How to Copy a CD

Use ImgBurn to make a CD copy

by
Mark Harris
Writer
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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Mark Harris
Updated on September 27, 2020

If your computer has an optical disc drive, you should know how to copy a CD using free CD burning software like ImgBurn. That way, you can back up your music discs or rip a software program to a digital ISO file.

Information in this article applies to Windows PCs. Mac users can copy music CDs to iTunes.

How to Copy a CD With ImgBurn

ImgBurn lets you copy a CD to your computer so that you can either keep the files there or use them to make a new copy on a second CD (or third, fourth, etc.).

  1. Download ImgBurn and install it on your computer.

  2. Open the program and select Create image file from disc.

    Open the program and select Create image file from disc.

  3. In the Source section, make sure the correct CD/DVD drive has been chosen (if you happen to have multiple drives).

    In the Source section, make sure the correct CD/DVD drive has been chosen (if you happen to have multiple drives).

  4. In the Destination section, select the folder icon and choose a name for the file and where you want to save the CD copy.

    The folder icon in the Destination section.

  5. Select the Read icon (the disc with an arrow pointing to a file).

    Select the Read icon (the disc with an arrow pointing to a file).

  6. Select OK when the completion bar at the bottom of ImgBurn reaches 100 percent.

    Select OK when the completion bar at the bottom of ImgBurn reaches 100 percent.

If you copied an audio CD, you will now have a CUE file. If you copied a software CD, you will have an ISO file.

If your computer has a DVD-RW drive, you can also copy DVDs to your PC.

How to Burn a CD Copy

Follow these steps to burn the CUE or ISO file you created to a new disc:

  1. Open ImgBurn and select Write image file to disc.

    Open ImgBurn and select Write image file to disc.

    If ImgBurn is already open, go to Mode > Write to switch to write mode.

  2. In the Source area, select the folder icon and choose your file(s).

    In the Source area, select the folder icon and choose your file(s).

  3. In the Destination area, make sure the correct CD/DVD drive has been chosen (if you happen to have multiple drives).

    In the Destination area, make sure the correct CD/DVD drive has been chosen (if you happen to have multiple drives).

  4. Select the Write icon (the file with an arrow pointing to a disc).

    Select the Write icon (the file with an arrow pointing to a disc).

    In most countries, it's illegal to distribute copyrighted material without the copyright holder's permission. You should only copy a CD that you legitimately own for your own personal use.