Preventing iTunes from changing ID3 tags

When you highlight a song's name in iTunes and then click it again you can rename it. That's something that bothers me because I often misclick and accidentally rename songs I don't want to from the first place – I suppose I'm kind of careless – and I'm looking for a way to prevent me from further editing a song's ID3 tag even when click again its tag. Now I guess, what could help me is pretty much something like the lock that you can find on System Preferences so I can lock the iTunes interface and then unlock it when I actually want to rename a song's ID3 tag – something generally preventing changes also works with me as long as I can still use "Get Info" (cmd-I).
I don't know if there's a simple setting which gets toggled on and off that simply, but if there isn't I guess someone could recommend a reliable plug-in which can help me in what I'm looking for. I googled it but couldn't find anything related to this subject.
I'm using 10.5.8 and 10.7 iTunes.
Thank you.

I know it's not there in my older iTunes version and I've not heard mention of it in any other version.
If you find you have accidentally edited a field and you haven't left it yet, press the escape key to undo it.
Make sure your file names contain the basics.  I format mine to: Artist - Album - TrackNumber TrackName.[extension]  If I lose a tag I can at least get the basic information from the file name and the rest off a web site (and some tags cannot be so easily edited).
It sounds like a lot of trouble but I imagine if you did as you mention and actually lock the file in Finder that would stop it from being edited.

Similar Messages

  • How can I stop iTunes from changing my tags?

    I have a MacBook Pro running Yosemite, and iTunes 12. When I play a track, iTunes often changes the tags automatically, but not for every track. It's particularly difficult with compilations, where it will take a song and change the album to something I don't even own.
    Now, I have had the computer for a while, and have had iTunes addons before, so it may be a legacy, but I've had the computer so long, I don't remember all of the apps I've had and uninstalled over the years.
    I have followed the directions for cleaning out plugins and extensions from the library folders, but it's still happening.
    Does anyone know of an app that has this functionality, so I can check their forums, or, if there's no there a way to do a clean install of iTunes on a Mac?
    Thanks.

    I think even using Get Info may not reveal the change, though it is possible the behaviour has altered since I last tested it. Playing or updating the tracks location in a script such as UpdateTagInfo seems to get iTunes to re-evaluate the tag.
    Assuming WMP is involved it may be best to make the necessary settings adjustments to prevent further changes, use the script to get all of the background changes exposed within iTunes, then correct as you see fit. Alternatively I do have another script called ExportImport that could be used to back up the current state of your tags (you should temporarily rename the media folder during the export phase), after which you would then run UpdateTagInfo and then use ExplortImport in its import mode to restore the corrupted data.
    tt2

  • ITunes sometimes changes ID3 Tags/Deletes Art

    Hi
    I currently keep all my MP3's ID3 tags as 2.2, as that version is what seems to allow the artist/album information to show up in the actual file info in my My Music folder.
    Sometimes, when scrolling through on iTunes, an album's art will suddenly turn blank, and all of the songs in that album have turned to 2.3, and occasionally added things like composer and album artist, which I prefer to keep blank. I have to then select them all, change the ID3 tags back to 2.2, then paste the album back.
    Why is iTunes doing this? Is 2.2 not the ideal ID3 tag for files?
    Oh, and extra details if it helps. I'm running the most current version of iTunes, and all of my music is from CD's (so nothing from the iTunes store)
    Message was edited by: Book1245

    I agree with polydorus. It's WMP making hte changes. Esp since itunes by default uses ID3 v2.2, not v2.3 tags.
    Also, it doesn't matter if you never use WMP - its default settings allow webpages to open WMP in the background without you even knowing.
    You need to turn this auto-update "feature" off in WMP in 4 places.
    Player tab: everything unchecked so WMP won't touch your files
    Library tab: everything unchecked, esp the box to retrieve info from the internet
    Privacy tab: everything unchecked, esp the box to update files
    Security tab: everything unchecked so web pages can't launch WMP in the background
    You also need to check these 4 settings after every windows update that includes a WMP update, because it has reset them back to some of the defaults, I have noticed.

  • ITunes 11 Changing ID3 Tags

    Ok, I've been using iTunes for years and like many I've found the new version, 11, to be frustrating.
    The main thing is ID3 Tags.
    These have always been customiseable. For someone OCD like me, being able to edit and customise ID3 tags is very important in keeping my iTunes "tidy". I don't want one album saying "Florence + The Machine" and another saying "Florence & The Machine". I want them both the same.
    But what I really want, more than anything else, is 100% control over what the ID3 tags say. On all the old versions of iTunes, I had this. Now, I don't.
    I've just listened to two albums by Dead Prez. They're stylised thus: 'dead prez'. So, it is that version which I've always had on my iTunes. However, after listening to one of the albums, iTunes decided to change the name back to 'Dead Prez'. This was nothing to do with me. Why has it changed?
    Worse, I've just listened to a song by David Gray, and I've now found it stored under U - for Unknown. It's not 'Unknown', because I've known for all the years that I've owned that file that the song was by David Gray. I haven't had to edit the information for years.
    Is this a bug?
    Is this a new feature of iTunes? Can I turn it off? If not, can Apple/ someone provide me with an explanation as to WHY this has changed?
    Cheers,
    Guy

    In iTunes go to Edit > Preferences > Store and turn off
    Show iTunes in the Cloud purchases
    Share details about your library with Apple
    On any iOS device go to Settings > Music and turn off
    Show All Music
    Close and reopen iTunes and/or reset the device and you should see your version of the metadata for each track rather than the original store data.
    tt2

  • ITunes keeps changing id3 tags automatically

    Seems to happen after being in the store.
    consistently changes certain information. Windows 8.1. Ive removed media player and media center so that is not the issue.....

