The day I realized I could turn my favorite Apple Music playlists into a CD was a game-changer. At first, it seemed tricky. Clicking "Burn to CD" in iTunes usually pops up a message saying it can't be done. That's because Apple Music tracks are protected by DRM. At first, I got the first step wrong, and my plan to burn a specific playlist didn't work, so I hesitated to try this task.
However, I later found that I could either use songs purchased from iTunes, which aren't restricted, or convert Apple Music tracks into a CD-friendly format using an Apple Music Converter as a workaround. This gets my music ready, and burning it to a CD is actually easy.
If you've never done this before, don't worry. In this guide, I'll walk you through everything step by step. By the end, you'll see that turning Apple Music into a CD isn't nearly as complicated as it seems.
Step 1. Prepare Your Apple Music for CD Burning
Why Can't I Burn Apple Music to a CD?
This restriction exists to prevent unauthorized copies, like burned CDs. To protect its music, streaming services like Apple Music use a digital rights management (DRM) format to control how songs are shared across devices. Content protected by DRM can't be burned directly to a CD. This includes both streamed music and offline downloads. You can play these songs on your iPhone, iPad, computer, or Apple CarPlay, but you can't freely move them outside Apple's apps, such as through a car stereo. This can be frustrating for many users.
So the key to burning Apple Music to a CD is having DRM-free music. Fortunately, you can either use songs purchased from iTunes, which aren't restricted, or convert Apple Music tracks using a DRM-removal tool like ViWizard Apple Music Converter.
Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.
Option 1: Use Purchased iTunes Songs
Using songs you've bought from iTunes is the easiest way to get ready for CD burning. These tracks aren't protected by DRM, so you can burn them directly without extra tools or steps. Just make sure the songs are downloaded to your computer, add them to a playlist in iTunes or the Music app, and you're set. It's simple, reliable, and perfect if you already have a collection of purchased tracks. You won't need to fuss with converters or worry about DRM restrictions. Basically, you can treat them like any regular music files on your computer - drag, drop, and burn.
- Open iTunes on your computer. If you're on a Mac with Catalina or later, open the Music app instead. Make sure you're signed in with your Apple ID so your purchased songs are accessible.
- Go to the iTunes Store and search for the songs or albums you want. Look for tracks labeled iTunes Plus, which are DRM-free and ready to burn. Click Buy and download them to your library.
- Create a new playlist in iTunes or Music.
- The purchased tracks are automatically added to your library under Recently Added.
- Locate the purchased tracks you want on your CD and add them to the new playlist. Arrange them in the order you want them to play.
Option 2: Convert Apple Music to MP3 (Workaround)
If your favorite tracks are still locked behind Apple Music's DRM, you'll need a conversion step. Tools like ViWizard Apple Music Converter make this surprisingly easy. They take Apple Music's protected files and turn them into common formats like MP3 or WAV - files your CD-burning software will happily recognize.
Once the conversion is done, your playlists are essentially DRM-free. You can organize them, pick your favorites, and burn them just like purchased tracks. The software does most of the work quietly in the background, so you can focus on selecting the songs you want, not wrestling with technical details.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
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- Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
- Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
- Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
- Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details
- Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter, then sign in with your Apple Music account.
- Select the playlists, albums, or tracks you want to convert and add them to the conversion list. Go to Settings > Conversion > Output Format and choose a CD-friendly format like MP3 or WAV. Set the output folder and organize file names for easy access later.
- Click Convert and wait for the process to finish. When done, the converted tracks will appear in your chosen folder.
- Open iTunes or the Music app and create a new playlist.
- Click File > Add Folder to Library and add the DRM-free tracks. Go back to your music library and arrange the tracks in the order you want on the CD.
Step 2. Insert a Blank CD
Before you can burn your Apple Music tracks, you need a blank CD. An Audio CD is the most common choice, and it works with nearly every CD player, car stereo, or home system.
Start by taking a blank CD and inserting it into your computer's CD or DVD drive. Most drives automatically detect the disc and open a pop-up window or the CD-burning software. If nothing appears, open iTunes or the Music app and navigate to Burn Playlist to Disc - this is where you'll select the blank CD as the destination.
