ID3 is a format for additional information that can be included in audio files in MP3 format. The individual information units are called ID3 tags. The common ID3 tags include the title of the piece of music, the artist/performer, the album, the year the song was released, and the music genre. Before ID3 tags existed, the file or directory name usually had to be used for this information. The result was very long file names and thus confusing directories.

The tag information can be used to make good use of the filter or sorting functions of media players with an integrated media library, such as iTunes or Windows Media Player. Incorrect or missing ID3 tags can quickly make the music collection on your smartphone or tablet very confusing. The free tool Musicbrainz Picard completes missing or incomplete ID3 tags and can handle music files in MP3, FLAC, OGG, M4A, WMA and WAV formats.

The appropriate metadata for local music files can be loaded from the Musicbrainz database using Musicbrainz Picard. To find the appropriate information, Picard uses acoustic fingerprints generated from the locally stored audio files and is therefore independent of existing metadata. If there are no suitable data records available yet, you can fill them in and upload them yourself. This way, you always have a uniform music collection with correctly filled out title information.

Alternative: Mp3tag helps you organize your music collection. You can easily edit information with the freeware Mp3tag.

Tip: With Audials Music you can record and download playlists or albums from streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify, Tidal or Amazon Music