Why Can’t I Edit Properties of a Video?

If you’ve ever tried editing a video’s properties (metadata, tags, title, rating, etc.) and found that many fields are locked, greyed out or just refuse to change, you’re not alone. This issue crops up for many editors, creators, and media managers — and it can be frustrating when you’re trying to organise, tag or distribute your content professionally.

In this guide you’ll get:

• A full breakdown of why you can’t edit certain video file properties.
• What types of properties are editable (and which aren’t).
• A detailed troubleshooting path: step-by-step solutions for Windows (and some for Mac/Linux).
• Best practices for metadata & file-management workflows.
• A checklist you can copy into your studio or editing routine.

By the end, you’ll understand exactly what’s going wrong — and you’ll have actionable steps you can take immediately to fix it or work around it.

What Are Video File Properties / Metadata?

When we talk about video properties, we’re referring to metadata fields and system attributes attached to a video-file container. These can include:

• Title, Subject, Tags, Rating, Comments (user-editable fields)
• Date created, Date modified, Duration, Dimensions, Bitrate, Codec (system or container fields)
• Technical container metadata (e.g., for MP4: atoms like moov, mdat; for MKV: EBML headers)
• File system attributes: Read-only flag, Owner, Permissions, Hidden flag

On Windows, you will typically see these via: File Explorer → Right click file → Properties → Details tab. On other OSs there are analogous workflows.

Why Are Some Properties --or the “Edit” Button-‐ Not Available?

There are multiple reasons why editing video properties might fail or be disabled. Here are the main categories:

File-format / Container limitations

• Not all containers support editable metadata fields via Windows Explorer (or your OS’s “Properties” interface). For example, users report being unable to edit metadata fields for MKV files via Explorer.
• Some containers embed metadata in ways that Windows doesn’t expose or treat as editable. For instance, AVI or MKV may not present editable “Title” or “Tag” fields in Explorer.
• Some fields are locked because they’re generated by the codec/container and are not “user editable” by design.

File permissions / ownership / read-only flags

• The file or its parent folder might not grant write permissions to your user account — you may have “read only” rights.
• The “Read-only” attribute may be checked.
• The file might be on external storage, NAS or network drive with different permission contexts.
• Ownership of the file may not be your account. Some OS versions block metadata editing if you’re not the “owner.”

File attributes or origin

• Files downloaded from the internet may carry a “blocked” attribute (Windows: “This file came from another computer and might be blocked”).
• Files on external drives or removable media may experience delayed writes or locked states, causing “Property editing” to hang or fail.
• If the file is in use (open in a player/editor) or locked by another process, you may not be able to apply metadata changes.

OS / Explorer limitations and bugs

• Windows Explorer doesn’t support editing all metadata fields for all file types. Some fields simply remain greyed out or uneditable for certain formats.
• There may be OS bugs or version-specific restrictions (Windows updates, changes in metadata handling, etc.).
• Some files may have been created by a tool that stripped or locked metadata.

Metadata stored outside the file or side-car

• Some workflows (e.g., professional editing or media-management systems) store metadata outside the file (in a database or side-car file). If your UI is looking only at the file container, you may not see or edit those fields.
• Some tags/ratings are stored by media players or library software — not the file itself — so editing them in Explorer may not have any effect.

How to Diagnose the Issue: 7-Step Checklist

Here’s a detailed diagnostic path — follow this to isolate the root cause of your “can’t edit” problem.

Step 1: Check file format

• Right-click file → Properties → Details.
• Are the fields greyed out or uneditable?
• What’s the file extension (.mp4, .mkv, .avi, .mov, etc.)?
• Try copying the file and renaming it to .mp4 if possible to test if the container is the issue.

Step 2: Copy file to a local drive

• If the file resides on an external/NAS/USB device, copy it to your desktop or local drive.
• Re-attempt editing the properties. Some users found this only worked when the file was local.

Step 3: Check permissions

• Right-click file → Properties → Security tab.
• Check whether your user has Full Control.
• If not, click Advanced → Change Owner → pick your account → check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects”. Apply.

Step 4: Remove Read-only / Unblock

• On the General tab in Properties, uncheck “Read-only” if ticked.
• If you see “This file came from another computer and might be blocked”, click “Unblock”.

Step 5: Convert or rewrap the file

• If container is the culprit (e.g., MKV), convert or re-wrap into a more metadata-friendly container (like MP4) using a tool like FFmpeg.
• Or use a specialized metadata editor for that container.

Step 6: Use a metadata editor tool

• Try a dedicated tool like ExifTool (free, command-line) which supports a wide range of file formats.
• For MKV, use MKVToolNix if Explorer editing fails.

Step 7: Verify changes stuck

• After editing metadata, close all tools and reopen the file’s Properties → Details.
• Check if the change persisted. If not, the container may override or block metadata changes.

Solutions (How to Edit the Properties Successfully)

Depending on the root cause, here are the solutions:

Solution A: Use File Explorer (Windows 10/11)

1. Copy the file to your local drive.
2. Right-click → Properties → Details.
3. Click on the field you want to edit (if allowed) and change the value.
4. Click “Apply” → “OK”.
   Includes ability to edit Title, Subject, Tags, Comments, etc. for supported containers.

Solution B: Change Ownership & Permissions

1. Properties → Security → Advanced → Change Owner to your account.
2. Grant Full Control permissions to your account.
3. Try editing again.

