Every time I copy a music CD out of my collection onto my computer, it shows up with “Track 01”, “Track 02”, and so on. What the heck? Surely I don’t need to manually enter all the track names for each of my hundreds of CDs as I rip them?
You are experiencing something quite common for people who are starting out with Apple’s popular, though not always loved, application iTunes. The problem is that there’s a setting in the configuration of the program that indicates you want it to check for CD and track names online (at the CDDB music database, owned now by the innovative Gracenote company) and, well, you don’t have it checked or selected.
I know from experience that if you don’t have this set, importing CDs can be a huge pain as you have to type in the artist, album, all track names and, if you’re fastidious, the year of release, total track count, and other trivia that does make it more enjoyable to explore your resultant music library.
Without it, here’s what you’re likely to see when you put in a CD:
That’s pretty depressing, I must say! Fortunately, tweak that one setting and you shoudl never see that again.
To modify the setting, go to iTunes –> Preferences… and choose “Advanced” from the row of buttons along the top:
Next to “General” is “Importing”. Click on that and you’ll see the preference you want to tweak buried in the middle of this complex window:
The one you want to ensure is selected is “Automatically retrieve CD track names from Internet”. Select that, eject the disk, reinsert it and things are oh, so much happier on insertion:
Make that change in your own version of iTunes — oh, and as usual, always make sure you have the very latest version of iTunes by checking the Apple download center — and you should be able to happily and efficiently import your CD music collection.
I have a related problem I can’t find addressed anywhere.
My iMac (2011 model) has both an internal CD drive and a USB attached drive. On many CDs, the external drive will not get the CD info, and if I click on Get Track Names I get a weird window saying “No error”. But if I then put the same CD in the internal drive, it reads the track info just fine.
Any ideas?
I have updated my desktop (Acer Predator, Intel i7 Quad-Core 4770(3.4Ghz) processor, 32GB DDR3 memory, 3TB SATA lll 7200RPM + 24GB SSD hard drive) from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 and
am trying to rip a bunch of CDs to a fresh new iTunes and Apple iPod Nano (7th Gen.), but can’t
get the CD info via Gracenotes to work! Have checked the box in preferences w/o luck before test
recording three CDs. Have looked on Apple forums older entries to gather ideas and have already run out of these remedies ( checking Norton 360 Firewall where Apple and associated applications are allowed) and other supposed fixes short of removing iTunes and reinstalling. I have read horror stories about doing this! Could the problem possibly be with Google Chrome browser or maybe the fact that
Comcast uses a POP instead of IMAP protocol? That doesn’t figure out either due to the fact that before with Windows 8.1 and same conditions, I was able to use Gracenote in iTunes! Windows 10/
iTunes compatibility not resolved yet? Thanks, Pete
Hi, I imported some CDs at the library, where I didn’t have internet. I know the track names for the CDs are in Gracenote, but is there a way to add them to iTunes now that I am home (with internet but without the original cd)? Thanks.
You’re right, Sal. iTunes 11 has reorganized, well, everything. The preference you seek you can find if you go to “Preferences…” then look on the General window, 2/3 way down, and find the “When you insert a CD” label. You can decide what you want to do and if you click on the “Import Settings” button you’ll find what you seek!
Hi Dave, I’ve ust done the latest itunes update, followed your steps as above, but the “general, importing, burning” tabs aren’t under the advcned tab? Any suggestions?? I’m running itunes on a 2009 macbook pro.
Hi Ellen. Unfortunately, there’s no way to point iTunes at a different track name database. And yes, it can be tedious. Especially when you import a 15-disk audio book. Just sayin’ 🙂
I know this is an old post, but …
I am importing my library. I have a number of cds that iTunes cannot find in Gracenote, but for which I can find track lists elsewhere. Is there any way to point iTunes toward the lists it cannot find?
I have an IMac and a Mac Book Pro if I upload store bought cds the name and song titles come ok but if I use a cd I burned from someone else with no play list those do not ID. I have looked under iTunes advanced and get track names or submit track names are not highlighted. How do I get those highlighted? All apps I have seen are for iPhones or iPads? All settings are correct.
If ‘Automatically Retrieve CD Track Names from Internet’ is checked, try unchecking, press OK, and then re-check the box – worked straight away for me!
I have had problems with itunes for over a year now. First it wouldnt let me access the store,so i had to uninstall/re-install it. for a while that seemed to solve the problem but then again i couldnt access the store.Since then i havent been able to access the store which i have money tied up on.Im now having problems with burning cds-no track names.It tells me that i am not connected to the internet when i am,im going out of my mind help me?
When I go to Preferences, Advanced I don’t get the options of; General, Importing, Burning. Why is that and what can be done to get my track information without these options.
Like Paula and Edwin I’m also wondering how I can keep & transfer track information from a mix cd (not an original) to iTunes. Is there a way?
Got ya covered, Pete: https://www.askdavetaylor.com/add_track_names_titles_to_itunes_music.html
This situation may have been addressed but if so I apologize for the old eyes (and brain) missing it.
Some forty years ago I played with an “old time” string band. We performed at a concert, a reel to reel tape of which has recently surfaced and been converted to a CD which I have downloaded onto my iTunes. The tunes, now part of a play list, show as “track 1”, “track 2”, etc. and I can`t for the life of me figure out how to add titles. “Grace Notes” will be of no help.
Let me sneak in a second question. Another old tape to CD has been put into iTunes(twice!) and I can`t find the thing anywhere(?) Ideas?
Thanks so much for helping out an old geezer who should probably be kept at a distance from anything more complicated than a dial phone…..
Thanks for all your help! Everything is good with the Song Title being transferred to my Mix CD. Titles show up on my car’s player. I love it! QUESTION: Can I get the Title AND the artist to burn to the CD? (And show up on my player?) Thank you for your time.