How to burn a CD or DVD in Windows 10 and 11
Windows 10 and 11 can burn data discs in File Explorer and audio CDs in Windows Media Player. No third-party software required.
Windows 10 and 11 include built-in burning tools: File Explorer for data discs and Windows Media Player for audio CDs. You can burn MP3s, documents, photos, and video files without extra software.
Hardware requirement: Before starting, make sure your computer has a CD/DVD drive that can write to discs (look for "DVD-RW" or "CD-RW" on the drive). Drives labeled "DVD-ROM" or "CD-ROM" can only read, not write.
Step 1: Choose the right disc format
When you insert a blank CD or DVD into your computer, Windows will prompt you with a configuration window asking how you want to use the disc. This choice affects where the disc will play:
| Disc format type | How Windows treats it | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Like a USB flash drive | Uses the Live File System. You can add, edit, or delete files over time, but the disc only works on computers running Windows, Linux, or macOS. | File backups, sharing documents, or discs you keep adding to over time. |
| With a CD/DVD player | Uses the Mastered format. All files are written at once, and the disc becomes read-only. Works in car stereos, standalone CD/DVD players, and older computers. | Audio CDs, permanent data backups, and home movie video discs. |
File Explorer vs. Windows Media Player: Which to Use
Use the table below to pick the right tool for what you want to burn:
| What are you burning? | File Explorer | Windows Media Player |
|---|---|---|
| Data disc: Any file type (documents, photos, audio, video, installers) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio CD: Tracks that play in car stereos and standalone players | ✗ (Data disc only) | ✓ (True audio CD) |
| DVD-Video: Raw movie folders (VIDEO_TS directories) | ✓ | ✗ |
Method 1: Burn a Data CD or DVD in Windows 10 and 11 (File Explorer)
Use File Explorer to burn data discs (photos, documents, videos, installers). The steps are the same in Windows 10 and 11.
- Insert a blank CD-R into the disc tray. Avoid CD-RW discs: older car stereos often can't read them.
- Open File Explorer (press the Windows + E keys on your keyboard).
- Navigate to This PC in the left sidebar menu.
- Double-click the CD/DVD drive. A "Burn a Disc" window appears.
- Enter a descriptive title for your disc.
- Select the With a CD/DVD player option.
- Click Next.
- A blank folder opens. Drag files into it, or copy and paste them in. Windows shows "Files Ready to Be Written to the Disc" next to each file.
- Click the three dots (...) menu at the top of the toolbar in Windows 11 and select Finish burning (in Windows 10, click the Drive Tools tab at the top of the window and select Finish burning).
- Choose your recording speed (default is recommended).
- Click Next.
The drive starts writing. Wait for the tray to pop open when it's done.
Method 2: Burn an Audio CD in Windows 10 and 11 (Windows Media Player)
To make an audio CD that plays in a car stereo or home system, you need Windows Media Player. Dragging MP3s into a data disc through File Explorer won't work for this.
- Insert a blank CD-R into the disc tray. Avoid CD-RW discs: older car stereos often can't read them.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) on the taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type wmp or windows media player.
- Press Enter on your keyboard or click on Windows Media Player.
- Click on the Burn tab located in the top-right menu panel corner.
- Click the small options dropdown menu icon in the upper-right corner of the burn panel and verify that Audio CD is selected (not Data CD).
- Open File Explorer alongside Media Player, navigate to your music directories, and drag your audio tracks directly into the Media Player Burn list sidebar.
- Arrange tracks in the order you want them to play. Check the time remaining at the bottom of the list. A standard CD holds about 80 minutes of music.
- Click the Start burn button at the top of the pane.
A progress bar shows the percentage for each track. The tray pops open when the burn is done.
A note on audio format conversion: Windows Media Player converts your files automatically. Drag MP3, WAV, or WMA files into the list and it converts them to standard CD audio format (the format car stereos and home players expect).
Related:
How to burn videos to a DVD on Windows 10 and 11
How to rip an Audio CD in Windows 10 and 11 (4 ways)
How to copy a DVD to your computer in Windows 10 and 11
How to copy a CD to another CD with only one drive (2 ways)
How to copy a DVD to another DVD with only one drive (2 ways)