How to burn an MP3 CD in Windows 10 (5 easy ways)

Learn how to burn an MP3 CD in Windows 10 with and without using extra CD burning software.

You can use the built-in CD burning feature in File Explorer and Windows Media Player, or extra CD burning software, like Nero Burning Rom, Ashampoo Burning Studio, or ImgBurn.

File Explorer

Windows 10 File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer in previous Windows versions) has a built-in CD and DVD burning feature.

Note: If you want to burn MP3 files to an Audio CD that can play on any CD player and car stereo, then you should use the second method (with Windows Media Player) on this page.

Tips:

  • If you want to have an organized MP3 CD, then it's a good idea to create folders on your computer and copy the MP3 files into these folders before you start the burning process.
  • I recommend using a CD-R instead of a CD-RW (rewritable) because not all CD players can play rewritable CDs properly.
  • Place all MP3 files or folders in one folder and make sure that the total file size of that folder does not exceed the capacity of your CD (usually 650 MB or 700 MB). To view the file size of a folder, right-click on the folder and then click on Properties.

1. Insert a blank (empty) CD into the CD burner drive of your PC.

2. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer).

Open File Explorer in Windows 10

3. Go to the MP3 files or folders you want to burn to a CD.

4. Select the MP3 files or folders.

Select MP3 files in Windows

5. Right-click on the selected files or folders, go to Send to and choose your CD burner drive (e.g., DVD RW Drive (E:) or CD RW Drive (E:) ).

Copy MP3 files to CD burner drive in Windows

A “Burn a Disc” window will appear.

6. At Disc title, you enter a name for your disc.

7. Select With a CD/DVD player.

8. Click on Next.

Burn a Disc window in Windows

Windows will now copy your files or folders to the CD burner drive of your PC and when it's done copying it will open the CD burner drive in a new window.

If it doesn't open the drive in a new window, then open Windows Explorer (File Explorer) and then click on the drive located in the left sidebar.

CD burner drive in Windows Explorer

9. When you're done copying files or folders to your CD burner drive, you click on Drive Tools located in the top menu of Windows Explorer.

Drive Tools in Windows Explorer

10. Click on Finish burning.

Burn an MP3 CD in Windows

A “Burn to Disc” window will appear.

11. At Recording speed, you can select a burning speed. The maximum speed you can select depends on the capacity of the CD/DVD burner of your PC and the capacity of the CD or DVD.

12. Click on the Next button.

Microsoft Windows will now burn your MP3 CD.

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a media player with a built-in CD burning feature that's built-in Windows 10.

Tip: I recommend using a CD-R instead of a CD-RW (rewritable) because not all CD players can play rewritable CDs properly.

1. Insert a blank (empty) CD into the CD burner drive of your computer.

2. Open Windows Media Player.

3. Click on the Burn tab located in the top right corner (between the Play and Sync tabs).

Windows Media Player Burn tab

4. Click on the Burn options icon and choose one of the following options:

  • Data CD or DVD: if you want to burn MP3 files to a data CD. This CD will only play on computers and on CD players and car stereos that support the MP3 audio format.
  • Audio CD: if you want to burn MP3 files to an Audio CD. This CD will play on any CD player and car stereo.
Windows Media Player burn options

5. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer).

Open File Explorer in Windows 10

6. Go to the MP3 files you want to burn to a CD.

7. Make sure that the File Explorer window and Windows Media Player are both visible and located next to each other.

8. Drag the MP3 files from File Explorer to the burn list in Windows Media Player.

Drag MP3 files from Windows Explorer to Windows Media Player Burn list

Note: The total time or file size (MB) cannot exceed the capacity of your CD (usually 74 or 80 minutes or 650 MB or 700 MB).

Tip: You can view the time in minutes or file size in MB you have left on your CD at _:_ free of _ mins (e.g., 20:03 free of 80 mins) or _ MB free of _ MB (e.g., 559 MB free of 702 MB) located just above the Burn list.

Time or file size left on disc in Windows Media Player

9. You can also reorder the songs in the “Burn” list by dragging and dropping the songs into the position of your choice.

10. When you're ready, you click on Start burn located above the Burn list and underneath the Play tab.

Burn an MP3 CD using Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player will now burn your MP3 CD.

Nero Burning Rom

Nero Burning Rom is a well-known program for burning and copying CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, and other disc-related tasks.

It's easy to use and has a lot of extra features.

You can visit the product page for more information about the program.

Visit product page

Tips:

  • If you want to have an organized MP3 CD, then it's a good idea to create folders on your computer and copy the MP3 files into these folders before you start the burning process.
  • I recommend using a CD-R instead of a CD-RW (rewritable) because not all CD players can play rewritable CDs properly.

1. Insert a blank (empty) CD into the CD burner drive of your PC.

2. Open Nero Burning Rom.

A “New Compilation” window will appear.

Note: If the new compilation window does not appear, you click on File located in the top left corner and then choose New from the drop-down menu.

Open a new compilation window in Nero Burning Rom

3. Select CD from the selection menu located in the top left corner of the “New Compilation” window.

4. Click on CD-ROM (ISO) to select this option.

Nero Burning Rom CD-ROM (ISO) option

5. Click on the New button at the bottom right of the “New Compilation” window.

Nero Burning Rom New button

6. In the right section of Nero Burning Rom, you go to the MP3 files or folders you want to burn to a CD.

7. Drag the songs or folders from the right section (File Browser) to the left section (Disc Content).

Drag MP3 songs or folders to Disc Content section in Nero Burning Rom

Tip: At the bottom of Nero Burning Rom you can view how much MB in file size you have left on your disc (how much music you still can add to your disc).

