A tape cartridge for a magnetic tape may be provided. The tape cartridge includes a magnetic tape surrounded by a housing and a temperature indicator that signals a temperature of the tape cartridge, for example, by a thermochromic label. Additionally, a system for tape cartridge data protection that interoperates with the tape cartridge is provided. The system includes a storage for holding a tape cartridge, a sensor that detects temperature information from the temperature indicator of the tape cartridge, and a control unit for controlling an actuator that performs an action depending on the detected temperature information. Furthermore, a method for operating the system for tape cartridge data protection is proposed.