How to id3 metadata editor — free, browser-based, no software
- Step 1Open the editor in any browser — Go to the ID3 editor. No download, no sign-in on the Free tier. The FFmpeg WASM engine loads into the page.
- Step 2Drop one audio file — Drop an
.mp3,.m4a, or.flac. It loads into memory locally. The tool edits one file per run (it is not a batch manager). - Step 3Edit the fields you need — Update any of Title, Artist, Album, Year, Genre, Track #. FFmpeg writes each as the right frame/atom for the container automatically.
- Step 4Add or replace album art — Use the album-art slot for a JPG/PNG cover. It is embedded as the front-cover image and stream-copied.
- Step 5Process locally — Run it. FFmpeg executes
-metadatawrites plus-c copyinside the tab — equivalent to a desktop tagger's save, minus the install. - Step 6Download the result — Save the new tagged file. The container is unchanged (MP3 stays MP3, etc.) and the source file on disk is untouched.
Browser editor vs a desktop tagger
Honest capability comparison. The browser editor covers the common fields with no install and no upload; a desktop tagger goes deeper (custom frames, batch rules, online lookups).
| Capability | JAD browser editor | Mp3tag / Kid3 / Picard |
|---|---|---|
| Install required | None (browser tab) | Yes (OS-specific) |
| Files uploaded to a server | Never (in-browser WASM) | N/A (local app) |
| Title / Artist / Album / Year / Genre / Track | Yes | Yes |
Lyrics / comment / composer / custom TXXX | No | Yes |
| Album art (JPG/PNG) | Yes (one front cover) | Yes (multiple types) |
| Batch tag many files at once | No (single file per run) | Yes |
| Online metadata lookup (MusicBrainz etc.) | No | Yes (Picard) |
| File rename from tags | No | Yes |
| Lossless (no re-encode) | Yes (-c copy) | Yes |
The six editable fields and the ID3 frames they write
These are the exact fields the editor exposes. Each non-empty value is passed to FFmpeg as -metadata key=value; the value is normalised by FFmpeg's MP3 muxer into the matching ID3v2.3 frame. Empty fields are skipped entirely, so the original frame is preserved by the audio stream-copy.
| Editor field | FFmpeg metadata key | ID3v2.3 frame | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | title | TIT2 | Track / song / episode title |
| Artist | artist | TPE1 | Lead performer / author / host |
| Album | album | TALB | Album / show name / collection |
| Year | date | TYER / TDRC | FFmpeg writes the Year box to the date key, not a separate year key |
| Genre | genre | TCON | Free text — no fixed picklist is enforced |
| Track # | track | TRCK | Plain number or n/total (e.g. 3/12) — typed as text |
Input format → output format and metadata model
The editor keeps the output in the same container as the input — there is no format selector. The same six fields map onto each container's native metadata model. The MP3 muxer is the only one that gets the explicit -id3v2_version 3 flag.
| Input | Output | Metadata model | Album art |
|---|---|---|---|
.mp3 | .mp3 | ID3v2.3 (forced via -id3v2_version 3) | APIC attached-picture frame |
.m4a / .mp4 (AAC/ALAC) | same | iTunes-style MP4 metadata atoms | covr atom |
.flac | .flac | Vorbis comments | FLAC picture block |
Cookbook
When the browser editor is the right tool, and when to reach for a desktop tagger instead. Pick based on whether you need the deep features.
Fix tags on a locked-down work laptop
You can't install software, but you need to correct a few tags. The browser editor needs no install or admin rights and never uploads the file.
Problem: no admin rights to install Mp3tag Solution: open /audio-tools/id3-editor in the browser Edit Title/Artist/Album, process, download -- zero install
Quick single-field correction
One album has the artist misspelled. For a handful of files, the browser editor is faster than launching a full desktop app — just overwrite the Artist field.
Before: Artist=Raidohead (typo) You type: Artist = Radiohead After: TPE1=Radiohead (other fields + audio preserved)
When to use a desktop tagger instead
If you need lyrics, comments, custom frames, MusicBrainz lookups, batch processing, or filename-from-tag renaming, the browser editor can't do it — use Picard/Kid3/Mp3tag.
