Rename still retains old file name somewhere

[fatTribble]

Has anyone else experienced this? I renamed some files (audio) in Finder but when I open them in a variety of apps, the old file name is displayed. This happens in QuickTime, VLC and when I add them to Apple Music. The display isn’t an issue of course but when adding them to Apple Music they become useless because the old file names had no meaning. These are audio files I saved to Files from Voice Memos. Besides the frustration I’m perplexed how/where MacOS could even keep the old name of the file. Some files were renamed years ago. Some I renamed recently. Currently running Monterey. Any help or thoughts would really be appreciated!

 

[BrianBaughn]

Could the apps in question be pulling old "tag" information from the files?

 

[fatTribble]

It does seem like something like that but strange they would all behave the same way. I don’t know enough about what macOS does under the covers to understand how this could happen.

 

[MBAir2010]

yes, usually MP4s from my dell xps
i use the get info-change title to a smaller one.
iTunes uses the longer version for some reason, which this fix helps.

 

[fatTribble]

Right the problem is that Get Info change title on my MacBook never propagates to my iPhone. If they would just fix either bug or give us a work around.

 

[MBAir2010]

Right the problem is that Get Info change title on my MacBook never propagates to my iPhone. If they would just fix either bug or give us a work around.

that is not the apple way,
case in point
my Dell can know what picture is on line then download that as JT_land19s.jog
while  will title that they rename to img192973748568473.jpg
and why i use the Dell to save images before they go to the macs.

 

[nebojsak]

With audio files, you should edit their metadata (tags) in order to be displayed correctly in applications. Simply renaming in Finder isn't sufficient.

There are plenty of tag editors, google them.

 

[fatTribble]

Thanks! I found a metadata viewer that confirmed the problem. Some files had the title set while others did not. If there is no title the apps defaulted to file name. I found a good tag editor and am in the process of cleaning everything up. Thank you!

 

[Fishrrman]

nebojsak has "the answer" in reply 7 above.

If it's an audio file or a video file, there is also a filename that is stored in the metadata that goes along with the file.

If you just change the "file name" (as seen in the finder), it doesn't change the metadata name.
Thus, an audio/video player will still "see" the OLD name.

For audio files, there's a handy utility called "Tagger" that can edit metadata. Very useful.