What to Do When Windows Media Player Won't Burn a CD

Solve CD burning problems by using a slower burn speed

By
Mark Harris
Mark Harris
Writer
  • University of Wolverhampton
Mark Harris is a former writer for Lifewire who wrote about the digital music scene and streaming music services in an easy to understand, no-nonsense manner.
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Updated on June 15, 2021
Reviewed by
Jessica Kormos
Jessica Kormos
Reviewed by Jessica Kormos
  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.
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What to Know

  • To adjust the WMP 12 settings: Go to Organize > Options > Burn > Burn speed > Slow > Apply > OK.
  • To adjust the WMP 11 settings: Select Library View > Tools > Options > Burn > Options > General > Slow > Apply > OK.

This article explains how to fix Windows Media Player (WMP) when it won't burn a CD. Instructions apply to Windows Media Player 11 and 12 for Windows XP through Windows 10.

Microsoft's Windows Media Player is a popular application for users who want a central place to manage their digital music library. In addition to ripping audio CDs into MP3 files, it can create audio CDs from various digital formats. Most of the time, creating audio CDs in WMP goes without a hitch, but sometimes the process doesn't work. If Windows Media Player won't burn a CD, you may need to adjust the speed at which discs are written.

How to Adjust WMP 12 Burn Settings

To change the default burn settings in WMP 12:

  1. Open WMP and select Organize > Options in the upper-left corner of the screen

    Select Organize > Options at the top of the screen.

  2. Select the Burn tab.

    Select the Burn tab.

  3. In the Burn speed drop-down menu, select Slow.

    Select the drop-down menu beside Burn speed and select Slow.

  4. Select Apply, then select OK to exit the settings screen.

    Selecting OK to close Options in WMP 12.

The quality of blank CDs varies, and poor quality discs can result in music dropouts or failed burn sessions. So, start with a high-quality CD, and then change the burn speed of WMP if needed.

How to Adjust WMP 11 Burn Settings

The process for changing burn settings in WMP 11 is similar:

  1. Open WMP. If it's not in Library View mode, switch to this screen by pressing Ctrl+1 on your keyboard.

  2. Select Tools > Options at the top of the screen.

    If the menu bar is switched off in WMP, you won't be able to access the Tools menu. To switch the menu bar back on, press ​Ctrl+M on your keyboard.

  3. Select Burn on the Options screen.

  4. In the Burn speed drop-down menu, select Slow.

  5. Click Apply, then click OK to exit the settings screen.

How to Check If It Worked

Use the following steps to see if the settings change solved the problem:

  1. Insert a blank recordable disc into your computer's DVD/CD burner drive.

  2. Within WMP, select Burn near the top of the screen to switch to the disc-burning mode.

    Select Burn near the top of the screen to switch to the disc-burning mode.

  3. Select the down arrow under the Burn tab and choose Audio CD.

    Select the down-arrow under the Burn tab and choose Audio CD.

  4. Add the songs or playlists that you tried unsuccessfully to burn previously.

    Adding songs to the Burn List in WMP 12.

  5. Select Start Burn to begin writing the audio CD.

    Selecting Start burn in WMP 12.

  6. When WMP finishes creating the disc, eject it (if it's not ejected automatically).

  7. Reinsert the disc and test the CD.

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