Need lyrics/comment frame? -> desktop tagger Need to tag 500 files in one go? -> desktop tagger Need MusicBrainz auto-lookup? -> Picard Just fix Title/Artist/Album? -> browser editor
Edit M4A tags without iTunes
The same six fields apply to an M4A file; FFmpeg writes iTunes-style atoms. No iTunes/Music app install needed.
Input: song.m4a (AAC) Edit: Title/Artist/Album/Year FFmpeg writes MP4 metadata atoms, container stays m4a Output: song-tagged.m4a (audio stream-copied)
Confirm the container didn't change
The editor never transcodes between formats — an MP3 stays an MP3. This is the proof the operation was metadata-only.
ffprobe in.flac -> format=flac codec=flac ffprobe out-tagged.flac -> format=flac codec=flac Same container; only Vorbis comments updated
Edge cases and what actually happens
No lyrics / comment / composer fields
By designThe editor exposes only Title, Artist, Album, Year, Genre, Track #, and cover art. Frames like USLT (lyrics), COMM (comment), TCOM (composer), and custom TXXX are not editable here — use a desktop tagger.
No custom or extended frames
By designThere is no way to add arbitrary TXXX/WXXX frames. The field set is fixed at the six common fields plus one front-cover image.
No batch processing
Single file onlyacceptsMultiple: false — one file per run. For tagging hundreds of files in one pass, a desktop tagger with batch rules is the right tool.
No online metadata lookup
Manual entryUnlike MusicBrainz Picard, the editor does not fetch tags from an online database. You type the values yourself.
No filename rename from tags
Out of scopeDesktop taggers can rename files from tag patterns; this tool only writes the metadata inside the file. Rename separately if needed.
Same behaviour on every OS
SupportedBecause it is WASM in a browser, output is identical on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS — no OS-specific build quirks.
MP3 always written as ID3v2.3
By designFor MP3 output -id3v2_version 3 is always applied; there is no v2.4 option. Use a desktop tagger if you specifically need v2.4 frames.
Multiple cover types not supported
By designID3 allows several picture types (front, back, artist); this editor writes a single front-cover (attached_pic). Use a desktop tagger for multiple embedded images.
Browser without WASM support
Unsupported browserA very old browser lacking WebAssembly cannot run the engine. Use a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install anything?
No. The editor runs FFmpeg 8.1 compiled to WebAssembly inside the browser tab. There is nothing to download and no admin rights needed.
Is this the same as Mp3tag or Kid3?
It uses the same underlying FFmpeg metadata engine those taggers wrap, but it is intentionally focused: the six common fields plus cover art, no install, no upload. For lyrics, custom frames, batch rules, or online lookups, a desktop tagger goes further.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Everything is processed in-browser. Most web taggers upload to a server; this one does not — the file stays on your device.
Which fields can I edit?
Title, Artist, Album, Year, Genre, and Track #, plus an embedded JPG/PNG front cover. That covers the great majority of tag fixes.
Can I edit lyrics, comments, or composer?
No. Those frames aren't exposed. Use Kid3, Mp3tag, or Picard for USLT, COMM, TCOM, or custom TXXX frames.
Does it work on Mac, Windows, and Linux?
Yes — it runs in the browser, so behaviour and output are identical across operating systems with no OS-specific build.
Can I add custom or extended ID3 frames?
No. The field set is fixed. There is no arbitrary-frame editor here.
Can I batch-edit a whole folder?
Not in one run — it is single-file. A desktop tagger is better for bulk operations; this tool prioritises no-install, no-upload single-file edits.
Does it look up tags from MusicBrainz?
No automatic lookup. You enter the metadata manually. For database-driven auto-tagging, use MusicBrainz Picard.
Will it change my file from MP3 to something else?
No. The output container matches the input — MP3 stays MP3, M4A stays M4A, FLAC stays FLAC. There is no format conversion.
Is editing lossless?
Yes. The audio is stream-copied with -c copy; only the metadata is rewritten. No re-encode, no quality change.
What if I need to extract the cover instead of editing tags?
Use the album-art-extractor to pull the embedded image out as a file.
Privacy first
Every JAD Audio tool runs entirely in your browser via FFmpeg (WebAssembly) and RNNoise. Your audio files never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.