    In iTunes go to Edit > Preferences > Store and turn off
    Show iTunes in the Cloud purchases
    Share details about your library with Apple
    On any iOS device go to Settings > Music and turn off
    Show All Music
    Close and reopen iTunes and/or reset the device and you should see your version of the metadata for each track rather than the original store data.
    tt2

  • How can I stop iTunes from changing tags in Widows 8?

    So, this is not new to Windows 8, I've also had this problem for years with Windows 7 also. However it seems to have gotten worse with Windows 8. I've been hoping Apple would fix this but it has been an ongoing nagging problem with iTunes for as long as I can recall, maybe 2008-ish?
    Here is my problem, I double click a song and the song starts playing and simultaneously disappears. I then realized the song was moved to a duplicate artist name. The reason for this is iTunes has filled in the sorting tag info for "album artist". So they have the same "artist" and "album" but different album artists. So I delete the album artist and they recombine. I then play another song and poof its gone as well. Resorted with a new "album artist". So I fight a never ending battle or keeping my songs grouped correctly because iTunes keeps changing the tags and messing up the sort order.
    The next problem I have is I go though my artist list and find "Santana/Santana" or "Bob Seger/Bob Seger". Why is it changing the artist tag from "artist" to "artist/artist" on my tag? I then see two Bob Seger artists. One has an "album artist" of "Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band" the other is blank since I don't use the "album artist" tag. So for years I'm constantly re-editing tags trying to keep iTunes from separating artists into multiple listings.
    As I said previously lately it is so bad that every time I click a song it vanishes into a new artist album listing creating duplicates. I've disabled every preference I could find and nothing works. So at this point I assume it is an iTunes problem. Am I the only one who has this problem?

    I think even using Get Info may not reveal the change, though it is possible the behaviour has altered since I last tested it. Playing or updating the tracks location in a script such as UpdateTagInfo seems to get iTunes to re-evaluate the tag.
    Assuming WMP is involved it may be best to make the necessary settings adjustments to prevent further changes, use the script to get all of the background changes exposed within iTunes, then correct as you see fit. Alternatively I do have another script called ExportImport that could be used to back up the current state of your tags (you should temporarily rename the media folder during the export phase), after which you would then run UpdateTagInfo and then use ExplortImport in its import mode to restore the corrupted data.
    tt2

  • How To Permanently Change ID3 Tags With iTunes

    Okay, so here's the deal. I've seen this question in several places, but I can't find a working answer, so I decided to give it a shot.
    My goal: change ID3 tag info with my song collection in iTunes so that my changes stick permanently.
    Now let me explain. I am picky about what info I want for a song. Anytime I add a song to my collection, I am specific about what info I want to keep and what I want to get rid of. What I keep: Song title, Artist info, album info and genre. I get rid of everything else, like track/disc number, year, comments, and etc.
    To further my point, I'll explain how I go about what brings me to the problem. After I have an album with all songs I want from it, I add the folder to the iTunes library but I don't make any changes yet (I don't have the option checked for iTunes to add copies of the songs to the iTunes folder). Then I select all songs and convert them to 128kbs mp3s with v2.3 ID3 tags. Then I edit all the song info to what I mentioned before in the Get Info box. After a few plays, the track/disc numbers, years, and comments come back, but song title/artist info/album info don't change and the album artwork I added remains. I tried the opposite, editing all the info after adding the songs to the library THEN converting...same problem. I tried a third-party program, MP3tag, before and after converting, both with the same result. I even tried adding something to all comment boxes in iTunes to sync the libraries...that didn't work either. I also tried with that option of adding copies to the library checked and it still didn't work.
    I want a solution to where my changes in iTunes of removing the track/disc numbers, years, and comments from songs will be permanent and not come back.
    Also, this problem has remained through every new version of iTunes released up to the current version as of the time I am typing this.

    There may be a number of things going on. iTunes has a problem updating files with multiple tags, e.g. both id3v1 and id3v2.x. Sometimes it seems it can update one copy of the tag, but then read back data from the other. It may also have problems if file security settings are incorrect, in which case it will appear to make a change, but then reveal the original data next time it accesses the track in some way. WMP may also be involved in magially restoring data that you've deleted. Getting iTunes & Windows Media Player to play nicely.
    As to the issue with comments, are these general things or strings of digits like this?  00000000 00000210 00000770 0000000000103000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000. I've a feeling that patterns of digits such as these are in some way connected to gapless playback and are supposed to be hidden from view, but that may be wild speculation. Again it is even possible that WMP rather than iTunes creates them.
    One way that might work is, having edited tracks to the values you want, use the option Convert id3 tags > None a few times, then Convert id3 tags > v2.3.
    While I'm all for people having things the way they want them I really can't see how your library could be improved by not having track, disc, or year values. Without disc and track numbers albums will play out of sequence. Why not just turn off the columns that hold no interest for you?
    tt2

  • Change Id3 Tags in itunes match

    How can I change ID3 Tags on my songs in the cloud?
    I changed them on my ITunes (Windows) but they are not synced in the Cloud.

