For a few songs already in your Music library, the built-in Get Info window is the fastest way to correct title, artist, album, track number, genre, or year on a Mac. For large folders, mixed audio formats, or cover-art work, Mp3tag for Mac is the stronger tool. MusicBrainz Picard is the choice when you want a album’s tags matched against an online music database rather than typed by hand. Before you edit in Music, check one setting: by default, Music renames the file on disk when you change its information.
Edit a few tracks in Apple Music
This is the most direct route when your tracks already live in Music and the changes are modest. Apple’s workflow works the same way for every field it exposes.
- Open Music and choose Songs in the sidebar.
- Select a track, then choose Song > Get Info, or press Command-I.
- Change the fields you need and press Return. Music stores that information for the item in your library.
- To set the same value on several tracks, such as genre, select all of them first and make the edit once.
Check the file-naming setting first
Apple Support’s article Change song and CD information in Music on Mac states: “By default, changing information for an item in Music also changes the file’s name on your hard disk.” If other apps, scripts, or playlists depend on current file paths, open Music > Settings > Files and turn off Keep Media folder organized before editing. According to Apple’s description, turning it off avoids the automatic renaming. It does not reverse names that Music already changed, so check the folder afterward if paths matter to you.
Choose the right tool
The three main options differ in how many files they handle, whether they match against a database, and whether they manage file names. The table compares them by the job you actually have.
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- 【MULTIFUNCTIONAL & RELIABLE OPERATION】 Equipped with intelligent error correction and anti-shock technology, this drive supports reading, writing, and burning discs. If the drive is not recognized or a disc cannot be read, try restarting your computer or testing with a different, standard CD-R or DVD-R disc. The pop-up button and built-in cable design offer convenience and portability. For desktop PCs, connecting to a rear USB port is recommended for optimal power and performance.
| Situation | Best fit | Why it fits | Limits to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| A few tracks already in the Music library | Apple Music (Get Info) | Native workflow; one edit can apply to several selected items | Changing information can rename files unless the Keep Media folder organized setting is off |
| Large folders, batch corrections, cover art, or renaming files from tags | Mp3tag for Mac | Documents batch editing, file-list editing, cover-art editing, tag-to-filename and filename-to-tag conversion, and reusable actions | Tag fields can be read differently by different players; verify results in the app you use |
| Identifying an album and tagging it from an online database | MusicBrainz Picard | Album-oriented matching with audio fingerprinting support; a macOS build is offered on the official downloads page | Not designed as a general-purpose manual tag editor; matches need review before saving |
Mp3tag for Mac: batch work and artwork
Mp3tag’s feature page, checked in early October 2026, lists support for MP3 with ID3v1, ID3v2.3, and ID3v2.4 tags, plus MP4/M4A, FLAC, OGG, OPUS, AIFF, WAV, and other formats. It documents:
- Batch editing across a selected file list, and direct editing of tags in that list.
- Cover-art editing.
- Conversion between tag and file-name patterns in both directions.
- Track and disc auto-numbering.
- Quick Actions for repeated operations.
- Imports from MusicBrainz, Discogs, and custom tag sources.
The same page lists macOS Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe, and says it runs natively on Apple Silicon. Operating-system support changes between releases, so confirm the current list on the vendor’s page before you install.
Rank #2
- 13mm for ultra slim and light
- Mac/PC Support
- Includes USB 2. 0 and Type-C cables
- Nero BackItUp function for Android Devices
- DISC Encryption II for password-controls and hidden-file functionality
MusicBrainz Picard: matching an album
MusicBrainz describes Picard as a cross-platform, album-oriented tagger that supports audio fingerprinting. Picard’s own documentation says it is not meant to be a general-purpose tag editor, so use it when the goal is to identify a release and fill in its tags, not to fix a few stray fields by hand.
Automated matching is a starting point, not proof that you have the right edition. Before saving, check:
Rank #3
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- 【Ultra Slim and Portable】Measuring just 13mm in thickness and weighing only 0.2 kg, the ORIGBELIE external optical drive is extremely slim and portable, taking up minimal space in travelling bag while on-the-go. Integrated data cable design, no need to worry about cable missing. What's more, its durable construction and anti-skid bottom ensure stable operation.
- The artist and album name match the release you own, including edition or remaster details.
- The track sequence and track numbers line up with the files.
- The artwork is the cover you want.
What the fields control
Metadata tells software how to display, sort, search, and group a track. Apple’s guide to Music describes fields including name, artist, album, genre, track order, compilation status, grouping, BPM, and sorting text. Sort fields determine where an album appears alphabetically, so a missing sort name can make a discography look scattered even when the title is correct. Players do not always read every field the same way, so a value that looks right in one app may appear differently in another.
Keep the audio quality intact
Editing tags does not require re-encoding the audio. Apple states that converting between compressed formats, such as MP3 and AAC, can reduce sound quality, and recommends importing again from the original source when quality matters. If you find yourself converting files to fix a tag problem, stop and check whether the tag editor can do the job without touching the audio.
Rank #4
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- Wide Compatibility. This external USB CD/DVD drive works with Windows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista/XP, Linux, and macOS 10.16+ (MacBook Pro/Air, iMac, Mac mini). Compatible with most laptops/desktops (HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Samsung). For optimal performance on desktops, connect to rear USB ports. Supported formats include CD-ROM/R/RW, DVD-ROM/R±RW/R±DL, and VCD. IMPORTANT: Not compatible with ChromeOS, smartphones, tablets, TVs, projectors, vehicles, or Blu-ray/4K discs. Please verify your device type before purchasing
Protect your files before a large edit
- Copy the folder somewhere else before running a batch operation, especially one that renames files from tags.
- Test the change on two or three tracks and confirm the results in the app you use for playback.
- Check the Keep Media folder organized setting in Music if paths matter to other apps or scripts.
- Review every database match before saving it.
These steps are general good practice for files you care about, not a requirement from any of these apps.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- 【Easy to carry and stylish appearance】Recessed cable design for easy cable organisation. The body is slim, sleek and minimalist, scratch-resistant and comes with a fleece pouch. This CD/DVD drive is only 1.8 cm thick and weighs approximately 0.4 kg. It can easily fit into your travel bag, take it with you and connect it wherever you go.
- 【High speed】Features a dual USB 3.0 and Type C port. Maximum DVD reading speed of 8x; maximum CD reading speed of 24x. Giving you faster data transfer speeds (up to 5Gbps), play music and movies without lag or distortion.
- 【Wide compatibility】 It supports Windows XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10/11, Linux, all versions of Mac OS systems. (TV, car player, Chromebook, Surface Pro, Ubuntu, tablet and mobile phone are not supported).
- 【High quality raw materials】Adopt high quality flame retardant PC material, shock resistant and durable. Adopt high performance original magnetic core, which can provide high speed process reading experience, with anti-interference and low impedance capability, no lag and no noise.
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