How to Edit MKV Metadata and Tags

Yes, you can easily edit the metadata and tags inside an MKV (Matroska) video file using various free software tools. This article provides a straightforward guide on how to modify MKV metadata—including titles, track names, languages, and cover art—using the most efficient tools available for Windows, macOS, and Linux: MKVToolNix, Mp3tag, and command-line utilities.

The most reliable tool for editing MKV metadata is MKVToolNix, a free, open-source suite designed specifically for Matroska files. It allows you to edit file headers instantly without re-encoding the video.

  1. Download, install, and open MKVToolNix.
  2. Click on the Header editor tab from the left-hand menu.
  3. Drag and drop your MKV file into the window.
  4. Expand the tree structure to locate the segment information or specific input tracks (video, audio, or subtitles) you want to edit.
  5. Select the property you want to change (such as “Title”, “Language”, or “Default track flag”) and modify its value in the right-hand panel.
  6. Click Header editor in the top menu and select Save to write the changes directly to the file.

Editing MKV Tags with Mp3tag

If you want to edit tags, comments, or add poster artwork in a more visual, music-library-style interface, Mp3tag is an excellent choice that fully supports MKV video files.

  1. Download and open Mp3tag.
  2. Drag and drop your MKV files into the main panel.
  3. Select the video file you wish to edit.
  4. On the left sidebar, fill in the metadata fields such as Title, Artist, Year, Genre, and Album. You can also right-click the disc icon placeholder to add cover art.
  5. Click the Save icon on the toolbar to apply the metadata.

Quick Command-Line Editing with mkvpropedit

For advanced users who want to edit tags quickly or automate the process using scripts, mkvpropedit (which is part of the MKVToolNix suite) is the fastest option.

To change the main title of an MKV file, open your command line or terminal and run:

mkvpropedit "filename.mkv" --edit info --set "title=Your New Title"

To change the language of the first audio track to English:

mkvpropedit "filename.mkv" --edit track:a1 --set language=eng

This method updates the metadata header instantly without needing to rewrite the entire multi-gigabyte video file.