How To Burn A CD On Windows 11: A Simple Guide

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4 min. read

Published on November 1, 2025

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Burning a CD on Windows 11 is still a viable option for creating backups, sharing music, or archiving important files. While cloud storage and USB drives are popular, CDs offer a physical medium that can be played on various devices. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step, ensuring you can easily create your own CDs.

This process leverages the built-in tools within Windows 11, eliminating the need for third-party software for basic CD burning tasks. Whether you’re creating an audio CD for your car or a data CD for archival purposes, understanding the process is straightforward. Let’s dive into the steps to get you started.

How Do I Burn a CD on Windows 11?

Preparing Your Files

First, gather all the files you want to burn onto the CD into a single folder. This will make the process easier and more organized.
Next, ensure that the files you’ve selected do not exceed the capacity of the CD. A standard CD-R disc holds approximately 700MB of data.

Inserting a Blank CD

Open the disc drive on your computer.
Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc into the tray.
Close the disc drive.

Burning the CD

Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to burn.
Select all the files in the folder.
Right-click on the selected files.
Choose “Show more options” from the context menu.
Select “Burn to disc.” This will open the Windows Disc Image Burner.
Give the disc a name in the “Disc title” field.
Choose “With a CD/DVD player” if you want to create an audio CD or a CD that can be played on older devices. Choose “Like a USB flash drive” if you want to use the CD for storing data and accessing it on computers.
Click “Next” to begin the burning process.
Wait for the burning process to complete. Windows will display a progress bar.
Once the burning is complete, Windows will eject the disc automatically.

Finalizing the CD

If you chose “Like a USB flash drive,” the CD will be finalized automatically.
If you chose “With a CD/DVD player,” you might need to finalize the disc. This process makes the CD readable on other devices. If prompted, follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the disc.

Tips for Successful CD Burning

Use high-quality CD-R or CD-RW discs for better reliability.
Avoid using your computer for resource-intensive tasks while burning a CD to prevent errors.
If you encounter errors, try burning at a slower speed.
Always verify the burned CD by testing it on another device.

CD Burning Made Easy

Burning a CD on Windows 11 remains a simple and useful process, especially for archiving data or creating music CDs. By following these steps, you can easily create your own CDs without needing additional software.

FAQ

Can I burn an ISO file to a CD in Windows 11? Yes, you can burn an ISO file to a CD using the Windows Disc Image Burner. Right-click on the ISO file and select “Burn to disc.”

What is the difference between CD-R and CD-RW? CD-R discs can be written to only once, while CD-RW discs can be erased and rewritten multiple times.

Why is my burned CD not playing on other devices? Ensure that the CD is finalized after burning. Also, check the compatibility of the CD format with the device you are using.

How much data can a standard CD hold? A standard CD-R disc can hold approximately 700MB of data or 80 minutes of audio.

Can I burn a CD on Windows 11 without using the built-in tool? Yes, there are third-party CD burning software options available, such as Nero Burning ROM and Ashampoo Burning Studio Free.

CD-R vs. CD-RW: Which Should You Use?

Feature	CD-R	CD-RW
Write Capability	Write once	Rewritable (multiple times)
Use Case	Archiving, music CDs	Temporary storage, data backups
Cost	Generally cheaper	More expensive
Compatibility	Higher compatibility with devices	Lower compatibility with older devices

Choosing between CD-R and CD-RW depends on your specific needs. If you need to archive data permanently, CD-R is a better option. If you need to reuse the disc for different purposes, CD-RW is more suitable.