How do I change the cover art of an MP3 on Android?

The cover art or album artwork displayed for an MP3 file is known as metadata – additional data that provides information about the audio file. When you add music to your Android device, the cover art may be missing, incorrect, low resolution, or not suit your preferences. Changing the cover art for MP3 and other audio files can help better organize and visually identify songs and albums in your music library. Having the right album covers makes browsing through your digital music collection quicker and more enjoyable.
Check if Your Music App Supports Editing Metadata
Some Android music apps allow you to edit metadata like cover art directly in the app itself without needing any extra tools. This is the easiest way to change cover art if the music app you use supports it.
Here are some popular Android music apps and whether they let you edit metadata:
- Google Play Music – Yes, you can edit metadata like cover art in the Google Play Music app.
- YouTube Music – No, YouTube Music does not allow editing metadata within the app.
- Spotify – No, Spotify does not support editing metadata.
- Amazon Music – Yes, Amazon Music allows editing cover art and other metadata.
- Pandora – No, Pandora does not allow metadata edits.
- SoundCloud – No, SoundCloud does not support editing cover art or metadata.
So if you use an app like Google Play Music or Amazon Music, you may be able to change cover art directly within the app without needing other tools.
Use a File Manager App
File manager apps provide direct access to edit metadata tags on MP3 files stored on your Android device. To get started, you may need to install a file manager app from the Google Play Store if you don’t already have one, such as ES File Explorer File Manager.
Once installed, open the file manager and navigate to where your music files are stored, usually in the Music folder. Tap on the MP3 file you want to edit to open its properties. Here you can directly edit metadata tags like the title, artist, album, genre, year, cover art, etc. Make the desired changes and hit save. The edits will be written directly to the MP3 file.
The advantage of using a file manager app is it provides full access to rename and modify the metadata tags stored in the music files themselves. This makes the changes permanent compared to just changing how music is displayed in a music playback app.
Use a Dedicated Metadata Editor
One option to change MP3 cover art on Android is to use a dedicated metadata editor app. Some popular choices are Puddletag, Mp3tag, and Kid3.
To use an editor to change your cover art, first download and install the app on your device. Many editors are available on Google Play. Once installed, open the editor and load the MP3 files you want to edit. Locate the metadata field for cover art and select the image you want to use from your device storage. Save your changes and they will be updated in the MP3 files.
Using a dedicated editor provides more metadata editing options compared to a basic file manager. You can edit multiple files at once, re-order tracks, add lyrics, and more. However, it involves installing another app rather than using the built-in Android tools. Evaluate your needs to decide if using a separate editor is worth it.
For details on using specific editors, refer to their documentation:
– Puddletag: https://www.freelancer.co.ke/job-search/best-android-wear-watch-faces-2018/22/
Use a Online Metadata Editor
Online metadata editors provide a convenient way to batch edit the metadata, including cover art, for multiple MP3 files. Some popular free online tools include:
Tagmp3.net – This site lets you upload multiple MP3 files and edit the ID3 tags, including the cover art, for each file. You can drag and drop files or use the upload button.
Tagmp3.online – Another online MP3 tag editor that allows batch editing metadata and cover art for multiple files. After uploading, just make the edits and download the updated files.
Maztr’s Audio Tag Editor – Works for MP3 and other audio formats. Upload files, change the metadata and cover art, then download the fixed files.
The process is generally the same across these sites:
- Go to the site and click the upload button or drag/drop files onto the page.
- For each file, find the metadata or album art section and make the desired changes.
- Save the changes and download the updated files.
The advantage of online tools is you can batch process many files quickly without installing anything. However, you may be limited in editing options compared to desktop applications.
Change in a Desktop Music Manager
Many people manage their music libraries primarily on a desktop computer before syncing to mobile devices. On a desktop, there are dedicated music management apps that provide greater control over editing metadata like cover art.
For example, on Windows you can use iTunes or MusicBee to easily change the cover art for MP3 files in your library. In MusicBee, you can right-click on a track or album, select “Edit”, go to the Artwork tab, and insert a new image file to use as cover art.
On Mac, you can use iTunes or apps like Swinsian to edit MP3 metadata. Select the album, go to File info, edit the Artwork, and add a new image file. The change will be applied to all tracks in that album.
The advantage of using a desktop music manager is it allows bulk editing metadata for multiple tracks and albums at once. You can then sync your updated library to your Android device, transferring over the new cover art.
Syncing Changes to Your Device
After you make metadata edits like changing the cover art in a desktop music app, you’ll need to sync the changes to your Android device. This allows the updated information to be transferred from your computer to your phone or tablet.
Syncing can occur in a few ways depending on your desktop music app:
- If you use iTunes, enable syncing in the app preferences and connect your Android device via USB to transfer changes.
- With Windows Media Player, syncing occurs automatically through WMP’s mobile device sync settings.
- For MusicBee, enable Android syncing in the device manager and sync via USB or WiFi.
Note that metadata changes may not appear instantly after syncing. It can take some time for edits to propagate through the Android media storage. If you don’t see updates after syncing, try restarting your device.
Troubleshooting Issues
Sometimes the metadata changes you make may not seem to sync to your Android device. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
First, check that you have saved and applied the metadata changes in your desktop music manager or metadata editing app. Just changing the info without saving may not sync the changes.
Next, try restarting or force stopping the music app on your Android device. This will reset the app and make it scan for new metadata.
If that doesn’t work, you may need to clear the media storage data on your Android. This will reset the media database and rescans all your music files. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Media Storage > Storage > Clear Data. After clearing data, reboot your device and let your music app rescan files.[1]
As a last resort, you can uninstall and reinstall your Android music app. This will give it a fresh start in building the media database. Make sure to back up your music files first.
Automating metadata changes can help avoid manual syncing issues. Consider using apps that can directly edit tags on device or automatically match info between desktop and mobile.
Automating Changes
One of the most convenient ways to edit MP3 metadata on Android is through automation tools that can batch edit multiple files at once. This saves you from having to manually edit each file individually.
Some apps like Smart MP3 Tag Editor have built-in batch editing capabilities. You can select multiple MP3 files, then have the app analyze them and fill in any missing metadata tags automatically. The Smart Tagger function will match your files to an online database to find the correct info.
There are also dedicated batch editing tools such as Mp3tag that you can use on your desktop computer. After editing files, sync the changes to your Android device. This is useful if you have a large music library to update.
Using automation saves time and effort compared to editing one file at a time. Just be sure to spot check changes to confirm accuracy before committing them.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several ways to change the cover art of MP3 files on your Android device. The simplest option is to use your default music app’s built-in metadata editing tools, if available. File manager apps like Files by Google also allow editing track info and album art. For more advanced editing, dedicated metadata utilities like Mp3tag give you full control over all tag data.
You can also edit your music library’s metadata through a desktop app like iTunes or Windows Media Player, then sync the changes to your phone. Online tools provide another convenient way to batch edit cover art without needing to connect your device.
Remember that changing metadata is useful for organizing your music collection and ensuring a consistent appearance across your library and playlists. Matching each album to its official cover art enhances the listening experience. So take the time to properly tag your MP3 collection, and you’ll benefit from cleaner, better sorted music.