The most practical way to convert DVDs to digital is to use DVD ripping software on a computer you own, which reads the disc and creates a video file you can store and play on other devices.

You'll need three things: a computer with a DVD drive (or an external USB DVD drive), ripping software, and storage space. The process takes 30 minutes to two hours per disc depending on the movie length and your computer's speed. The resulting file is yours to keep and use however you want on your own devices — you're not buying a digital copy from a studio, you're converting media you already own.

This guide covers the main methods, what software actually works, what to expect during the conversion, and what to do with the files once you have them. It does not cover circumventing copy protection on commercial DVDs, which exists in a legal gray area depending on your country and local law.

Key Takeaways

  • Ripping software reads a DVD disc and converts it to a video file (usually MP4 or MKV format) that plays on computers, tablets, and streaming devices.
  • You need a computer with a DVD drive or an external USB drive, plus free or paid ripping software — popular options include HandBrake, MakeMKV, and WinX DVD Ripper.
  • The conversion process is automatic once you start it, but the software must be able to read the disc, which can fail on older or damaged DVDs.
  • After conversion, you store the files on an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a media server so you can watch them on any device in your home.
  • