Easy Ways on Mac and Windows to Burn a CD

PDF download Download Article
An easy-to-follow guide to burning music and data CDs on Mac or Windows
PDF download Download Article

Although burning CDs was popular about a decade ago, you can still do it. How else can you listen to your favorite music in a car that only has a CD player? This wikiHow article teaches you how to burn information, such as songs, files, or programs, onto a blank CD. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers, though you will need a computer that has a rewritable CD drive.

Things You Should Know

  • Many modern computers that have a built-in CD drive also have default software that will burn a CD for you.
  • Use different methods to burn different kinds of CDs: music or data.
  • Macs let you burn a CD using Disk Utility.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Burning a Data CD on Windows

PDF download Download Article
  1. Make sure that the CD is blank before doing this.
    • If the CD has been used before, you'll need to erase the CD first.
    • The drive must be a rewritable CD drive. You can determine this by looking for the "CD" or "DVD" logo on or near the drive's tray.
    • Understand that creating a data CD does not mean it will be playable. Instead, this method is used to store files and folders on your CD, you can burn the files/folders in question to the CD in order to store them.
    • Examples of files you can burn to a CD include photos, documents, and videos.
    • If you want to burn music to a CD in order to create a playable disc (e.g., one you can use in a CD player), skip ahead to the music CD method .
  2. Open File Explorer
    Windows File Explorer
    . Click the folder-shaped icon in the taskbar at the bottom of your computer's screen.
    • You can also press ⊞ Win + E to open the File Explorer window.
    Advertisement
  3. Click the folder in which the files that you want to burn are located. You'll find this folder on the left side of the window.
  4. Click and drag your mouse across a group of files to select all of them, or hold down Ctrl while clicking individual files to select each one independently.
    • If you only want to burn one file (e.g., an ISO), just click the file to select it.
    • Most CDs can only hold around 700 megabytes of files.
  5. This tab is in the upper-left corner of the window. A toolbar will appear near the top of the window.
  6. It's in the "Send" section of the toolbar. A new window will open.
  7. This option is at the bottom of the window. Doing so will prompt your files to begin burning to your CD.
    • This process can take a while to complete depending on the size and number of files you're burning.
  8. It's at the bottom of the window. You can now eject your burned CD from your computer.
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Burning a Data CD on Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. Since most Macs don't come with a built-in CD slot, you will likely need an external CD reader to do this.
    • You can buy an external disk reader from Apple for less than $90.
    • Understand what creating a data CD does. If you just want to store files and folders on your CD, you can burn the files/folders in question to the CD in order to store them. Data CDs are not playable, but can be opened and viewed like other forms of storage (e.g., a flash drive).
    • Examples of files you can burn to a CD include photos, documents, and videos.
    • If you want to burn music to a CD in order to create a playable disc (e.g., one you can use in a CD player), skip ahead to the music CD method .
  2. Click the magnifying glass-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Type disk utility into the search bar that appears, then double-click the Disk Utility result.
  4. This radioactive symbol-shaped icon is at the top of the window. A Finder window will open.
  5. Click the folder in which the files that you want to burn are located. You'll find a list of folders on the left side of the window.
  6. Click and drag your mouse across a group of files to select all of them, or hold down ⌘ Command while clicking individual files to select each one independently.
    • If you only want to burn one file (e.g., an ISO ), just click the file to select it.
  7. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will close the Finder window.
  8. It's in the pop-up near the top of the Disk Utility window. Clicking it prompts the burning process to begin.
    • This process will take some time, so be patient.
  9. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This signifies that the burning is complete.
    10. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Burning a Music CD on Windows

