Osenpa
Clean Metadata guide

Remove MP3 and other audio metadata on Windows

Choose Clean Metadata → Create clean copy for a supported recording. Read the result, then inspect the tags and play any copy the app created.

By Osenpa · Updated
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Before you start

  • Clean Metadata on Windows 11 24H2 or later (x64), with full access or trial uses remaining.
  • A sample recording on a local NTFS drive and a player for checking it.

Using the free trial? Copy and replacement share five uses. Only verified personal-metadata cleanup kept after the batch finishes counts. How the free trial works.

Follow these steps

  1. Pick one recording

    Choose a sample MP3, FLAC, WAV or M4A and close any app that is changing it or its tags. Keep the original if its titles, artist names or other tags help organize your library.

  2. Create a clean copy

    In File Explorer, right-click the file, open Clean Metadata and choose Create clean copy. Leave the source in place until the run finishes.

  3. Read what changed

    Read the Removed metadata fields count and any retained-field notes beside the filename. The count is not a list of removed tags. If nothing removable was found, there may be no new file to open.

    Clean Metadata shows five removed metadata fields for Blackbird song.mp3, with its clean copy visible in File Explorer.
    Find the new copy beside the original recording. Enlarge image.
    1. Check the result and removed-field count.

  4. Play the copy

    If a copy was created, find its reported filename in the source folder or the alternative destination you chose. Open it in your usual player. Check duration and sound, then inspect title, artist and other tags. Review speech, lyrics, comments and artwork before sharing; these can remain.

  5. Choose the file to share

    Send the output you checked. If the app created no copy, use the result notes to decide whether the original is suitable for sharing.

Check your result

  • The recording plays and has the expected duration.
  • The relevant tags and all retained-field notes were checked.
If you need more help

Playback data is not the same as personal tags

Some MP3 files keep instructions for playing tracks without an added pause between them. Clean Metadata preserves supported gapless playback information stored in a custom ID3 field, along with the original audio. If an earlier cleanup failed on this type of file, update and try Create clean copy, then check playback.

For example, a broadcast WAV time reference can be retained to preserve synchronization. Its originator, calendar date and descriptive history are handled separately.

If the audio cannot be processed

Read the message beside the filename first. Some audio encodings or damaged files cannot be processed. If appropriate, export a separate supported copy from the original app, check playback, then try again.

Standalone AAC files are not supported in this release. Renaming .aac to .m4a does not convert the recording.

Need the app?

Clean Metadata. Check requirements and download options.

Clean Metadata on Microsoft Store

Next steps