What you need before you start

To add music to a CD, you need three things: a computer with a CD drive that can write (sometimes called a "burner"), blank recordable CDs (look for the letters "CD-R" on the package), and music files already on your computer. Most laptops made after 2015 do not have built-in CD drives, so you may need to buy an external USB CD drive — they cost between $20 and $50 and work with both Windows and Mac.

The music files can come from your own collection, from a streaming service that lets you read (like Spotify Premium or Apple Music), or from other legal sources. The process is different depending on whether you use Windows or Mac, so find your operating system below and follow those steps exactly.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a CD drive that can write data, blank CD-R discs, and music files already saved on your computer.
  • Windows computers use Windows Media Player or third-party software like ImgBurn; Mac computers use Finder or iTunes.
  • The process takes about 10 to 20 minutes from start to finish, depending on how many songs you are adding.
  • Once you insert a blank CD and start the burn process, do not remove the disc or interrupt your computer until it finishes.
  • A standard CD holds about 700 megabytes of data, which is roughly 80 minutes of music at normal quality.

How to burn a CD on Windows using Windows Media Player

Open Windows Media Player (search for it in your Start menu). In the top menu, click the "Burn" tab — you will see a blank area on the right side labeled "Burn List". Drag and drop your music files into that area, or right-click on a song and select "Add to Burn List". Arrange the songs in the order you want them by dragging them up or down in the list.

Insert a blank CD-R into your drive. Windows will recognize it automatically. Click the "Start Burn" button at the top of the Burn List. Your computer will write the songs to the disc — this takes several minutes depending on how many songs you added. Do not remove the disc or put your computer to sleep while it is burning. When the burn finishes, the disc will eject automatically and you can remove it.

How to burn a CD on Mac using Finder

Open Finder and locate the music files you want to add. You can select multiple files by holding down the Command key and clicking each one. Right-click on your selection and choose "Burn [number] items to disc". A dialog box will appear asking you to insert a blank CD-R.

Insert the blank disc into your Mac's drive. The burn dialog will appear again. Choose your burn speed (slower speeds are more reliable) and click "Burn". Your Mac will write the files to the disc. Like Windows, do not remove the disc or close your computer during the burn. When finished, the disc will eject and you can remove it.

Using iTunes to burn a CD on Mac or Windows

If you use iTunes, you can burn a CD directly from your music library. Create a new playlist in iTunes and drag the songs you want onto it. Right-click the playlist name and select "Burn Playlist to Disc". Insert a blank CD-R when prompted.

A burn dialog will open. You can choose the disc format — "Audio CD" is the standard choice and will play in any CD player, while "MP3 CD" holds more songs but only plays in devices that support MP3. Select your format, choose your burn speed, and click "Burn". Wait for the process to finish before removing the disc.

What to do if your computer does not have a CD drive

If your laptop or desktop does not have a built-in CD drive, buy an external USB CD drive. These plug into any USB port on your computer and work when ready — no installation needed. They are available from electronics retailers and online stores. Once connected, follow the same steps above for your operating system. The external drive will appear in your file manager just like a built-in drive.

If you do not want to buy a drive, you can also store your music on a USB flash drive instead, which most people find easier and faster anyway.

How much music fits on one CD

A standard blank CD-R holds about 700 megabytes of data. At normal music quality (320 kilobits per second), this is roughly 80 minutes of music, or about 15 to 20 songs depending on their length. If you try to add more music than the disc can hold, your burning software will warn you before you start the burn.

If you have more music than fits on one disc, you can create multiple CDs. Just burn the first batch, remove the disc, insert a new blank one, and repeat with the remaining songs.

Troubleshooting common problems

The burn fails or stops halfway through. This usually means your computer was too busy doing something else. Close all other programs, disable your internet connection temporarily, and try again. Also try a slower burn speed if your software offers that option.

The disc works in your computer but not in a CD player. You probably burned it as an MP3 CD instead of an Audio CD. Audio CD is the format that plays in standard CD players. Check your burn settings and try again with a new blank disc.

Your computer does not recognize the blank disc. The disc may be damaged or the drive may need cleaning. Try a different blank disc from a different package. If that does not work, your drive may be failing and you should consider replacing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add music to a CD that already has songs on it?

No. Once a CD-R is burned, you cannot add more music to it. You can only burn data to a blank disc once. If you want to add more songs, you need a new blank CD-R. There is a different type called CD-RW that can be erased and rewritten, but they are less reliable and do not work in all CD players.

What is the difference between CD-R and CD-RW?

CD-R (recordable) can be written to once and then is permanent. CD-RW (rewritable) can be erased and written to multiple times, but they are more expensive, less compatible with older CD players, and more prone to errors. For most people, CD-R is the better choice.

Will the CD I burn play in a regular CD player?

Yes, if you burn it as an Audio CD format. This is the standard format that any CD player will recognize. If you burn it as an MP3 CD, it will only play in devices that support MP3 files, which includes most modern CD players but not all older ones.

How long does it take to burn a CD?

Most burns take 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many songs you are adding and your burn speed. Slower burn speeds (like 4x or 8x) take longer but are more reliable. Faster speeds (16x or higher) are quicker but have a higher failure rate.

Can I burn music from a streaming service like Spotify?

Only if that service lets you read the songs first. Spotify Premium and Apple Music both allow downloads to your device. Once downloaded, the files appear on your computer and you can burn them to a CD using the steps above. You cannot burn music that is only streaming without being downloaded.