Despite the rise of streaming, millions of people still own valuable CD collections filled with cherished tracks, rare recordings, or personal mixes. But CDs are fragile, and CD players are becoming rare. That’s where Nero CD Ripper comes in — a powerful, free Windows tool that lets you convert CDs into digital audio files for modern use.
Whether you want to back up your music library, enjoy your favorite tracks on mobile devices, or create curated playlists, Nero CD Ripper makes it simple, fast, and reliable.
Use Cases: Why Ripping CDs Is Still Relevant
Preserve old music before CDs degrade
Make backup copies of rare or out-of-print albums
Organize music collections with proper metadata
Create portable playlists for iPods, smartphones, or USB drives
Digitize radio shows or compilations for future use
What Is Nero CD Ripper?
Nero CD Ripper is a feature-rich software from Nero AG, designed for high-speed, high-quality audio CD ripping. It supports popular formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and more. With built-in Gracenote® music database support, it can automatically fetch metadata like artist, album, and song titles — even album artwork.
Key Features:
Rip CDs to MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, OGG
Automatic album info from Gracenote
iPod and Apple compatibility
Batch ripping and playlist creation
Add album art to your digital files
Compatible with CD image files like
.nrg
Step 1: Download and Install Nero CD Ripper
Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC.
In the search bar, type “CD Ripper”.
Locate the app with the title “CD Ripper by Nero” and click Install.
Once installed, launch the app directly from the Start Menu or Store.
💡 Pro Tip: Downloading from the Microsoft Store ensures automatic updates, verified safety, and seamless Windows integration.
👉 Or click here to open it directly in the Microsoft Store.
Step 2: Insert Your CD
Launch Nero CD Ripper.
Insert an audio CD into your CD/DVD drive.
Nero will automatically detect the disc and fetch metadata using Gracenote.
You’ll see the track list, along with album, artist, and genre information.
💡 Pro Tip: You can manually edit metadata if needed — useful for rare or custom CDs.
Step 3: Configure Output Settings
Click on the “Output” tab to customize how the ripped files will be saved.
Target Folder & File Name
Output directory: Choose where the audio files will be saved.
File naming mode: Choose formats like
Track number – Title – Artist.✅ Check: Automatically generate a playlist of stored audio tracks
Playlist format: Choose from M3U, M3U8, or PLS
File Format & Quality
Choose from multiple formats:
Nero AAC (.mp4/.m4a) – Great for Apple/iOS
MP3 (.mp3) – Widely supported
FLAC (.flac) – Lossless quality
WAV (.wav) – Raw uncompressed audio
Ogg Vorbis, AIFF – For niche use cases
Set Bitrate Quality (for MP3/AAC):
Options: 64 kbps to 320 kbps (higher is better quality)
iPod Compatibility
✅ Enable Force compatibility with iPod if syncing to Apple devices
Album Art
✅ Check Add album art to file if available
Step 4: Rip Your CD
Review your settings.
Click the green “Rip” button.
Nero will extract the audio files, save them to your output folder, and include metadata and album art (if available).
🔄 You can also use the "Rip from Image File" option if you're working with
.nrgor.isoCD image files.
Tips for High-Quality CD Ripping
Supported File Formats
Format | Description | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
MP3 | Compressed, universal format | Mobile, car audio, general use |
AAC (.mp4) | Apple-compatible format | iPhones, iPods, iTunes |
FLAC | Lossless high-quality audio | Audiophiles, archiving |
WAV | Raw uncompressed audio | Editing, studio use |
AIFF | Apple lossless format | Apple pro audio workflows |
OGG Vorbis | Open-source compressed audio | Gaming, Linux users |
Use FLAC if you want lossless quality.
For iPhones or iTunes, choose AAC 256 kbps for a great balance of quality and size.
Always enable album art and metadata fetching to maintain a clean, searchable library.
Don’t forget to check rip quality by playing a few tracks after export.
Final Thoughts
Ripping CDs may sound old-school, but it’s the smartest way to preserve music you own and ensure it lasts forever — even when your CD players don’t. With Nero CD Ripper, the process is effortless, customizable, and totally free. Whether you’re backing up a rare jazz album or converting a mixtape for your phone, Nero has you covered.
Ready to digitize your CD collection?