How to Remove Album Art From MP3 in Windows 11/10

Have you ever wanted to declutter your music library by removing unwanted or mismatched album art from your MP3 files? Album art can enhance your music experience by providing visual context, but sometimes it can also create confusion or disarray.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain various methods to remove album art from your MP3 files in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Whether you’re an audiophile, a casual listener, or just want to keep your music library organized, this article will guide you through the process step-by-step.

Why remove album art from MP3 files?

Although album art adds aesthetic value to your music collection, there are several reasons you might want to remove it:

• Ensure consistent appearance: Mismatched or low-quality album art can make your music library appear unorganized. Removing the album art can create a more consistent look.
• Customize your library: Removing album art allows you to replace it with your preferred images or leave it blank for a minimalist appearance.
• Free up storage space: High-resolution album art can take up a significant amount of storage space, especially if you have a large music library. Removing it can help you save space on your device.

Removing album art using File Explorer in Windows 11/10

Windows File Explorer provides an easy way to remove album art from MP3 files without the need for additional software. This method is suitable for those who want to avoid installing third-party applications or prefer using built-in Windows features. Follow these steps:

1. Open Windows File Explorer and click the “View” tab in the toolbar.
2. In the “Show/hide” section, make sure the “Hidden items” checkbox is ticked.
3. Click “Options” on the right side of the toolbar, and choose “Change folder and search options” from the drop-down menu.
4. In the “Folder Options” window, switch to the “View” tab.
5. Under “Advanced settings”, scroll down to “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)” and uncheck the checkbox. A warning message will appear; click “Yes” to proceed.
6. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes and close the “Folder Options” window.
7. Navigate to the folder containing the MP3 file(s) with the album art you want to remove.
8. You should now see hidden files with the same name as your MP3 files but with a “.jpg” extension. These are the album art images associated with your MP3 files.
9. Right-click the “.jpg” file corresponding to the album art you want to remove, and select “Delete” from the context menu. Confirm the deletion if prompted.

Your album art should now be removed from the selected MP3 file. Repeat this process for any additional files you’d like to modify. After you’re done, it’s recommended to re-enable the “Hide protected operating system files“ option to avoid accidentally modifying or deleting important system files.

Removing album art with MP3tag

MP3tag is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for editing metadata and album art in your MP3 files. It supports batch editing, which allows you to edit multiple files at once, making it an excellent choice for large music libraries. Follow these steps to remove album art using MP3tag:

1. Download and install MP3tag from the official website.

   https://www.mp3tag.de/en/

2. Launch the application and navigate to the folder containing the MP3 files with the album art you want to remove.
3. Select the desired MP3 files in the list.
4. In the bottom left corner of the window, you’ll see the album art preview. Right-click the image and select “Remove cover” from the context menu.
5. Click the “Save” button (floppy disk icon) in the toolbar to save your changes.

The album art should now be removed from the selected MP3 files. You can repeat this process for any additional files you’d like to modify. Additionally, MP3tag offers advanced features such as automated file renaming, importing and exporting tag information, and customizing the user interface, making it an excellent tool for organizing your music library.

Removing album art with MusicBee

MusicBee is a popular music player and organizer that also allows you to edit MP3 metadata and album art. It offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for users of all experience levels to manage their music collections. Follow these steps to remove album art using MusicBee:

1. Download and install MusicBee from the official website.

   https://getmusicbee.com/

2. Launch the application and import your music library or navigate to the folder containing the MP3 files with the album art you want to remove.
3. Select the desired MP3 files in the list.
4. Right-click the selected files and choose “Edit” from the context menu.
5. In the “Edit Tags” window, click the “Artwork” tab.
6. Click the “Delete” button next to the album art preview.
7. Click “Save” to apply your changes.

The album art should now be removed from the selected MP3 files. You can repeat this process for any additional files you’d like to modify. MusicBee also offers features such as auto-tagging, synchronization with portable devices, and customizable themes, making it an all-in-one solution for managing your music library.

Replacing album art using VLC Media Player

While VLC Media Player cannot directly remove the album art from an MP3 file, it does offer the option to replace the existing album art with a custom image. By creating a small, blank image (e.g., a 10×10 black picture), you can effectively replace the current album art with a minimalistic alternative. Follow these steps to replace album art using VLC Media Player:

1. Create a small blank image using a graphics editor such as Microsoft Paint. For instance, you can create a 10×10 black picture and save it as a .jpg or .png file.
2. Download and install VLC Media Player.
3. Launch the application and open the MP3 file(s) with the album art you want to replace.
4. Pause the playback, then click “Tools” in the menu bar and select “Media Information”.
5. In the “Media Information” window, click the “General” tab.
6. Under the “Album Art” section, right-click the current album art image and select “Add cover art from file” from the context menu.
7. Browse to the location where you saved the small blank image you created earlier and select it. The existing album art will be replaced with the custom image.
8. Click “Close” to close the media information window.
9. Right-click the MP3 in VLC and select Save to save the edited MP3 file.

Your MP3 file should now have the new minimalistic album art. Although this method does not completely remove the album art, it effectively replaces it with a less obtrusive alternative. You can repeat this process for any additional files you’d like to modify.

Frequently asked questions