Tags let you mark tracks with custom labels so you can find them faster during a set
Tags in Rekordbox are custom labels you attach to individual tracks — things like "vocal drop", "build", "energy 8", or "wedding safe". Unlike playlists, which group tracks together, tags stay with the track itself and let you search or filter by multiple labels at once. You can add as many tags as you want to a single track, and Rekordbox will show you all tracks with a given tag whenever you search for it.
Tags are most useful when you're building sets and need to find a track that fits a specific moment — a breakdown that needs a vocal, a section that needs high energy, or a remix that works for a particular crowd. Instead of scrolling through playlists, you search for the tag and see every track you've marked that way.
Key Takeaways
- Tags are custom labels you add to tracks in your Rekordbox library, separate from playlists and cue points.
- You can add tags directly in the track details panel or by right-clicking a track in your library view.
- Search for tags using the search bar at the top of your library, or filter by tag in the sidebar if you have tag categories set up.
- Tags sync across all your devices if you use Rekordbox Cloud, so tags you add on your laptop appear on your controller at a gig.
- You can create tag categories (like "Energy Level" or "Vocal Type") to organize your tags and keep your system consistent.
Adding a tag to a single track
The fastest way to tag a track is to right-click it in your library and select "Tags" from the menu. A small window opens showing any tags already on that track and a text field where you can type a new tag name. Type the tag you want — for example, "vocal" or "build" — and press Enter. The tag appears in the list below, and you can add more tags the same way by typing another word and pressing Enter again.
If you prefer not to right-click, you can also click a track once to select it, then look at the track details panel on the right side of the screen. Scroll down until you see the Tags section, and click in the text field to type a new tag. This method works the same way: type the tag name and press Enter to add it.
Once you've added a tag, it stays on that track. If you add the same tag to multiple tracks, Rekordbox remembers it and will suggest it as you type in future, so you don't have to retype "vocal" every time — just start typing and click the suggestion.
Tagging multiple tracks at once
If you want to add the same tag to several tracks without tagging them one by one, select multiple tracks first. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each track you want to tag, or click the first track, hold Shift, and click the last track to select a range. Once you have multiple tracks selected, right-click and choose "Tags" — the window that opens will add the tag to all selected tracks at once.
This is especially useful when you're organizing a new batch of tracks or when you've just imported a folder of similar music. You can select all the deep house tracks you just added, tag them "deep house", then select the same tracks again and add "energy 5" to all of them in one action.
Searching and filtering by tags
To find all tracks with a specific tag, use the search bar at the top of your library. Type the tag name — for example, "vocal" — and Rekordbox shows only tracks tagged with that word. You can search for multiple tags at once by typing them with a space between them, and Rekordbox will show tracks that have any of those tags.
If you've set up tag categories (see the next section), you can also filter by tag using the sidebar on the left. Click the tag category name and a list of all tags in that category appears. Click a tag name and your library filters to show only tracks with that tag. This method is faster if you use tags regularly and want to browse by category rather than search.
Creating tag categories to stay organized
Tag categories let you group related tags together — for example, a category called "Energy Level" might contain tags like "energy 3", "energy 5", "energy 8", and a category called "Vocal Type" might contain "vocal male", "vocal female", "vocal choir". Categories make your tag system easier to navigate and help you stay consistent when tagging new tracks.
To create a tag category, go to Preferences (or Settings on some versions) and look for the Tags section. Click the plus button to add a new category, type a name for it, and press Enter. Now when you add tags, you can assign them to a category by typing the category name followed by a slash and the tag name — for example, "Energy Level/energy 5". Rekordbox will automatically sort that tag into the Energy Level category.
Once you've created categories, they appear in the sidebar of your library view, and you can click any category to see all its tags. This is much faster than searching when you're in the middle of a set and need to find a track quickly.
Tags and Rekordbox Cloud sync
If you use Rekordbox Cloud, any tags you add to tracks in your library sync automatically to all your devices — your laptop, your controller, and any other place you access Rekordbox. This means if you tag a track "vocal drop" on your computer at home, that tag will be there when you load the track on your controller at a gig.
Sync usually happens within a few seconds of adding a tag, but if you're working offline or have a slow connection, tags may take longer to appear on other devices. If you add a tag and don't see it on another device after a few minutes, check your internet connection and try refreshing your library view.
Common mistakes to avoid when tagging
The most common mistake is creating similar tags for the same idea — for example, tagging some tracks "vocal" and others "vocals", or some "energy high" and others "high energy". Rekordbox treats these as different tags, so you'll have to search for both to find all your vocal tracks. Before you start tagging, decide on a naming system and stick to it. Write down your tag names somewhere so you remember them consistently.
Another mistake is adding too many tags to a single track. If you tag a track with ten different labels, you lose the benefit of tags as a quick filter. Most producers tag tracks with three to five tags at most — the main characteristic (like "vocal"), the energy level, and maybe the mood or use case. Start straightforward and add more tags only if you find yourself searching for something you can't find.
Finally, don't confuse tags with cue points or hot cues. Tags describe the whole track or a general characteristic. Cue points mark specific moments within a track where something happens — a drop, a build, a breakdown. Use tags for broad organization and cue points for precise navigation within a track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a tag from a track?
Yes. Right-click the track, select Tags, and find the tag you want to remove. Click the X button next to the tag name or select the tag and press Delete. The tag is removed from that track only — it stays on any other tracks you've tagged with it.
What happens if I delete a tag category?
The tags themselves stay on your tracks, but they're no longer organized under that category. You can recreate the category later and the tags will sort back into it automatically. Deleting a category does not delete the tags.
Can I see all the tags I've created?
Yes. In Preferences or Settings, go to the Tags section and you'll see a list of every tag and category you've created. From there you can rename tags, delete them, or reorganize them into different categories.
Do tags work the same way on Rekordbox mobile?
Tags sync to the Rekordbox mobile app if you use Rekordbox Cloud, and you can view tags on mobile. However, the mobile app does not let you add or edit tags — you have to add tags on your computer or controller and they appear on mobile automatically.
Can I export my tags to another DJ app?
Rekordbox tags stay within Rekordbox and don't transfer to other software. If you switch to a different app, you'll need to retag your tracks in that app's system. Some apps let you export your library in a format that other software can read, but tags usually don't transfer because each app handles them differently.