How to Rip CDs to MP3

This article shows you how to copy songs from a CD to your computer in MP3 format. Songs on CDs are often in CDA format - a type of file that can only be played when the CD is inserted into the computer. You can make copies of CDs using iTunes on Windows and Mac computers, or you can use Windows Media Player on Windows computers that have the program built in.

Use iTunes

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 1 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 1

Insert the CD into your computer's CD drive with the label side facing up.

If your computer does not have a CD drive, you will need to use a USB drive to read CDs. If you do this on a Mac, make sure you choose the USB-C version (not the USB 3 version) of your CD player.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 2 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 2

Open the iTunes app with the multicolored music note icon on a white background.

You need to download iTunes first if your computer does not have this program.

If iTunes notifies you that a new update is available, click Download iTunes when prompted, then install the update. You will need to restart your computer after the update is complete.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 3 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 3

Enable MP3 conversion in the following way:

Click Edit (on Windows) or iTunes (on Mac).

Click Preferences. (Preferences).

Click Import Settings. (Copy settings.)

Click the Import Using menu .

Click MP3 Encoder (MP3 Encoder)

Click OK twice.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 4 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 4

Click the CD icon in the upper left corner of the iTunes window. This will open the CD page allowing you to view the list of tracks on the CD.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 5 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 5

Select songs from the CD. Click a song, then press Ctrl+ A(Windows) or ⌘ Command+ A(Mac) to select all songs.

You can also click and drag your mouse from bottom to top of the list.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 6 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 6

Click File in the top-left corner of the iTunes window (on Windows) or the top-left corner of the screen (on Mac) to open a list of options.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 7 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 7

Choose Convert near the bottom of the File menu to open another menu.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 8 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 8

Click Create MP3 Version in the menu that appears. This is the operation of copying the content of a CD to a computer in MP3 format.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 9 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 9

Wait for the CD burning process to complete. Once the CD burning process is complete, you will hear a notification and the progress bar at the top of the iTunes window will disappear.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 10 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 10

Find the CD's album in your iTunes library. Click the "Back" button in the upper left corner of the iTunes window, then click the Albums tab and find the album you just copied to iTunes.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 11 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 11

Select a song from the album. You can click on any song.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 12 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 12

Click File in the menu that appears.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 13 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 13

Click Show in Windows Explorer on Windows or Show in Finder on Mac. This will open the folder containing the MP3 files ripped from the CD.

Use Windows Media Player

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 14 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 14

Insert the CD into your computer's CD drive with the label side facing up.

If your computer doesn't have a CD drive, you'll need to use a USB CD reader.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 15 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 15

Open Start by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 16 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 16

Type windows media playerto search for the Windows Media Player program on your computer.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 17 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 17

Click Windows Media Player at the top of the Start window to open it.

After a few seconds, if you don't see the Windows Media Player program displayed above Start, it means your computer doesn't have this program yet. You can use iTunes.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 18 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 18

Click the Library tab in the upper left corner of the Windows Media Player window to open it.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 19 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 19

Select the name of the CD. On the left side of the Window Media Player window, click the name of the CD to the right of the disc icon.

The name of the CD may be "Unknown album".

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 20 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 20

Click the Rip settings tab at the top of the Windows Media Player window to open a list of options.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 21 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 21

Select Format near the top of the Rip settings menu to open another menu right next to it.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 22 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 22

Click the MP3 option in the menu that appears. This is the operation of selecting the MP3 format for the CD file.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 23 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 23

Click Rip CD at the top of the Windows Media Player window to start ripping the CD to your computer.

How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 24 How to Rip CDs to MP3 Picture 24

Wait for the CD burning process to complete. This usually takes about 15-30 seconds per song.

You will need to click OK once the music copying process is complete.

Open the folder where the MP3 file is saved in the following way. Open Start and click File Explorer (or windows exploreron Windows 7 and click the folder icon above Start ), then do the following:

Click the Music folder on the left side of the window.

Double-click the user folder.

Double-click the CD's artist folder.

Double-click the album folder.