Burn a CD in Windows 11

Burning a CD in 2024 isn’t as easy as it was when CD drives came built into every desktop and laptop PC, but it’s still simple if you have the right equipment. With a CD burner on hand, you can burn CDs in Windows 11 just like you could in previous versions. Whether you want to create a data CD or a music CD, here’s how to burn one in a few quick steps.

How do I burn a data CD?

Our favorite CD burning tool for Windows 11, whether you're burning a data CD or a music DC, is CDBurnerXP. Download it from the official website (don't be put off by the retro aesthetic, it works perfectly in Windows 11).

Would you consider another storage solution? How about a large external drive?

Step 1: Install the application as you would any other and run it. When prompted, select Data disk followed by OK.

Step 2: Insert the blank CD-R or CD-RW into your CD burner.

Step 3: Select the Add button and use Windows File Explorer to find all the files you want to add to the CD. Select them and then select Open for each.

Note the green fill indicator at the bottom of the CDBurnerXP application window. This tells you how much space you have left on the CD.

Step 4: Once you have added all the files you want to your CD, select the Burn icon to begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish burning your CD.

How to burn a music CD?

Burning a music CD in Windows 11 is just as easy as creating a data CD with our favorite CD burning app. Download CDBurnerXP from the official website to get started.

Step 1: Once installed, run the app and select when prompted Audio disc.

Step 2: Select the Add button and then use Windows Explorer to add the music files you want to add to the CD. Select Open for each.

Note the green fill indicator at the bottom of the CDBurnerXP application window. This tells you how much space you have left on the CD.

Step 3: Once you have added all the music files you want, select Burn button to begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish burning your CD.

Now that you know how to burn a CD, why not learn a little about their history? They’ve been a major storage technology for decades. While optical discs may not be widely used today, that could change if a new storage medium proves commercially viable.