diamond: TITLE Title :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :warning:[35] :check_mark: :check_mark: :warning:[36] :warning:[37]
:large_orange_diamond: TITLESORT Sort title :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TOTALDISCS Part of set :check_mark:[38] :check_mark:[39]
:large_orange_diamond: TRACK # :warning:[40] :warning:[41] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TVEPISODE Episode number :check_mark: :warning:[42] :check_mark: :warning:[43] :warning:[44]
:large_orange_diamond: TVSEASON Season number :check_mark: :check_mark: :warning:[45]
:large_orange_diamond: TVSHOW Title :warning:[46] :warning:[47] :warning:[48]
:blue_square: WRITTEN_BY Writers :check_mark: :warning:[49] :warning:[50] :warning:[51]
:large_orange_diamond: YEAR Year / Recording Time[52] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
Notes
  • Only MP4 shows metadata about Frame width and Frame height.
  • MP4 / M4A remove DATE tags and add the value on the end of YEAR.
  • WMA converts \\ delimiters as ; as per Windows' specification.
  • MP3 column orders:
    • Year: YEAR -> RELEASETIMEORIGYEAR
  • MKV column orders:
    • Title: TVSHOW[53]TITLE[54]MOVEMENTNAMEALBUM
    • Episode name: SUBTITLE[55]SETSUBTITLE[56]
References

All

Windows File Explorer

Plex (To Do)

Audiobookshelf (To Do)


  1. more information ↩︎

  2. Some software looks for updates in certain tags when a file is refreshed, others rely fully on what's stored in their database, meaning changes made in the software aren't saved to the file and don't come back to Mp3tag ↩︎

  3. Often to completely remove a value in the software, it must be done via the software OR by removing the file, removing the value in Mp3tag then re-importing the file for parity ↩︎

  4. Issues may also occur with metadata on synced devices or apps also having their own separate databases: Check Troubleshooting down below which might help or will require devices/apps having their databases reset ↩︎

  5. Shows ALBUMARTIST - ALBUM, except WAV which only shows ALBUM ↩︎

  6. Shows ALBUMARTIST - ALBUM, except WAV which only shows ALBUM ↩︎

  7. Only shows last value when multiple ↩︎

  8. Only shows first value when multiple ↩︎

  9. Only shows first value when multiple ↩︎

  10. Prioritises DESCRIPTION then COMMENT ↩︎

  11. Prioritises DESCRIPTION then COMMENT ↩︎

  12. Prioritises DESCRIPTION then COMMENT ↩︎

  13. FLAC only ↩︎

  14. DESCRIPTION will be removed and overwrite COMMENT ↩︎

  15. Comments prioritises COMMENT then DESCRIPTION ↩︎

  16. OPUS only ↩︎

  17. Shows DISCNUMBER/TOTALDISCS ↩︎

  18. Shows DISCNUMBER/TOTALDISCS ↩︎

  19. Only shows first value when multiple ↩︎

  20. Only shows last value when multiple ↩︎

  21. Only shows last value when multiple ↩︎

  22. Only shows last value when multiple ↩︎

  23. Only shows last value when multiple ↩︎

  24. May be unintended, only when RATING has a value ↩︎

  25. May be unintended, only when RATING has a value ↩︎

  26. May be unintended, only when RATING has a value ↩︎

  27. MP3 ID3v2.4 only ↩︎

  28. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  29. RATING tag hides this, format turn this tag into another value for SETSUBTITLE ↩︎

  30. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  31. RATING tag hides this, format turn this tag into another value for SETSUBTITLE ↩︎

  32. RATING tag hides this, format turn this tag into another value for SETSUBTITLE ↩︎

  33. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  34. RATING tag hides this, format turn this tag into another value for SETSUBTITLE ↩︎

  35. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  36. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  37. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  38. Shows DISCNUMBER/TOTALDISCS ↩︎

  39. Shows DISCNUMBER/TOTALDISCS ↩︎

  40. Must not have 3-digit zero padding, anything above 10 counts incorrectly, e.g. 010 shows as 8 ↩︎

  41. Must not have 3-digit zero padding, anything above 10 counts incorrectly, e.g. 010 shows as 8 ↩︎

  42. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  43. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  44. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  45. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  46. May be unintended ↩︎

  47. May be unintended, RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  48. May be unintended ↩︎

  49. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  50. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  51. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  52. MP3 only ↩︎

  53. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  54. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  55. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

  56. RATING tag hides this ↩︎

Apple Software (iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV)

TAG COLUMN MP3 AIFF M4A MP4
:large_orange_diamond: - Cover art :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: - Animated cover art[1] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUM Album[2] / Podcast[3] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUMSORT Album[4] / Sort Album[5] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUMARTIST Album Artist[6] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ALBUMARTISTSORT Album Artist[7] / Sort Album Artist[8] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ARTIST Artist[9] / Author[10] / Director[11] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ARTISTSORT Artist[12] / Sort Artist[13] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: BPM Beats Per Minute[14] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMMENT Comments :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: COMMENT ITUNNORM :cross_mark: MP3 equivalent of ITUNNORM when converted by iTunes, broken :pencil: :check_mark:
:red_circle: COMMENT ITUNPGAP :cross_mark: MP3 equivalent of ITUNESGAPLESS when converted by iTunes, broken :pencil: :check_mark:
:red_circle: COMMENT ITUNSMPB :cross_mark: MP3 equivalent of ITUNSMPB when converted by iTunes, broken :pencil: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMPILATION Categorises into Albums and Compilations[15] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMPOSER Composer[16] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COMPOSERSORT Composer[17] / Sort Composer[18] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: CONTENTGROUP Grouping[19] / Work[20] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: COPYRIGHT Get Info ➜ File[21] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: DIRECTOR :cross_mark: Not used[22], try ITUNMOVI
:large_orange_diamond: DISCNUMBER Disc No.[23] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: DESCRIPTION Description[24] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ENCODEDBY Encoded by in Get Info ➜ File[25] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: GENRE Genre[26] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: GROUPING Grouping[27] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESACCOUNT :cross_mark: E-mail address of owner, likely not used :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESADVISORY Title 🅴[28] / Title 🅲[29] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESALBUMID Enables Show in iTunes Store[30] and Share[31] in right-click / Enables More by and You Might Also Like in mobile apps / Fetches most metadata for an album including animated cover art[32] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESARTISTID Enables ⋯ ➜ Go to Artist in playback section[33] / Enables tapping name in playback section[34]/ Fetches artist details if not already found :pencil::red_exclamation_mark::warning:[35] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESCATALOGID Enables Show in iTunes Store with right-click :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESCOMPOSERID :cross_mark: Likely not used as no obvious difference in software[36] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESCOUNTRYID :cross_mark: Country of storefront purchased, likely not used as no obvious difference in software[37] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESGAPLESS Denotes a gapless album, disables Crossfade after a song :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESGENREID :cross_mark: Likely not used, try GENRE :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESHDVIDEO Genre HD icon in overview / Video quality in Get Info ➜ File[38] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESMEDIATYPE Categorises into Music[39], Audiobooks, Movies, TV Shows, Music Videos[40] or Home Videos[41], Podcast is not used :warning:[42] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESOWNER :cross_mark: Registered name of owner, likely not used :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: ITUNESPURCHASEDATE :cross_mark: Date media was purchased, likely not used :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: ITUNEXTC Title Rating icon[43] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: ITUNMOVI Movie/episode overview: Studio, Actors, Directors, Producers and Screenwriters[44] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: ITUNNORM Volume normalisation[45] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: ITUNSMPB Gapless playback[46] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: MOVEMENTNAME Movement Name[47] / Name[48] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: MOVEMENT Movement No.[49] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: MOVEMENTTOTAL Movement No.[50] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: NARRATOR :cross_mark: Not used[51], for audiobooks try COMPOSER[52] with author as ARTIST/ALBUMARTIST
:large_orange_diamond: PODCAST Categorises into Podcasts[53] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: PODCASTCATEGORY Category[54] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: PODCASTDESC Movie/episode overview / ⓘ symbol in List view of Movies in DESCRIPTION when selected[55] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: PODCASTID :cross_mark: ID of episode[56], likely not used[57] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: PODCASTKEYWORDS :cross_mark: No longer used by Apple
:large_orange_diamond: PODCASTURL Enables Subscribe Podcast[58] / Enables Copy Podcast URL (RSS feed)[59] :pencil::red_exclamation_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: RELEASETIME Release Date[60] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: SHOWMOVEMENT Hides any TITLE values to show MOVEMENT/WORK fields for classical music in Name and Get Info ➜ Details[61] :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: STOREDESCRIPTION :cross_mark: Not used as expected, try ITUNESALBUMID :warning:[62] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: SUBTITLE Description :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TITLE Name / Podcast[63] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TITLESORT Title[64] / Sort Title :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TOTALDISCS Disc No.[65] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TOTALTRACKS Track[66] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TRACK Track[67] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TVEPISODE Episode Number / Podcast overview[68] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TVEPISODEID Episode Code :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TVNETWORK :cross_mark: Not used[69], try COPYRIGHT :pencil:
:large_orange_diamond: TVSEASON Season[70] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TVSHOW Show :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: TVSHOWSORT Show[71] / Sort Show[72] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: UNSYNCEDLYRICS Manually scrollable text on media playback[73] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: WORK Work[74] ] / Release Date[75] :check_mark: :check_mark:
:red_circle: XID Unique identifier, helps fetch metadata of exact media for iTunes Match/LP :pencil: :check_mark: :check_mark:
:large_orange_diamond: YEAR Year[76] / Release Date[77] :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark: :check_mark:
Notes
  • While iTunes is still available, it has been discontinued. Apple has split iTunes functionality into several apps: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Devices / Finder integration for syncing. MacOS also has the Podcasts and Books apps; for Windows, iTunes is still necessary for managing and syncing podcasts and audiobooks.

  • iTunes has more functionality suited for users with local collections like converting to MP3 and other legacy features; Apple Music and TV is better suited to users with subscriptions to stream media which doesn't allow or does not require metadata to be edited. Apple Devices is then required to sync these two newer libraries; iTunes is an all-in-one solution.

  • Get Info in iTunes is renamed to Properties in Apple Music/Apple TV.

  • Apple is strongly centred around MP4 and M4A which can contain other codecs like ALAC. Other formats based on MP4 like M4V/M4B can be read by Apple software and Mp3tag, M4R/M4P cannot be read by Mp3tag due to DRM protection.

  • MP4 is recognised as a song if there is no video track, only audio; M4A is just the same but as an "official" way of formatting an "Audio MP4".

  • Multiple values using \\ as a delimiter has always been broken, i.e. for ARTIST you'll have to choose either artist1/artist2, artist1; artist2 or artist1, artist2 and artist3 to denote multiple artists.

  • Play counts, skip counts, ratings, love (:heart:) and favourite (:star:) can only be set in iTunes and are saved to its database, not via any tags.

  • WAV can be imported and is playable but reads no metadata from the file. Limited metadata can be input via iTunes into its own database rather than into the file.

  • The only way to enable gapless playback in Apple Music is using M4A's with the correct ITUNSMPB tag, ITUNESGAPLESS is optional. Using M4A without the tag has a short click in between tracks. iTunes is slightly better but still not reliable.

  • MP3 gapless playback is broken in Apple Music even with appropriate tags: consider using M4A's or an alternative player.

  • ReplayGain is not used, instead ITUNNORM is used for M4A/MP4. Investigate $rg2sc()

  • iTunes Match may have issues with metadata, some can be altered once matched but some cannot be fetched like animated artwork.

  • Artist pages/profile pictures are very buggy and can be retrieved by the synced device during sync, sometimes are retrieved by iTunes, never by Apple Music, always when a file has ITUNESARTISTID, sometimes automatically by ALBUMARTIST/ARTIST where available. Once assigned, the only definitive way to update it is by deleting the app, re-installing and re-syncing.

  • Apple Music / Apple TV saves videos as fragmented files to stream together; iTunes saves videos as M4V files.

Troubleshooting
  • If metadata doesn't change immediately in iTunes / Apple Music / Apple TV:

    • click Get Info / Properties which refreshes most metadata
    • try clicking another section or restarting the software. The same applies when checking an app in a synced device.
  • If metadata doesn't change on a synced mobile device:

    • try removing the file from your library in iTunes / Apple Music / Apple TV to clear it from the database, re-import and re-sync.
      OR
    • remove the file, re-sync to clear it completely from your device, then re-import and re-sync.
  • If any issues occur where metadata can't be updated or removed on a synced mobile device whatsoever:

    • double-check all metadata is displaying correctly in iTunes / Apple Music / Apple TV
    • delete the app on the mobile device, re-install and re-sync media
    • always use a new library and disposable test files (i.e. make a copy of a file or folder) when experimenting with tags to stop databases holding old test data when newer data is preferred for actual media.
  • If you accidentally set ITUNESMEDIATYPE to Podcast on an M4A and the file becomes hidden:

