Easy Ways to Import Music from a CD to MP3: iTunes, Windows Media Player, & More

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An easy guide to ripping CDs to a digital format for free
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Do you want the music from your CDs on your music player? Songs on CDs typically are in CDA format, which is a file type that only plays when the CD is inserted into your computer. However, you can create a copy of the CD's contents using built-in options on Mac and Windows. This wikiHow article teaches you how to copy a CD's songs onto your computer in MP3 format.

Easily Convert CDs to MP3s

  1. Open Windows Media Player on Windows 10.
  2. Click Organize > Options > Rip Music .
  3. Select MP3 .
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Windows Media Player on Windows 10

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  1. To find the program easily, type Windows Media Player in the Start menu and click the program search result.
    • Insert the CD that you want to rip into your computer. Make sure that you place the CD logo side up in the CD slot or tray.
    • If your computer doesn't have a CD slot or tray, you'll need to use a USB CD reader.
    • Windows Media Player is only available to Windows computers running 10 and older.
  2. You'll see this button that looks like a drop-down menu in the top left corner of the app.
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  3. It's the last option in the menu.
  4. You'll see this tab near the top of the window.
  5. You'll see it under "Rip settings" in the format drop-down menu.
    • By default, ripped music goes to your music folder, but you can click Change if you want to have the ripped files saved somewhere else.
    • If you don't change this format, the files will be ripped in WMA format, which many iPods and Apple products do not play.
    • Click Apply and OK to close this window.
  6. It's at the top of the Windows Media Player window.
    • You won't see this option if you don't have a CD inserted. [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Windows Media Player Legacy on Windows 11

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  1. To find the program easily, type Windows Media Player in the Start menu and click the program search result.
    • Insert the CD that you want to rip into your computer. Make sure to place the CD logo side up in the CD slot or tray.
    • If your computer doesn't have a CD slot or tray, you'll need to use a USB CD reader.
  2. You'll see this button that looks like a drop-down menu in the top left corner of the app.
  3. It's the last option on the menu.
  4. You'll see this tab near the top of the window.
  5. You'll see it under "Rip settings" in the format drop-down menu.
    • By default, ripped music goes to your music folder, but you can click Change if you want to have the ripped files saved somewhere else.
    • Click Apply and OK to close this window.
  6. It's at the top of the Windows Media Player window.
    • You won't see this option if you don't have a CD inserted.
    • Alternatively, use Media Player. It's different than the Windows Media Player app! However, the program does not let you change the format to MP3 and you can only copy music from your CD in AAC, WMA, FLAC, and ALAC format.
    • You can use third-party tools like Foobar 2000 and EZ CD Audio Converter.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Music on Mac

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  1. It looks like music notes on a red background.
  2. Make sure that you place the CD logo side up in the CD slot or tray.
    • If your computer doesn't have a CD slot or tray, you'll need to use a USB CD reader.
  3. As soon as your computer recognizes the audio disc, you'll see a window pop up with options. Select to import all the songs from the disc or certain songs.
    • If the import settings are different than MP3, go to Settings > Files > Import Settings and choose "MP3." There will also be other choices you can make for quality, but the default settings are usually ok. [2]
  4. This will begin importing your music from your CD to MP3. [3]
    • If your CD is importing too slow, go to Settings > Files > Import Settings and check or uncheck the box next to "Use error correction when reading Audio CDs."
    • Another reason for a slowly importing audio file is that the disk is dirty or scratched. Eject the CD and try to clean it .
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using iTunes on Windows

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  1. The iTunes app icon resembles a multicolored musical note on a white background.
    • You can still use iTunes on Macs running Mojave or earlier.
  2. This will open another window.
  3. You can change the format that your music rips as.
  4. You've changed the format of the music you're about to rip. [4]
  5. Make sure that you place the CD logo side up in the CD slot or tray.
    • If your computer doesn't have a CD slot or tray, you'll need to use a USB CD reader.
    • As long as you insert the CD after iTunes is opened, you'll be prompted if you want to import the songs into iTunes. If you don't see a prompt or if iTunes doesn't automatically import your music, click the CD icon near the top left of the window.
    • Import the songs you want by clicking the checkboxes next to each song. [5]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I did not see the "Tools" option anywhere in Windows Media Player. Where else can I find that option?
    Community Answer
    The version I have does not show "Tools" either. Click on the drop-down arrow of "Organize" and you will see "Options," which will then show you the "Rip Music" tab.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 23
  • Question
    Once above steps are done, how do I download files to my MP3?
    Community Answer
    You need to plug your MP3 player into your computer. After you do so, the option too import files to your MP3 should pop up.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 19 Helpful 20
  • Question
    Can previously ripped CDs be converted to MP3s?
    Community Answer
    Yes, this will work with copies.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/burn-and-rip-cds-235021d5-e1c7-8616-4efd-4f4965fe6b91
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-is/guide/music/mus2965/1.4/mac/14.0
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/import-songs-from-cds-mus2935/mac
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/convert-music-file-formats-itns2972/windows
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/import-songs-from-cds-itns2935/windows

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