This wikiHow teaches you how to play audio CDs on Windows and Mac computers.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Playing a CD on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Press the eject button (“Eject”) on the computer disk drive
It's usually located on the front of the disk drive, in the lower-right corner.
Step 2. Place the CD in the disc tray with the disc labeled side facing up
Step 3. Close the disc tray by pushing it or pressing the “Eject” button
Usually, the drive engine will automatically pull the tray when the tray is pushed, unless you are using a laptop computer (usually, there is a spring mechanism in the disc tray).
Step 4. Click the Select to choose what happens with audio CDs button
If you don't see the notification on the screen, you may have previously selected a certain action if an audio CD is inserted.
If you want to change the program that opens automatically when an audio CD is inserted, you can change it through the “Control Panel” window
Step 5. Click the Play audio CD button
After that, you'll see the program that will play the audio file at the bottom of the label. If there are several programs that can play audio CDs, a list of those programs will be displayed. Among audio CD player programs, Windows Media Player is the default program available on all versions of Windows.
Step 6. Launch Windows Media Player if the “AutoPlay” window is not displayed
If nothing happens after you insert the CD, start Windows Media Player yourself.
- Press Win key and type "windows media player."
- Click Windows Media Player in the list that appears.
Step 7. Double-click your audio CD in the menu displayed on the left of the window
After that, the CD will start playing. All tracks on the CD will be displayed in the center of the window.
Step 8. Click and drag the volume slider on Windows Media Player
The slider is used to adjust the volume of the song when the CD is playing. Keep in mind that this volume slider is different from the computer system volume slider. Make sure the system volume is set loud enough before you adjust the volume in Windows Media Player.
Part 2 of 4: Adjusting AutoPlay Settings on Windows
Step 1. Open the “Control Panel” window
The AutoPlay setup process for Windows 10 and 8 is slightly different from Windows 7 and other earlier versions:
- Windows 10 and 8 – Right-click the “Start” button and select “Control Panel“.
- Windows 7 and earlier versions – Click the “Start” button and select “Control Panel” from the “Start” menu.
Step 2. Click the AutoPlay option
If you don't see this option, click the “View by” menu in the upper-right corner of the window, then select “Large icons” or “Small icons”.
Step 3. Scroll the screen until you find the CDs section
Step 4. Click the Audio CD drop-down menu
Step 5. Select the desired action when the audio CD is inserted
Step 6. Click the Enhanced audio CD drop-down menu
Step 7. Select the desired action when you insert the enhanced CD
Enhanced CD is a type of audio CD that also functions as a CD-ROM.
Step 8. Click the Save button
The new action that has been selected will be the main action that the computer performs when you insert an audio CD.
Part 3 of 4: Playing CDs on Mac Computers
Step 1. Insert the CD into your Mac's disc drive
Make sure the labeled side of the disc is facing up when you insert it.
Most Mac laptop computers have a disc slot, while Mac desktop computers have a disc tray
Step 2. Click the iTunes button on the Dock if the app doesn't open automatically
Step 3. Click the CD button
You'll see it in the row of buttons at the top of the iTunes window.
Step 4. Click the play button (“Play”)
After that, the CD will start playing.
Step 5. Click and drag the volume slider to adjust it
You'll see the volume slider at the top of the iTunes window, next to the song player controls.
The iTunes volume slider is distinct and separate from the computer system volume slider. If your computer's system volume is too low, iTunes volume adjustment won't produce a louder sound
Step 6. Eject the CD after you finish listening to the song
There are several ways you can follow to remove a CD from a Mac computer:
- Press the unlock button (“Eject”) on the keyboard.
- Press the key combination Command+E.
- Click the desktop, then click “File” → “Eject”.
- Drag the CD icon on the desktop to the Trash. This only works if the CD icon is displayed on the desktop.
Step 7. Update iTunes if the CD is automatically ejected from the computer
Some users running older versions of iTunes reported that audio CDs were automatically ejected from the drive when they were about to play, although the rest of the CDs were still working fine. Problems like this can usually be solved by updating iTunes to the latest version.
Part 4 of 4: Adjusting Key Settings for CD on Mac
Step 1. Click the Apple menu
Step 2. Click the System Preferences button
If you don't see the option, click the “Show All” button that appears at the top of the window.
Step 3. Select CDs & DVDs
You can see these options in the second section of the “System Preferences” menu.
Step 4. Click the When you insert a music CD menu
Step 5. Select the desired action
If you want the CD to play in iTunes immediately after insertion, select "Open iTunes".
Step 6. Open iTunes
If you've set iTunes to open automatically when you insert an audio CD, you can now set specific actions that iTunes can perform.
Step 7. Click the iTunes menu
Step 8. Click Preferences
Step 9. Click the When you insert a CD menu
Step 10. Click the desired action when you insert the CD
You can choose to play music directly, import tracks from a CD to your library, or simply view the contents of the CD.
Step 11. Click “OK”
Now, the audio CD will automatically play in iTunes when you insert it.