    I just did some tests on my setup: iPhone/iMac (Master iTunes library)/MacBook
    the tags will only sync well from MacBook to iMac!
    if I change a tag on the iMac (which I did change before on my MacBook) then the change goes back to the MacBook, but not if it's a first time edit!
    That process usually takes between 5 and 30 seconds.
    on the iPhone I can't really change much (besides the rating) which seems to get synced properly in both ways...
    Lyrics I couldn't yet get to work to be synced...
    I do have Lyrics on my MacBook (so they seem to be in the cloud) but I cannot get them to be updated/changed on the other device (the other Mac). on my iPhone I don't have lyrics at all

  • ITunes overwriting my ID3 tags

    Hi all,
    iTunes has been playing up lately. Somehow, when I open iTunes, it seems to overwrite cover art (deletes cover art), disk # information (again deletes it), and track info (even if I have X of Y, it deletes the 'Y' data).
    What on earth is going on? It seems like somekind of auto-retrieve ID3 info messing about in the background - if so, how do I turn this off?

    iTunes should not alter your iD3 tags by itself, but whenever you select or play a track, iTunes rereads the tags. This can produce the appearance that iTunes is changing the tags when it is merely reflecting a change that has already happened.
    Do you have any other software on your PC that can automatically change tags?
    For example, Windows Media Player can be set to automatically retrieve information form the internet, that can cause trouble if it is selected in Options.

  • How can i prevent itunes from splitting individual albums into multiple albums?

    How do prevent itunes from splitting albums with various artists into multiple albums? 
    Thanks for your help!

    It's probably better to put Various Artists into the Album Artist box rather than just "various". Make sure it's the Album Artist field though. In addition, you need to mark the album as a compilation. When setting the complete album, the Part of a compilation is on a drop-down menu on the File/Get Info/Options tab:
    but if changing just one song, it's a tick-box on the Info tab:
    and needless to say, the album name must be exactly the same for each track.

  • I am using MS XP Professional Ver. 2002 Service Pack 3. I have created a Limited User Account for my nephew because he tends to experiment and screw up the computer quite often. I would like to know if there is a way to prevent him from changing any setti

    I am the System Administrator of my computer. I have managed to limit most of what my nephew can do via general Windows functions. However, I need to prevent him from changing his Firefox Options (listed under the Tools menu). He has already changed items that leave my computer vulnerable and although I've explained to him that he should not change anything in the Options area, he continues to do it. If there is not a way for me to prevent him from changing anything in Options, then I have no alternative than to prevent him from using the computer at all. I hope it doesn't come to that.

    ''"...although I've explained to him that he should not change anything in the Options area, he continues to do it. If there is not a way for me to prevent him from changing anything in Options, then I have no alternative than to prevent him from using the computer at all."''
    Maybe taking away his privileges will could teach him a valuable lesson------respect other people's property!

  • How do i stop my itunes from changing the location of my itunes media.  i have it saved on a external HD and it keeps changing back to my local drive with out being told

    how do i stop my itunes from changing the location of my itunes media.  i have it saved on a external HD and it keeps changing back to my local drive with out being told

    No, an external drive will not always be mounted. If the drive goes to sleep, it can unmount, or it may unmount for other reasons. As Chris said, confim that the drive is mounted and active before launching iTunes.
    Regards.

  • Is there a way to prevent iTunes from automatically starting the next playlist file on the iPad?

    Is there a way to prevent iTunes from automatically starting the next playlist file on the iPad?

    When you connect the device open iTunes and select it from the sidebar. Click on the Summary tab in the main window. Uncheck the option to automatically connect to iTunes. You will find it in the collection of options near the lower part of the window.

  • Is there a way to prevent iTunes from starting up when connecting an iPad to my Macbook?

    Is there a way to prevent iTunes from starting up when connecting an iPad to my Macbook?  We use Apple Configurator and would love to be able to set up the MacBook to open Apple Configurator when we  plug in an iPad.

    When you connect the device open iTunes and select it from the sidebar. Click on the Summary tab in the main window. Uncheck the option to automatically connect to iTunes. You will find it in the collection of options near the lower part of the window.

  • Is there a way to prevent iTunes from starting up when I connect my iPad?

    Is there a way to prevent iTunes from starting up when I connect my iPad?  We use apple configurator and would prefer to have that open up, if possible.

    When you connect the device open iTunes and select it from the sidebar. Click on the Summary tab in the main window. Uncheck the option to automatically connect to iTunes. You will find it in the collection of options near the lower part of the window.

Maybe you are looking for