Burning CDs with Media Player

Hi Holly Stansberry,

Thank you for reaching out. What you’re seeing is expected after the recent Media Player update.

The updated Media Player app now focuses on music and video playback only. It no longer uses the classic Play / Burn / Sync tabs, and CD burning options are not shown in this newer interface.

CD burning is still available in Windows Media Player Legacy, which remains part of Windows as an optional feature.

• Open Start and type Windows Media Player Legacy (or Press Win + R then paste wmplayer.exe)
• Launch Windows Media Player Legacy (not “Media Player”).
• Insert a blank CD.
• Select the Burn tab (top‑right).
• Drag music into the burn list and choose Start burn.

If needed, you can remove and re‑add Windows Media Player Legacy (App) from Optional features to refresh the installation. You can also burn files directly using File Explorer if you prefer a simpler workflow.

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Do I have to find and install the older version? Is it just called "Legacy Windows Media Player?" Not sure how to do that.

The updated Media Player app no longer uses the old Play/Burn/Sync tab layout from Legacy Windows Media Player. In the new version, only playback features are exposed; built‑in CD burning is not surfaced through the same tabbed interface, so the previous Burn tab is no longer available there.

To burn CDs on Windows, use Legacy Windows Media Player, which still supports creating audio CDs and data CDs/DVDs:

1. Open Windows Media Player (Legacy).
2. Go to the Burn tab in the Player Library.
3. Select Burn options and choose Audio CD or Data CD or DVD.
4. Insert a blank disc into the CD/DVD burner.
5. Drag items from the library to the burn list on the right.
6. Select Start burn.

If running a Windows N edition and Legacy Windows Media Player is missing, install the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10/11 N to restore Windows Media Player and its ability to create audio CDs.

References:

• Burn and rip CDs
• Media Feature Pack for Windows N
• Media Feature Pack for Windows 10/11 N (February 2023)
• How to sync music from WMP now the sync button has disappeared - Microsoft Q&A