Make sure the disc you're using is truly blank and can hold all the songs you want to burn. A standard CD holds roughly 700 MB, 150 MP3 files, or about 80 minutes of audio. If your playlist is longer, you might need a second disc. Once the blank CD is recognized, your system is ready for the next step: burning the music.
Step 3. Burn Apple Music to a CD
Your CD drive determines which software to use. If it's an external USB drive, you can plug it into either a Windows PC or a Mac. For a built-in Windows drive, use iTunes, and for a built-in Mac drive, use the Music app. Windows Media Player is also an option for those who prefer it.
For iTunes or Music App users:
- Place a blank CD-R into your computer's CD or DVD drive.
- Open iTunes (Windows) or Music app (Mac) and select the playlist you want to burn.
- Go to File > Burn Playlist to Disc (or right-click the playlist and choose Burn Playlist to Disc).
- In the Burn Settings window, set your preferences:
- Preferred Speed: 4x or 8x
- Disc Format: Audio CD
- Gap Between Songs: 2 seconds (0 for gapless)
- Use Sound Check: Off
- Include CD Text: Optional
- Click Burn to start the process. The software will check and prepare the disc.
- The app converts all tracks to standard CD audio (16-bit, 44.1 kHz PCM). This may take several minutes depending on playlist length.
- After conversion, the software writes the tracks to the CD. Avoid using your computer for heavy tasks while burning.
- Once the burn is complete, the disc is finalized automatically on Mac. On Windows/iTunes, ensure the Finalize disc option is checked.
- If your playlist exceeds the capacity of one disc, insert another blank CD and repeat the process.
- Use the right disc: Choose a blank CD-R (not CD-RW) and avoid scratched or low-quality discs.
- Set a slow burn speed: In iTunes or Music app, choose 4x–8x to reduce errors during burning.
- Close other programs: Close heavy apps and antivirus software to prevent interference with the burning process.
- Check the CD/DVD drive: Make sure your drive is recognized, works with other discs, and is clean.
- Update your software: Ensure iTunes (Windows) or Music app (Mac) is up to date; restart the app or computer if needed.
- Finalize the disc: Make sure "Finalize disc" is enabled so it can be read in all CD players.
- Try another computer (if needed): If problems persist, test burning on a different PC or Mac to rule out drive issues.
For Windows Media Player users:
- Open Windows Media Player from your Start menu.
- Go to File > Open and select the Apple Music tracks you want to add.
- Click on Playlists and choose Create Playlist.
- Name your playlist and drag your tracks into it. Arrange them as desired.
- Place a blank CD into your computer's CD drive.
- Switch to the Burn tab.
- Drag your playlist to the Burn List. Arrange the songs if needed.
- Click Start Burn to begin the process.
Step 4. Play Your Burned Apple Music CD
Once your Apple Music tracks are burned to a CD, playing them is simple and flexible. Most devices that support standard Audio CDs will work seamlessly, and the controls on each device let you skip, repeat, or shuffle tracks as needed.
Option 1: Play on Home CD Players and Stereos
- Locate the CD slot on your home stereo or CD player.
- Insert the CD gently with the label side facing up.
- Select the CD or "Disc" input on your stereo.
- The system should detect the CD and start playing automatically.
- Use your stereo's controls to skip, repeat, or shuffle tracks if supported.
Option 2: Play in Car Stereos
- Find the CD slot in your car's audio system.
- Gently insert the CD with the label side up.
- On your car's audio system, select the CD source or media option.
- The system should automatically detect and start playing the CD.
- Use your car's controls to navigate through the tracks if your CD player supports it.
Note: Ensure your car's CD player supports Audio CDs. If not, consider using a USB drive or Bluetooth connection instead.
Option 3: Play on Computers and Laptops
- Insert the CD into your computer's CD/DVD drive.
- Open your preferred media player (iTunes, Music app, Windows Media Player, or VLC).
- Select the CD as the source or playback device.
- The player should automatically read the disc and display the tracks.
- Click Play and use the software controls to navigate the songs.
Option 4: Play on Portable CD Players
- Open the CD compartment on your portable player.
- Place the CD inside with the label facing up.
- Close the compartment securely.
- Press Play to start listening.
- Use the player's controls to skip tracks, adjust volume, or repeat songs.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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