    • you'll need to edit the Library in XML. You'll lose things like column layout and dates added but keep just about all other data
    • confirm the issue by renaming the problem file's filename, syncing with a device to see a "TITLE was not copied..." message
    • ensure all other songs are found in the library as they won't be re-imported with the next steps
    • go to File -> Library -> Export Library...
    • save the XML file wherever and open in a word / XML editor
    • find the files by <string>TITLE
    • delete the whole section for that file from <key> <dict> down to </dict>
    • save the file once done
    • rename your iTunes Library.itl file by adding an extra character (e.g. iTunes Library1.itl) to stop iTunes from loading it in
    • go to File -> Library -> Import Playlist... (this may take a while depending on the size of your library)
    • if any songs were missing that shouldn't have been, you'll need to rename iTunes Library1.itl back to normal and restart once the songs are
    • sync with a device again to check the message is gone and the files are no longer stuck in the library
    • if you're happy, delete the old iTunes Library1.itl and let the new library file sort out normalisation etc.
References

  1. Apple Music, retrieved with ITUNESALBUMID, doesn't work when using iTunes Match ↩︎

  2. iTunes/Apple Music, groups songs with the same ALBUM, shows Unknown Artist if no ARTIST/ALBUMARTIST ↩︎

  3. iTunes, Podcasts category, groups episodes with the same ALBUM with a drop-down in Classic List view ↩︎

  4. iTunes/Apple Music, adjusts the order file appears in the column, some words like "The" and "A" are ignored at the beginning ↩︎

  5. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  6. iTunes/Apple Music, groups songs with the same ALBUM and ALBUMARTIST instead of ARTIST ↩︎

  7. iTunes/Apple Music, adjusts the order file appears in the column, some words like "The" and "A" are ignored at the beginning ↩︎

  8. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  9. iTunes/Apple Music, groups songs with the same ALBUM and ARTIST if there's no ALBUMARTIST ↩︎

  10. iTunes, Audiobooks category, Podcasts in Get Info ➜ Details ↩︎

  11. iTunes/Apple TV, not recommended as this can be saved/read by more software using ITUNMOVI ↩︎

  12. iTunes/Apple Music, adjusts the order file appears in the column, some words like "The" and "A" are ignored at the beginning ↩︎

  13. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  14. Ignores decimal values ↩︎

  15. iTunes/Apple Music, groups songs with the same ALBUM instead of ARTIST, shows Various Artists if no ALBUMARTIST ↩︎

  16. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  17. iTunes/Apple Music, adjusts the order file appears in the column, some words like "The" and "A" are ignored at the beginning ↩︎

  18. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  19. iTunes/Apple Music, M4A/MP4 only ↩︎

  20. iTunes/Apple Music, MP3/AIFF use this instead of WORK ↩︎

  21. Not the same as studio in ITUNMOVI but can be made to match ↩︎

  22. Can still be used to store the correct value then copied to other tags, used by Actions, Sources or Export for your own personal organisation ↩︎

  23. iTunes/Apple Music, MP3 and AIFF save totals as 1/2, read as 1 of 2 ↩︎

  24. Shorter version of PODCASTDESC ↩︎

  25. Software used/person/company ↩︎

  26. User-defined text or pre-defined number by ID3 standard ↩︎

  27. MP3/AIFF equivalent of CONTENTGROUP created by Apple, unsure why they didn't just use the same tag ↩︎

  28. iTunes/Apple Music, set to 1, only in List view, ITUNEXTC overrides this in iTunes ↩︎

  29. iTunes, set to 2, only in List view, ITUNEXTC overrides this ↩︎

  30. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  31. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  32. This tag overrides ITUNESALBUMART when clicking the artist name in playback section to get to a Apple Music artist page ↩︎

  33. iTunes/Apple Music, goes to the first value for ARTIST, previous OS versions did not require this tag but you can use any value ↩︎

  34. iTunes/Apple Music, goes to Apple Music artist page ↩︎

  35. The Artists section in Apple Music will keep the first value saved to the database and is time-consuming to fix. Check Troubleshooting down below for help. ↩︎

  36. Can still be used to store the correct value then copied to other tags, used by Actions, Sources or Export for your own personal organisation ↩︎

