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Guide · Audio Converter

Rip a CD to MP3 or FLAC on Windows

Turn a shelf of audio CDs into files you can play anywhere, with the album and track names filled in for you.

Updated 17 October 2026

Audio Converter CD Rip screen with a track list

What you need

You need a CD or DVD drive. Many laptops no longer have one, but an external USB drive works. Windows 11’s Media Player app can also rip CDs. Check its rip settings for the formats it offers. The steps below use Audio Converter from HAYAH, which rips to MP3, FLAC, M4A, WAV, OGG and more.

Rip a CD, step by step

  1. Install Audio Converter from the Microsoft Store with the button below.
  2. Put the audio CD in the drive and open the CD Rip page. Choose your drive, and press Refresh if the disc is not shown.
  3. Press Look up. The app finds the album and track names on MusicBrainz. If several releases match, choose one under Release. If none matches, type the names yourself.
  4. Check or edit the album, artist and track titles. Use Select all or untick tracks you do not want.
  5. Choose a Format, such as MP3 for small files or FLAC to keep the sound exactly as on the disc.
  6. Choose Save to a folder, then press Rip.

For the lookup, only the disc ID is sent to MusicBrainz. Your files never leave your PC.

MP3 or FLAC?

MP3 makes small files that play everywhere. FLAC is lossless: it is larger, but it keeps the audio exactly as it was on the disc, which suits an archive. You can rip the same disc to both.

Free and Pro

CD ripping is free, with the free formats (MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC and OGG) at the default quality and MusicBrainz track names. Pro adds cover art from the Cover Art Archive and ejecting the disc when the rip is done. Pro is a one-time $9.99 Lifetime Unlock or a $2.99 7-Day Pass. There is no subscription.

Limits to know

Audio Converter is built for everyday ripping. It does not do secure multi-pass ripping or drive offset correction, so it is not aimed at archival-grade verification of badly scratched discs. It does not remove copy protection from files.

Already have audio files to convert? See convert audio to MP3 on Windows.

Questions

Is CD ripping free?
Yes. Ripping to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC and OGG at the default quality is free, with track names from MusicBrainz.
Where do the track names come from?
From MusicBrainz, a free music database. Only the disc ID is sent for the lookup. If there is no match, you can type the names.
Can I rip to FLAC?
Yes. FLAC is one of the free formats.
Do I need a CD drive?
Yes. Any CD or DVD drive works, internal or USB.
Does it add cover art?
Cover art from the Cover Art Archive is a Pro option.

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