How to Burn Audio and Data CDs on a MacBook: Quick & Easy Tutorial

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Learn how to create CDs in Music, iTunes, and Finder on your Mac
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CDs are becoming a less common way to store data and music, but there are still times when you may want to burn one. If you have a newer MacBook, you’ll need an external CD drive. But if you have the right equipment, it’s easy to do with the built-in software on your Mac. We’ll show you how.

Quick Steps

  1. Create a playlist in the Music app with the songs you want to burn.
  2. Attach an external CD drive to your MacBook and insert a blank CD-R.
  3. Select File > Burn Playlist to Disc .
  4. Customize your burn settings and click Burn .
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Getting the Right Equipment

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  1. If you have a MacBook that was manufactured after 2012 or so, it won’t have a built-in CD drive. You’ll need to get an external one that you can plug into your USB port.
    • Apple makes its own external CD/DVD drives, but you can also buy third-party models that are compatible with Mac. For modern MacBooks, you’ll need to get one with a USB-C connector or use an adapter.
    • For the best results, Apple recommends using an Apple Combo drive or SuperDrive. If you’re using a third-party drive, look for one that can burn CD-RWs. [1]
  2. To burn a CD on your MacBook, you’ll need a blank CD-R (a recordable CD) or CD-RW (a recordable disk that can be burned more than once). You’ll need to pick one that’s compatible with your CD burner. Here’s how to check: [2]
    • Click the
      Mac Apple
      Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen, then select System Settings > General .
    • In the menu in the right pane, click About , then scroll down and click System Report… on the bottom.
    • In the menu on the left, select Disc Burning under the Hardware header. You’ll see information about what kinds of CDs your external drive can burn.
      • If your drive isn’t plugged in and turned on, you’ll see a message that says “No disc burning device was found. If the device is external, make sure it’s connected and turned on.”
    • Keep in mind that CD-Rs will work in most CD players, while CD-RWs usually only work in computers. [3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Burning an Audio CD in Music

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  1. If you have a MacBook running macOS Catalina or later, you can burn an audio CD with the Music app. To get started, launch the Music app and put together a playlist with the songs you want to burn. [4]
    • In Music, click File > New > Playlist .
    • Enter a title for your playlist. If you like, click the + button to add other information, like album art and a description for the playlist.
    • Click Create .
    • Browse your Library and drag any songs you like into the playlist. You can also Ctrl-click a song and select Add to Playlist , then select your playlist.
  2. Open the playlist and click View > as Songs in the menu bar. Look for checkmarks next to all the songs you want to include on your CD. [5]
    • Select or deselect songs on the list by checking or unchecking them.
    • If you don’t see checkboxes, click Music > Settings > General and make sure Songs list checkboxes is enabled.
  3. Make sure the drive is connected and turned on.
  4. Click File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click Burn Playlist to Disc . If you don’t see this option, it likely means that there are usage restrictions on some or all of the songs on your playlist.
    • Some songs can only be burned a limited number of times. For example, iTunes Store purchases with DRM protections can be burned up to 7 times.
  5. Depending on what types of audio files you have on your playlist, some formats may work better than others. If you want a simple audio CD that can play in any stereo, choose Audio CD . For a disc that can play any type of audio file supported by Music and contains all the data associated with each track (not just the audio), select Data CD or DVD . Just keep in mind that this format might not work in all CD players. [6]
    • Make sure you don’t have MP3 CD selected if you’re trying to burn AAC files.
  6. You’ll be able to choose from a few different settings to customize how your CD plays. For example:
    • Preferred Speed : The recording speed settings affect how quickly the CD will burn. Just keep in mind that slower recording speeds result in a higher-quality burn.
    • Gap Between Songs : This setting allows you to choose how much time goes by between tracks.
    • Use Sound Check : Selecting this option will ensure that all songs on the disc play at the same volume.
    • Include CD Text : This will allow certain CD players to display information associated with your songs (such as track titles, artist names, etc.).
  7. It may take several minutes for the process to complete. While you can cancel at any time by clicking the x next to the progress bar, keep in mind that you won’t be able to re-record the disc unless it’s a CD-RW. You’ll have to start fresh with a new CD.
    • You might be prompted to burn a second disc if there’s not enough room on the first one for your whole playlist. Any track information (such as song titles) will only be recorded on the second disc.
    • If the burn stops when it reaches a particular song, that song might not be authorized to play on your computer. Try double-clicking the song and entering the Apple ID account information used to purchase that track. [7]
    • You can also print out a list of the tracks on your playlist to put in your CD case. With the playlist still open, press Command-P and select CD jewel case insert .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Burning an Audio CD in iTunes

