Despite the rise of digital music and streaming platforms, playing CDs on a computer remains a simple and enjoyable way to enjoy your favorite albums. If you have a CD drive on your Windows 10 PC, you can easily play your CDs with the help of built-in tools or third-party software. In this guide, we’ll show you how to play a CD on your Windows 10 computer in a few simple steps.
Step 1: Check for a CD/DVD Drive
Before proceeding, ensure your computer has a CD/DVD drive. Most modern laptops and desktops come with a built-in optical drive, but some newer ultrabooks or slim models may not have one. If your computer doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive, you can use an external USB CD/DVD drive, which can be purchased online.
If you already have a CD drive, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Insert the CD into the Drive
- Open the CD Drive:
- On desktop PCs, press the eject button on the front of your CD drive to open the tray.
- On laptops, press the eject button on the side or use a keyboard shortcut (usually
Fn + Eor similar) to open the drive.
- Insert the CD:
- Place the CD into the drive with the label facing up.
- Close the Drive:
- Push the tray back in or close the drive door if necessary.
Step 3: Windows 10 Automatically Detects the CD
Once the CD is inserted, Windows 10 should automatically detect the disc and prompt you with a AutoPlay window, asking what you want to do with the CD. The options might include:
- Play audio CD
- Rip music to the computer
- Open folder to view files
- Take no action
If the AutoPlay window doesn’t appear, you can manually open the CD in File Explorer (explained in the next step).
Step 4: Use Windows Media Player to Play the CD
Windows 10 comes with Windows Media Player, which is one of the simplest ways to play CDs. Here’s how to use it:
- Open Windows Media Player:
- Press the Start button, type Windows Media Player in the search bar, and click the app when it appears.
- Locate the CD:
- In Windows Media Player, look on the left panel under “Library”. You should see your CD listed as a drive (e.g., Audio CD).
- Play the CD:
- Click on your CD, and the list of tracks will appear.
- Select a song and press the Play button to start listening.
If Windows Media Player doesn’t automatically start playing the CD, you can click on “Play” on the Now Playing screen to begin playback.
Step 5: Use Other Music Player Software (Optional)
If you prefer not to use Windows Media Player, you can use other media players that support CD playback. Here are a few options:
- VLC Media Player:
- VLC is a free, open-source media player that supports playing CDs, DVDs, and many other file types.
- How to Use VLC to Play a CD:
- Download and install VLC Media Player from the official website if you don’t have it already.
- Open VLC, click on Media > Open Disc.
- Select Audio CD, choose your CD drive, and click Play.
- iTunes:
- If you have iTunes installed, it can be used to play CDs as well.
- Open iTunes, go to File > Open Disc, and select your CD drive. iTunes will start playing the CD.
Step 6: Rip Music from the CD (Optional)
If you want to keep a digital copy of your music collection, you can rip (extract) the songs from the CD to your computer. Windows Media Player allows you to do this:
- Open Windows Media Player and insert the CD.
- On the Windows Media Player interface, click on the Rip CD button at the top (next to the play/pause controls).
- Select Rip Settings:
- Choose your desired format (MP3, WMA, etc.) and quality settings.
- Windows will begin ripping the music to your computer, saving the tracks in the Music folder by default.
You can now listen to the ripped tracks on your PC without needing the CD.
Step 7: Troubleshooting CD Playback Issues
If you encounter any issues while trying to play a CD, try the following:
- Check the CD:
- Ensure the CD isn’t scratched or damaged. Try playing it on another device to confirm the disc is working.
- Update Drivers:
- Check if the drivers for your CD/DVD drive are up to date by going to Device Manager > DVD/CD-ROM drives and right-clicking your drive to select Update driver.
- Check AutoPlay Settings:
- If the AutoPlay prompt doesn’t appear, make sure it is enabled by going to Settings > Devices > AutoPlay, and ensure it’s set to “Ask me every time” or an appropriate default action.
- Try Another Media Player:
- If Windows Media Player is not working, try an alternative media player like VLC or iTunes as mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
Playing a CD on Windows 10 is a simple process, and there are several ways to enjoy your music collection using built-in tools like Windows Media Player or third-party software like VLC. Whether you’re enjoying music straight from the CD or ripping it for digital use, Windows 10 makes it easy to access your music library from an optical disc.
If you don’t have a CD drive, consider using an external USB drive to continue enjoying your CDs on your PC.