PDF download Download Article
  1. Make sure that the CD is blank before doing this.
    • If the CD has been used before, you'll need to erase the CD first.
    • The drive must be a rewritable CD drive. You can determine this by looking for the "CD" or "DVD" logo on or near the drive's tray.
  2. Open Windows Media Player . Press the Windows logo key, type in windows media player , then click Windows Media Player at the top of the search results.
    • If Windows Media Player doesn't appear at the top of the search results, it isn't installed on your computer.
    • If your computer doesn't have Windows Media Player installed, you'll need to use iTunes instead. Download and install iTunes on your computer, then skip ahead to the next method.
  3. It's in the upper-left side of the Windows Media Player window.
    • Skip this step and the next one if Windows Media Player opens to your Music library.
  4. Double-click Music to open the categories page, then double-click All music to open a list of your computer's music files.
  5. It's in the top-right corner of the Windows Media Player window.
  6. Hold down Ctrl while clicking each song that you want to add to your CD.
    • You can generally burn between 70 and 80 minutes of music to one CD.
  7. Click and drag any of the selected songs to the "Burn" tab's sidebar on the right side of the window, then release the song there. You should see all of your selected songs in the "Burn" tab.
  8. It's a white box with green checkmarks on it near the top of the "Burn" tab. A drop-down menu will appear.
  9. This option is in the middle of the drop-down menu.
  10. It's at the top of the "Burn" sidebar. Your songs will begin burning onto the CD.
  11. Your CD should eject when it's finished burning. Once your CD is complete, you should be able to play it in any CD player (e.g., your car's stereo).
    12. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Burning a Music CD on Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. Since most Macs don't come with a built-in CD slot, you will likely need an external CD reader to do this.
    • You can buy an external disk reader from Apple for less than $90.
  2. Click or double-click the iTunes app icon, which resembles a multicolored musical note on a white background.
  3. Hold down ⌘ Command (or Ctrl if you're on Windows) while clicking each song you want to add to your CD.
    • Most CDs allow for between 70 and 80 minutes of burned music.
    • You may have to click the Songs tab to view a list of your iTunes songs before you can begin selecting them.
  4. It's in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  5. This is in the File drop-down menu. Selecting it will prompt a pop-out menu.
  6. It's in the pop-out menu. This will create a new playlist with all of your selected music.
    • If you want to name the playlist, type in a name and press ⏎ Return before proceeding.
  7. This is in the upper-right corner of the screen. The drop-down menu will reappear.
  8. It's in the File drop-down menu. A pop-up window will open.
  9. This is at the top of the pop-up window.
  10. It's at the bottom of the window. Your songs will begin burning to the CD.
  11. Your CD should eject when it's finished burning. Once your CD is complete, you should be able to play it in any CD player (e.g., your car's stereo).
    12. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I have Mac OS X. How do I create audio recordings of me speaking that I can make into CDs, upload to the internet and sell?
    Community Answer
    You can just record audio as normal, then you can burn it onto CD. Using iTunes, you can drag and drop your recording in the playlist or song list.
    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 5 Helpful 7
  • Question
    What software do you need to burn a CD?
    Community Answer
    It depends on what system you are using. Most operating systems come with CD burning software pre-installed.
    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 10 Helpful 12
  • Question
    How do I finalize a CD on my computer as a DVD?
    Community Answer
    You don't. You finalize a CD as a CD. However, finalizing a DVD is the same process, really.
    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 1 Helpful 5
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Simple Ways to Create & Burn a CD Using macOS X
      Copy & Burn Audio CDs Using Windows Media Player
      How to
      Burn Music to an Audio CD
      How to
      Create an ISO from a Folder, File, or Disc
      4 Ways to Remove Scratches from a CD So You Can Use It
      How to
      Rip a DVD
      How to
      Fix a Scratched DVD
      How to
      Copy a DVD Movie
      How to
      Burn a DVD
      How to
      Burn Songs on to a CD
      Simple Ways to Clean a CD (and Remove Scratches)
      How to
      Convert a CD or DVD to ISO Image Files
      How to
      Clean a DVD
      How to
      Make a DVD Cover
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/burn-and-rip-cds-235021d5-e1c7-8616-4efd-4f4965fe6b91

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,213,384 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Marie Leday

        Oct 30, 2016

        "Easy to understand. Straight to the point instructions with very helpful photos for visual reference."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement