diff --git a/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp b/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp
--- a/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp
+++ b/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp
@@ -295,27 +295,25 @@
 void FileMetaDataWidget::setItems(const KFileItemList& items)
 {
     KFileItemList localItemsList;
-    QStringList list;
 
     bool xAttrSuppored = true;
 
     foreach(const KFileItem& item, items) {
         QUrl url = item.targetUrl();
         if (url.isLocalFile()) {
             localItemsList << item;
             QString path = url.toLocalFile();
-            list << path;
 
             KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(path);
             xAttrSuppored &= md.isSupported();
         }
     }
     setReadOnly(!xAttrSuppored);
 
     d->m_provider->setItems(localItemsList);
-    d->m_widgetFactory->setItems(list);
 
     setReadOnly(!xAttrSuppored);
+    d->m_widgetFactory->setItems(items);
 }
 
 KFileItemList FileMetaDataWidget::items() const
diff --git a/src/widgetfactory.h b/src/widgetfactory.h
--- a/src/widgetfactory.h
+++ b/src/widgetfactory.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         explicit WidgetFactory(QObject* parent = nullptr);
         ~WidgetFactory() override;
 
-        void setItems(const QStringList& items);
+        void setItems(const KFileItemList& items);
 
         void setReadOnly(bool value);
         void setNoLinks(bool value);
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
         KRatingWidget* m_ratingWidget;
         KCommentWidget* m_commentWidget;
 
-        QStringList m_items;
+        KFileItemList m_items;
         QStringList m_prevTags;
         bool m_readOnly;
         bool m_noLinks;
diff --git a/src/widgetfactory.cpp b/src/widgetfactory.cpp
--- a/src/widgetfactory.cpp
+++ b/src/widgetfactory.cpp
@@ -252,18 +252,26 @@
 
 void WidgetFactory::slotCommentChanged(const QString& comment)
 {
-    for (const QString& filePath : m_items) {
-        KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(filePath);
+    for (const KFileItem& item : qAsConst(m_items)) {
+        QUrl url = item.targetUrl();
+        if (!url.isLocalFile()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(url.toLocalFile());
         md.setUserComment(comment);
     }
     emit dataChangeStarted();
     emit dataChangeFinished();
 }
 
 void WidgetFactory::slotRatingChanged(uint rating)
 {
-    for (const QString& filePath : m_items) {
-        KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(filePath);
+    for (const KFileItem& item : qAsConst(m_items)) {
+        QUrl url = item.targetUrl();
+        if (!url.isLocalFile()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(url.toLocalFile());
         md.setRating(rating);
     }
     emit dataChangeStarted();
@@ -273,8 +281,12 @@
 void WidgetFactory::slotTagsChanged(const QStringList& tags)
 {
     if (m_tagWidget) {
-        for (const QString& filePath : m_items) {
-            KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(filePath);
+        for (const KFileItem& item : qAsConst(m_items)) {
+            QUrl url = item.targetUrl();
+            if (!url.isLocalFile()) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            KFileMetaData::UserMetaData md(url.toLocalFile());
 
             // When multiple tags are selected one doesn't want to loose the old tags
             // of any of the resources. Unless specifically removed.
@@ -327,7 +339,7 @@
     m_noLinks = value;
 }
 
-void WidgetFactory::setItems(const QStringList& items)
+void WidgetFactory::setItems(const KFileItemList& items)
 {
     m_items = items;
 }