An album art downloader for embedded and online covers
Need the cover of an album — for a playlist, a music library or a song that shows a blank square? This free album art downloader does two things. It extracts the artwork already embedded in an MP3, M4A, FLAC, OGG or WAV file, exactly as stored. And it searches the iTunes catalogue and the community-run Cover Art Archive by artist and album, shows the real pixel size of each cover and downloads the largest version.
Found the right picture? Embed it straight into your songs from the same page, without re-encoding the audio. Your music files stay on your device; only the artist and album names you type are sent to the search services.
How to use the Album Art Downloader
- To get the cover from a song, keep “From an audio file” selected and drop the file. Every embedded picture appears with its type and size; press Download.
- To find a cover online, choose “Search online”, type the artist and album (they are filled in from the song’s tags if you dropped one), then press “Search covers”.
- Compare the results. Each card shows the source and its largest real size; the biggest overall is marked “Largest”.
- Pick a size from the menu and press Download — or press Use to add that cover to your songs.
- After pressing Use, drop your audio files into “Embed this cover” and download the updated files.
Album Art Downloader features
Exact extraction
Embedded pictures are saved byte for byte in their original JPG or PNG format, including back covers and other picture types.
Two catalogues
The iTunes Search API covers commercial releases; MusicBrainz and the Cover Art Archive cover a huge range of releases, including older and independent ones.
Real sizes, not guesses
The first part of each full-size image is read to measure its pixels before you download, so you know whether you get 600, 1400 or 3000 pixels.
Polite to free services
Searches only run when you press the button, and MusicBrainz is never asked more than once per second, as its rules require.
Embed in one step
Add the chosen cover to MP3, M4A, FLAC, OGG and WAV files as the front cover, optionally shrunk to 1400 × 1400, without touching the audio.
Where the covers come from
| Source | Typical largest size | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded in your file | Whatever the tagger stored, often 300–1400 px | Extracted unchanged — the quickest option if it is already there |
| iTunes Search API | Up to 3000 × 3000 px for most recent releases | Commercial albums; older releases may only exist at lower resolution |
| Cover Art Archive (MusicBrainz) | Original scans, sometimes over 3000 px; 250, 500 and 1200 px thumbnails | Community uploads, so scans, editions and quality vary |
Copyright and fair use
Album artwork is protected by copyright, usually owned by the artist, photographer or record label. The covers found here are offered so you can complete the tags of music you own and view it in your own library or player. Don’t republish them, sell them or use them for your own releases.
Tips
- Search with the exact album name first; add the artist if there are several albums with the same name.
- Deluxe and remastered editions often have different covers — look at the year and source on each card.
- For phones and car stereos 1000–1400 px is plenty; Add Album Art can crop, resize and limit the file size before embedding.
- To see what a song already contains, open it in the Audio Metadata Viewer; to fix the artist or album first, use the ID3 Tag Editor.
Album Art Downloader FAQ
How do I extract album art from an MP3?
Drop the MP3 onto the box in “From an audio file” mode and press Download under the picture. The cover is saved exactly as embedded, usually as a JPG or PNG.
How can I find high-resolution album art?
Switch to “Search online”, enter the artist and album and press “Search covers”. Each result lists its largest real size, and the biggest one is marked “Largest”. Many iTunes covers are available at 3000 × 3000 pixels.
Is it legal to download album covers?
Cover art is copyrighted. Using it to tag and view music you own is generally accepted personal use; republishing or selling it is not. Check the rules in your country if you are unsure.
What is sent over the internet when I search?
Only the artist and album text you typed goes to the iTunes Search API, MusicBrainz and the Cover Art Archive, and the pictures come back from them. Audio files are never uploaded.
Why does a search find nothing?
Check the spelling, try the album name alone, or switch sources. Very new, obscure or regional releases may not be in either catalogue yet.
Can I add the downloaded cover to my songs?
Yes — press Use on a result and drop your audio files into “Embed this cover”. For crop and size options use Add Album Art.