Nero Burning Rom total size on disc

8. When you're ready, you click on Burn located in the top toolbar.

Nero Burning Rom Burn button

Or you click on Recorder located in the top menu, and then click on Burn Compilation.

Nero Burning Rom Burn Compilation menu entry

A “Burn Compilation” window will appear.

9. In the Writing section, at Write speed, you can select a burning speed. The maximum speed you can select depends on the capacity of the CD burner of your PC and the capacity of the CD.

10. At Number of copies, you can enter the number of copies. This option is for people who want to burn more copies of the CD.

11. When you're ready, you click on the Burn button at the bottom right of the “New Compilation” window.

Nero Burning Rom Burn Compilation window

Nero Burning Rom will now burn your MP3 CD.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free is a free program for burning and copying CDs and DVDs and other disc-related tasks.

This program's user-friendly interface, menu, and step-by-step wizard will help you achieve your disc-related tasks, easily and quickly.

You can visit the product page for more information about the program and to download the program.

Visit product page

Tips:

  • If you want to have an organized MP3 CD, then it's a good idea to create folders on your computer and copy the MP3 files into these folders before you start the burning process.
  • I recommend using a CD-R instead of a CD-RW (rewritable) because not all CD players can play rewritable CDs properly.

1. Insert a blank (empty) CD into the CD burner drive of your computer.

2. Open Ashampoo Burning Studio Free.

3. In the left menu, you move your mouse cursor (pointer) on Audio + Music and then click on Create MP3 or WMA Disc.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Create Mp3 or WMA Disc mode

4. At Output Format, you make sure that MP3 is selected.

5. At Bitrate you select a bitrate (e.g., 192 kBit/s or 256 kBit/s).

6. You also have the option to normalize the volume of all tracks. This will make the volume of all tracks on the CD roughly the same.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Output Format Options

7. Click on the Next button located in the bottom right corner.

8. Click on the + button located in the top right corner.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Add files button

A “Add Files and Folders” window will appear.

9. Within this window, you go to the MP3 files or folders you want to burn to a CD.

10. Select the songs or folders.

11. Click on the Add button at the bottom right of the “Add Files and Folders” window.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Add Files and Folders window

Tip: At Free Space on CD located at the bottom, you can view how much MB in file size you have left on your disc (how much music you still can add to your disc).

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Free Space on CD

12. When you're done adding files or folders to your compilation, you click on the Close button at the bottom right of the “Add Files and Folders” window.

13. Click on the Next button located in the bottom right corner.

Ashampoo Burning Studio may convert your MP3 files.

This may have something to do with the bitrate you have chosen.

When the converting is finished, it will bring you to the next screen.

14. Now you will have the following optional “write” options in the bottom left corner:

  • Simulate will simulate recording before burning
  • Verify to verify written files and folders after recording (the content of the disc will be compared with the original files)
  • Disc at once this will burn the disc in one go, instead of burning each track individually
  • Cache Data to copy all data to hard disk image file first (slower, but can prevent write errors)
Ashampoo Burning Studio Free write options

15. In the bottom right corner, at Speed, you can select a burning speed. The maximum speed you can select depends on the capacity of the CD burner of your PC and the capacity of the CD.

16. You can also select the number of copies. This option is for people who want to burn more copies of the CD.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free burn speed and number of copies options

17. When you're ready, you click on the Write CD button at the bottom right.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free will now burn your MP3 CD.

ImgBurn

ImgBurn website

Warning! This software may offer unnecessary software during its installation. So, pay attention during the installation and decline any offers.

Tips:

  • If you want to have an organized MP3 CD, then it's a good idea to create folders on your computer and copy the MP3 files into these folders before you start the burning process.
  • I recommend using a CD-R instead of a CD-RW (rewritable) because not all CD players can play rewritable CDs properly.

1. Insert a blank (empty) CD into the CD burner drive of your PC.

2. Open ImgBurn.

3. Click on Write files/folders to disc.

ImgBurn Write files/folders to disc

4. In the Source section, you click on the file icon if you want to add MP3 files, or you click on the folder icon if you want to add folders that contain MP3 files.

ImgBurn add file and add folder button

You can also click on File located in the top left corner and then click on Browse for a source file or Browse for a source folder.

Imgburn browse for a source file or folder

A “Open” or “Select folder to add” window will appear.

5. Within this window, you go to the MP3 files or folders you want to burn to a CD.

6. Select the songs or folder. Note: Folders need to be added one by one.

7. Click on the Open or Select Folder button at the bottom right of the “Open” or “Select folder to add” window.

ImgBurn open files and select folder window

Tip: If you click on the calculator icon in the Information tab located at the right, ImgBurn will calculate how much percentage of free space you have left on your CD (how much music you can still add).

ImgBurn calculator

8. In the Destination section, you make sure that the CD burner drive of your PC is selected.

9. When you're ready, you click on the “folder → disc” (build) button at the bottom of ImgBurn.

ImgBurn Build button

ImgBurn will now burn your MP3 CD.