  37. Can still be used to store the correct value then copied to other tags, used by Actions, Sources or Export for your own personal organisation ↩︎

  38. 0 for SD, 1 for 720p (HD), 2 for 1080p (HD), 3 for 4K ↩︎

  39. 'Normal' or blank value in audio files ↩︎

  40. In Music library ↩︎

  41. Automatic for blank value in video, in Movies library ↩︎

  42. M4A set to Podcast will glitch and become hidden. Check Troubleshooting below for a guide on how to fix ↩︎

  43. iTunes/Apple TV, no support for Standard, Score and Reasons despite Apple requiring publishers to set it ↩︎

  44. iTunes/Apple TV, XML format but can be stored as a tag rather than external ↩︎

  45. Hexadecimal values, has no effect on volume sliders in Get Info ➜ Options, ReplayGain is not read ↩︎

  46. Hexadecimal values, this can be stored/read via a header in other software ↩︎

  47. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  48. iTunes/Apple Music, shows WORK: MOVEMENT. MOVEMENTNAME ↩︎

  49. iTunes/Apple Music ↩︎

  50. iTunes/Apple Music, all formats show MOVEMENT of MOVEMENTTOTAL ↩︎

  51. Can still be used to store the correct value then copied to other tags, used by Actions, Sources or Export for your own personal organisation ↩︎

  52. Not ideal but gives the best compatibility with other software ↩︎

  53. iTunes, not supported by ITUNESMEDIATYPE ↩︎

  54. iTunes ↩︎

  55. Longer version of DESCRIPTION ↩︎

  56. iTunes, categorises MP3 into Podcasts with any value ↩︎

  57. Scheming varies by publisher: some use simple strings, some use gid://, implying this is only really for their own internal use ↩︎

  58. iTunes, updates database with current podcast metadata, no changes to files, any non-matching files are placed into Older Episodes ↩︎

  59. Groups podcasts together by PODCASTURL otherwise by ALBUM, categorises MP3 into Podcasts with any value ↩︎

  60. Shows YYYY-MM-DD as DD/MM/YYYY ↩︎

  61. iTunes/Apple Music, groups songs with the same rules as before using ALBUM, ALBUMARTIST and ARTIST ↩︎

  62. Technically broken, enables Show in iTunes Store and uses TITLE as a search term ↩︎

  63. iTunes, Podcasts category ↩︎

  64. Adjusts the order file appears in the column, some words like "The" and "A" are ignored at the beginning ↩︎

  65. iTunes/Apple Music, M4A and MP4 shows DISCNUMBER of TOTALDISCS ↩︎

  66. iTunes/Apple Music, M4A and MP4 shows TRACK of TOTALTRACKS ↩︎

  67. iTunes/Apple Music, MP3 and AIFF save totals as 1/2, read as 1 of 2 ↩︎

  68. Shows up as Episode TVEPISODE in Podcast List view ↩︎

  69. Can still be used to store the correct value then copied to other tags, used by Actions, Sources or Export for your own personal organisation ↩︎

  70. Shows as Season TVSEASON ↩︎

  71. iTunes/Apple TV, adjusts the order file appears in the column, some words like "The" and "A" are ignored at the beginning ↩︎

  72. iTunes/Apple TV ↩︎

  73. iTunes/Apple Music, AIFF WAV and MP3 add a language|| at the start, synced/automatically scrolling lyrics are unavailable ↩︎

  74. MP3/AIFF use CONTENTGROUP, unsure why they didn't just use the same tag ↩︎

  75. M4A/MP4 only uses YEAR for both columns ↩︎

  76. Shows YYYY-MM-DD as YYYY, can't be saved as YYYY-MM-DD in Music library :pencil: ↩︎

  77. M4A/MP4 only uses YEAR for both columns ↩︎

Thanks for this huge amount of useful information, @arb !

Since this is in General Discussion, would a shared spreadsheet perhaps be a helpful way to maintain and update this information collaboratively?
Something like this could work as a reference:

Thanks! And wow, that's even more full of info :star_struck: thank you even more!

I figured using the functionality on the Mp3tag site itself would cut out the middle-man, though not sure how easy it is to edit a wiki post by another user and likely requires someone with privileges to set up a new wiki post for more software once there's interest.

I was hoping if there's enough of a community drive to get a lot done, this could end up in the Howto section for newer users as there's been a fair amount of questions recently about getting tags working in other software.