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  1. If you’re using a MacBook that’s running an older version of macOS (Mojave or earlier), you can burn an audio CD in iTunes . Launch iTunes and click File > New > Playlist . Type a name for the playlist and press Return .
  2. Browse your library and click any song you like, then drag and drop it onto the name of your playlist in the left-hand menu.
    • Songs can be in any format, but to preserve the high-quality, lossless audio found on the original disc, it is recommended that the original files be ripped to Apple Lossless or AIFF format.
  3. Use a CD-R if you want the CD to be compatible with most stereos.
  4. Make sure the playlist you want to burn is selected. When you click Burn Playlist to Disc , a new window will pop open.
  5. In the pop-up menu, you can customize your CD before you burn it. Select from the following options:
    • Click the Audio CD radio button to make sure your CD burns as a playable audio disc.
    • Choose the burn speed from the Preferred Speed dropdown menu. Slower burns will produce higher-quality results but will, of course, take longer.
    • Select how long you want the gap to be between tracks.
    • Tick the Use Sound Check box to ensure that all tracks play at the same volume.
  6. This usually only takes a couple of minutes. When you’re done, eject the disc .
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Burning a Data CD in Finder

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  1. You’ll need to use a CD-R or CD-RW. The disc will appear on your MacBook’s desktop.
    • If you’ve never used a CD with your Mac before, a window may pop up asking what action you’d like to take. Select Open Finder . If you like, you can make this the default any time you insert a disc. [8]
  2. A Finder window will open, showing the contents of the disc.
  3. When you do this, the original files won’t be removed from your computer. Instead, your Mac will create a copy of each file, called an alias, that will be burned to the disc.
  4. If you want to rename any of the files, do so now. You can also rearrange them if you want (e.g., by creating new folders and subfolders within the disc). Once you burn the disc, you won’t be able to make any more changes.
  5. With the disc window selected, click File at the top of your screen and select Burn [disc] . Follow the instructions to begin the burn process.
    • If you eject the disc without burning it, any files and folders you copied to it will be saved on your desktop in a burn folder . You can always use this folder to burn the disc later.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using a Burn Folder

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  1. A burn folder is a special type of folder that stores alias files so you can quickly and easily burn them to a CD or other writable disc. This is a great option if you want to make multiple copies of a CD without dragging and dropping all the files to the disc each time. To get started, click on your Desktop, then select File > New Burn Folder from the menu at the top of the screen. [9]
    • If you don’t want to store the burn folder on your desktop, open your preferred location in Finder, then select New Burn Folder from the File menu.
    • You’ll only see the New Burn Folder option if your CD drive is connected to your computer and turned on. You’ll need to connect it now, even if you don’t plan to burn a disc right away.
  2. This will create copies, or aliases, of the original files. The originals won’t be moved or deleted.
    • Arrange and rename the files however you like in the burn folder. Once the disc is burned, you won’t be able to make any more changes.
  3. If your burn folder appears in the sidebar menu in Finder, you can also click the Burn icon next to it (it looks like a circle with alternating light and dark wedges inside, similar to a radioactive waste symbol).
  4. Once there’s a burnable CD in your disc drive, you’ll see instructions for formatting and burning the disc. Follow the prompts to complete the burn process.
    • Be careful not to move or delete any of the original files that you used to create the aliases. If your computer can’t find an original file, it won’t be able to burn the alias to the disc.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Where is the box to put a check mark when I get a message telling me to put a check next to the song I want to burn to a CD?
    Community Answer
    It sounds like you are using a CD-R and not a CD-RW. If you already burned music to the CD-R, you can't do it again later. One time shot.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    Will I be able to play the burned CD in my car?
    Community Answer
    This depends on the file format in which your CD was burned and what your car will accept. Typically most CDs are burned in a .wav file format which is an analog signal. All CD players will play these. Some cars will accept CDs which are burned with .mp3 files. A CD burned with .wav files can typically only store 10-20 songs. A CD burned with .mp3 files can store hundreds, because the files are compressed.
    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 0 Helpful 5
  • Question
    Why does my CD eject without burning?
    Bryan Beege Berry
    Community Answer
    It is possible that the CD already has an image on it or is unsuitable for burning for another reason. It's also possible that your burning software has a bug, improper settings were selected, or your burner may not be operating properly. We'd really need more information to determine what the problem is.
    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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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/problems-burning-a-disc-mus5d05d62ba/mac
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/find-mac-burn-discs-optical-drive-mchlp1351/mac
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/intro-to-burning-cds-and-dvds-mus03854c438/mac
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/create-edit-and-delete-playlists-musd5d051981/1.4/mac/14.0
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/create-your-own-cds-and-dvds-mus890140c28/mac
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/problems-burning-a-disc-mus5d05d62ba/mac
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/music/problems-burning-a-disc-mus5d05d62ba/mac
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/burn-cds-and-dvds-mchl8addfd95/mac
      9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/create-a-burn-folder-mac-hold-files-cd-dvd-mchlp2806/mac

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