Solution C: Convert or Rewrap to MP4 Container

• If editing fails for MKV/AVI, convert to MP4 using FFmpeg or a dedicated converter.
• Then edit metadata in Windows Explorer or a metadata tool.

Solution D: Use a Metadata Editor (Advanced)

• Download and use ExifTool:

exiftool -Title="My video title" MyVideoFile.mp4


• Works across many formats.
• For MKV, use MKVToolNix to edit the header and metadata.

Solution E: Check for System/Explorer Bugs

• Ensure Windows is up to date (Settings → Windows Update).
• Restart File Explorer or the system.
• Try editing in Safe Mode / clean boot to eliminate interfering software.

Best Practices for Video Metadata & File Properties

To prevent future issues and maintain a clean media library, follow these practices:

• Use consistent containers: prefer MP4 if you rely on Explorer metadata editing.
• Organise your files locally, then move to network/NAS after metadata is set.
• Create a metadata workflow: rename files → set title/tags → apply ratings/comments → move to NAS.
• Avoid keeping files open or locked in editors or players when editing metadata.
• Use scripted tools (e.g., ExifTool) for batch metadata edits.
• Keep backup copies before changing ownership/permissions or converting containers.
• For professional editors: embed metadata at the end of your export workflow so the final file carries the correct info.
• Document your workflow and use a naming convention that supports the metadata (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD_Project_Title_Tag.mp4).

When You Still Can’t Edit — What to Check

• Are you editing a copy rather than the original? Some backup or archive systems lock original attributes.
• Is the file stored on cloud-synced storage (OneDrive, Google Drive) with versioning or restricted write access?
• Did the file originate from a mobile device or camera that embeds metadata in a proprietary way?
• Does the file have encryption or has it been rendered via software that locks metadata (e.g., some broadcast workflows)?
• Is the metadata field you want inherently non-editable (some technical fields like bitrate or codec cannot be changed via Explorer)?
• For MKV/AVI: learn whether Windows Explorer supports editing those fields — often it doesn’t. In that case use the dedicated tool route.

Summary & Action Plan

Why you can’t edit:

• Container/format restrictions
• Permissions or ownership issues
• File system attributes (read-only, blocked)
• OS/Explorer limitations or bugs

What you do:

• Copy locally → change container if needed
• Fix ownership & permissions
• Use metadata editors when Explorer fails
• Adopt a metadata workflow & naming system

Act now:

• Pick a problematic video file → run through the 7-step checklist.
• Identify whether it’s a container issue or permission issue.
• Apply the relevant solution (rewrap or use ExifTool) and verify the change.
• Implement a routine: rename → metadata edit → move to archive.

🎓 Final Thought for Editors & Creators

If you’re a creator, editor or media manager, mastering metadata isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s essential. Metadata supports searchability, library organisation, version control, and even monetisation workflows (especially when managing large archives). When you know why a property field is locked, you stop fighting the system and streamline your workflow.

Meta-properties are the invisible scaffolding of professional video workflows. Treat them as seriously as your cut, color grade, and export settings.

Need hands-on training? At Miracamp, our bootcamp covers not only editing in Adobe Premiere Pro and AI-enhanced workflows — but also metadata management, asset library workflows, and client-ready export best practices. Let’s get your workflow polished from cut to archive.

FAQ - Edit Properties of a Video

Why can’t I edit the details or metadata of a video in Windows 10 or 11?

Some video formats (like MKV or AVI) don’t support editable metadata in Windows File Explorer. Others are locked due to permissions, read-only status, or network storage restrictions. Convert your file to MP4 and ensure you have full write permissions before editing its properties.

Why are the fields greyed out in the Details tab of my video file?

Greyed-out fields usually mean that those properties are not supported by the file container or cannot be changed manually. Only certain tags like Title, Comments, or Tags can be modified for compatible formats such as MP4 or MOV.

How do I unlock a video file to edit its properties?

Right-click the file → Properties → General tab → Uncheck Read-only and click Unblock if available.
Then go to Properties → Security → Advanced and make sure your user account has Full Control permissions.

Can I edit video properties from an external drive or cloud folder?

Not always. External drives, NAS, and cloud-synced folders (like OneDrive or Google Drive) may block metadata writes. Copy the file to a local drive, edit the properties, and then re-upload it once done.

Why can’t I change technical details like duration or codec?

Codec, bitrate, and duration are technical encoding properties, not editable metadata fields. To modify them, you must re-encode or export the video with new settings using software like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or FFmpeg.

What tool can I use to edit video metadata properly?

Use ExifTool (cross-platform) or MKVToolNix for MKV containers. These tools allow you to view and edit metadata tags directly, even when Windows File Explorer doesn’t support them.

How do I fix “Access Denied” when editing video details?

The “Access Denied” message means your account lacks permission to modify the file.
Take ownership via Properties → Security → Advanced → Change Owner, and reapply Full Control rights.

Can I edit properties of a video without losing quality?

Yes. Metadata editing doesn’t affect the actual video stream — it only modifies header or container information.
Avoid re-encoding unless you’re changing technical parameters like bitrate or resolution.

How do I add or change video tags and comments easily?

Open Properties → Details, scroll to Tags or Comments, and type directly into those fields. For unsupported files, use ExifTool or a dedicated metadata editor, which lets you batch-tag multiple videos efficiently.

What’s the best way to manage metadata for large video libraries?

For professional workflows, use a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system or a naming convention that matches your metadata (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD_Project_Title_Tag.mp4).
Embed metadata after exporting, and store final masters locally before syncing to cloud.