Blank CDs Not Showing on Desktop

I am seeing the same problem after installing Mojave. I did discover a work-around until Apple gets the bug fixed. With Finder selected, go to File>New Burn Folder

Then put the files into it that you want to burn and burn as you normally would. It works for me. It's a few extra steps from what I usually do but at least I am able to burn my backup Bluray discs.

I am not seeing the New Burn Folder in the Finder's File menu. Just the option to burn whatever file is selected. It's the same when Control (right) - clicking on a file and looking at the cont3extual menu:

This workaround is solid. Step by step:

1. Put blank disk in drive.
2. In finder, choose File, then hold option key.
3. Pick New Burn Folder, this will show up on desktop.
4. Rename it, then put files in
5. Right click it in finder window set to desktop, choose burn.
6. Voilá!

Setting aside the appearance on the desktop, it is relevant to find out if your system is seeing the cd or not.

If in the Finder you navigate to Computer, does the cd appear with other existing volumes or not?

A blank CD does not show in finder sidebar or on desktop, but a written CD does in both places. The blank CD shows up as an ejectable HL-DT-ST-DVD (Superdrive occupied) in Disk Utility. Definitely a bug of some sort.

If I remember correctly when I inserted a blank CD I used to be given a choice to mount with the Finder OR access it with iTunes, but not both- which makes sense. You are saying you access in iTunes, which may be wrong but is an important information for troubleshooting.

When I responded that I could't see the Burn Folder option it wasn't there because the drive wasn't powered up. I powered up the drive and put in a blank disk and it's there. Got to get my eyes checked. 😊

Gotcha. So allow me to summarize our discussion:

- There is a bug in Mac OS Mojave that a blank disc does not show up on the desktop for burning

- A work-around is to create a burn folder in Finder by clicking on File > New Burn Folder

- Your burner must be plugged in and powered up for the New Burn Folder option to be visible in the Finder File menu.

Thank you for posting this. It did work for me. I sure hope Apple gets this corrected soon! Also, after installing Mojave, one of my external drives wouldn't write anymore either. I had to order a new one and transfer all the files! UGH!

luannfromamherst wrote:

Thank you for posting this. It did work for me. I sure hope Apple gets this corrected soon! Also, after installing Mojave, one of my external drives wouldn't write anymore either. I had to order a new one and transfer all the files! UGH!

That is probably not a fault of the drive or the OS. How was/is that drive formatted?

Many drives come formatted as NTFS, and macOS always needed extra software to write to NTFS drives. You probably just needed to update that software (from Paragon or other vendor) to keep writing to that drive.

Now that you've copied everything to another drive, a better option is just to reformat this drive as HFS+ or ExFAT and keep using it.

Boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, toggle that checkbox a couple of times and check to see if you can see the blank disk in the optical drive. Reboot normally and check again.

This IS a bug. I see the same behavior despite having the CD show on Desktop checked