About burning CDs and DVDs

You can use iTunes to create your own discs containing audio and video from your iTunes library. For instructions, click this link:

To make your own CD or DVD, you need:

  • A computer that can burn discs, or an external burner.

  • An iTunes playlist containing the music and video you want on the disc.

  • A blank disc.

    If you have a CD-RW (CD Recordable, Read-Write) drive, you can use CD-R or CD-RW discs to create audio or data CDs that you can play on your computer. Some older stereos won’t recognize CD-RW discs.

    If you have a DVD burner, you can also burn your files to DVD-R, or to DVD-RW or DVD+RW discs (if your drive supports DVD-RW burning). You can use data DVDs with your computer, but most commercial DVD players cannot read data DVD discs. (“RW” stands for “read-write” and means the disc can be erased and reused.)

The number of songs a disc can hold depends on how the songs are encoded. A standard audio CD (650 MB) can hold about 20 songs, an MP3 disc about 150, and a data CD about 185 AAC song files. A DVD can hold almost five times as many songs as a CD.

Movies purchased from the iTunes Store can’t be burned to a DVD or VCD that will play in a DVD player or Video CD.

For more information about the drives that work with iTunes, visit the websites below.


Related Topics

Creating your own audio CDs

Creating your own MP3 CDs

Buying blank CDs and DVDs

Backing up your iTunes library and iTunes Store purchases

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iTunes Support website

Apple Support article: “Additional troubleshooting for burning issues”

About burning CDs and DVDs