# How to query for albums with embedded art, but no external file

**URL:** <https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [April 22, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77 "2017-04-22T17:28:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kuzimoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/94ad74/32.png) [@kuzimoto](https://discourse.beets.io/u/kuzimoto)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/1 "2017-04-22T17:28:31Z")

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I’ve been using beets for several months and generally have been able to find my way around. However looking at my library I noticed a few albums that are missing an external cover file but do have embedded art. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I’m just completely missing something but I searched all over and don’t see an easy way of finding these.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![adrian](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/adrian/32/4_2.png) [@adrian](https://discourse.beets.io/u/adrian)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/2 "2017-04-23T11:53:15Z")

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I don’t believe we currently have a good way to query for files with (or without) embedded art. This seems like it would be a good idea, though, if you’d like to file a feature request!

For queries about external art files, though, you can use the `artpath` field. For example, `beet ls artpath::^$` to get files without any attached art.

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**Author:** ![kuzimoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/94ad74/32.png) [@kuzimoto](https://discourse.beets.io/u/kuzimoto)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/3 "2017-04-23T22:23:28Z")

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Awesome, thanks! Weird that searching for embedded art isn’t supported, but I will definitely create a feature request for it as it would be very handy for me.

But for now at least using artpath is still very useful.

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**Author:** ![devster](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/devster/32/68_2.png) [@devster](https://discourse.beets.io/u/devster)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/4 "2017-08-27T18:45:48Z")

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Where can I find some more documentation regarding what the `artpath` field does?

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**Author:** ![adrian](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/adrian/32/4_2.png) [@adrian](https://discourse.beets.io/u/adrian)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/5 "2017-08-27T21:35:09Z")

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Hmm; there’s not really anything to point you to because there’s not much more to add. It’s just an album-level field that holds the path to the album art image file for a given album. Does that help at all?

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**Author:** ![devster](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/devster/32/68_2.png) [@devster](https://discourse.beets.io/u/devster)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/6 "2017-08-27T22:47:53Z")

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It kind of does, I just assumed it would be listed in the docs.

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**Author:** ![adrian](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/adrian/32/4_2.png) [@adrian](https://discourse.beets.io/u/adrian)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/7 "2017-08-28T00:53:14Z")

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Sure, good point. If you can find a good place to mention the above in the docs, could we please have your help adding it?

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**Author:** ![trolley](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/trolley/32/431_2.png) [@trolley](https://discourse.beets.io/u/trolley)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/8 "2020-06-30T03:10:49Z")

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I’m resurrecting this old thread because I’m curious if this is possible yet. When I use `beet info` I can see there’s an `art` field with `True` for some tracks and `False` for others, but `beet ls art:True` and `beet ls art:False` both show nothing.

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**Author:** ![kuzimoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/94ad74/32.png) [@kuzimoto](https://discourse.beets.io/u/kuzimoto)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 5:05am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-query-for-albums-with-embedded-art-but-no-external-file/77/9 "2020-06-30T05:05:18Z")

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Heh it’s been 3 years already? I haven’t followed development too closely, but I’m not sure if there were any solutions yet.