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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo convert an audio CD, use a CD/DVD drive and a music app to import its tracks as files. On Windows, Windows Media Player can rip to MP3, WMA, or WAV; on a Mac, the Music app imports CDs with AAC by default. Check the files on your computer, then transfer or sync them using the method supported by your phone and music app.
Before you start: connect a CD/DVD drive
An audio CD has to be read by an optical drive. If your computer has no built-in CD/DVD drive, connect an external one. Apple’s instructions cover using a connected external drive with Music on Mac: Apple: Import songs from CDs into Music on Mac.
Insert the disc and confirm the computer recognizes it as an audio CD. The steps below create music files on the computer; they do not automatically put those files on a phone.
Choose a file format before importing
Pick the format based on where you plan to listen, how much storage you have, and whether you need to preserve the CD’s audio data without lossy compression. A lossless file preserves the source data, but it cannot restore information that is not on the CD.
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| Format | When it may fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Broad compatibility and smaller files | Supported by Windows Media Player and listed in Apple’s iTunes import settings. It is a compressed, lossy format. |
| AAC | An Apple-oriented music library | Apple Music on Mac uses AAC by default. Check that the intended playback app or device supports it if you use another ecosystem. |
| Apple Lossless (ALAC) | Keeping the CD audio data in a lossless file | Listed in Apple’s iTunes import settings; files take more space than lossy compressed formats. |
| WAV or AIFF | Uncompressed audio or particular software needs | These are higher-space options listed in Apple’s guidance. Windows Media Player also supports WAV. |
Apple identifies CD audio as 44.1 kHz and says choosing a higher sample rate when encoding from a CD is unnecessary: Apple: Choose import settings in iTunes on PC. Upsampling does not add detail that was absent from the source.
Rip a CD in Windows Media Player
- Connect or use a CD/DVD drive, insert the audio CD, and open Windows Media Player.
- Before importing, open Rip settings and choose a format and audio quality. Windows Media Player supports WMA, WAV, and MP3. Choose the save location here if you do not want the default Music folder.
- Clear the checkboxes beside any tracks you do not want, then select Rip CD.
- After ripping, open the Music folder or the custom location you selected and play the files to check them.
Windows Media Player cannot change a file’s format or quality after it has been ripped, so set those options first. Microsoft’s instructions are at Microsoft Support: Burn and rip CDs.
Check album and track information
An internet connection can help Windows Media Player find album, artist, and track details. If names are missing or the match is wrong, use Find album info and correct the metadata before relying on those file names in your library.
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Import a CD in Music on Mac
- Insert the CD into the Mac’s drive or connect an external CD/DVD drive. If the disc does not appear, select it in the Music sidebar.
- Choose whether to import every track or deselect tracks you want to skip.
- Select Import CD. Music uses AAC by default.
- To change the encoder, go to Music > Settings > Files > Import Settings, choose the desired option, and confirm before importing.
- Play the imported songs in your Music library to check that they sound right.
If a disc is difficult to read, enable Use error correction when reading Audio CDs in Import Settings and try again. Apple estimates a whole CD typically imports in about 10 minutes, but actual time varies; Apple notes that an individual song taking more than 10 minutes may indicate a dirty or scratched disc. Its guidance is to clean the disc with a soft, lint-free cloth and retry. For pops or clicks, retry with error correction enabled. See Apple’s Music for Mac CD import instructions.
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Organize the files and add them to a phone
On Windows, find the ripped songs in the Music folder or the alternate location set in Rip settings. On Mac, imported songs appear in the Music library. Confirm the files play on the computer before transferring them.
For Apple Music on Windows, use the app’s Import action to add a file or folder. Depending on the library setting, the app may leave the original file where it is and keep a reference to that location rather than copying the file into its own storage. Avoid moving or deleting the original unless you know the library is set up to copy or store it elsewhere. See Apple: Import music from a computer to Apple Music on Windows.
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Phone transfer steps vary by iPhone or Android model and by music app, so there is no single transfer sequence that fits every device. Once the files play on your computer, follow your phone maker’s current music transfer or sync instructions, or the instructions for the music app you use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix common CD-ripping problems
The CD is not recognized
Check that the drive is connected and that the disc is an audio CD. Try reopening the app or reconnecting the drive. If possible, try another drive; Apple recommends this when a disc cannot be imported.
Tracks appear as “Track 01” or have incorrect names
The app may not have found disc metadata. Use Windows Media Player’s Find album info or the metadata editing and lookup options in your music app to correct the album, artist, and track names.
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Import is unusually slow or the music has clicks or pops
Inspect the disc and clean it with a soft, lint-free cloth. In Music on Mac, enable error correction for the import and retry. A slow individual track can signal a dirty or scratched disc.
A song stops playing after you move it
Apple Music on Windows may be pointing to the original file rather than holding a copy. Restore the file to its original location, or configure the library’s storage behavior and import it again before moving the source file.
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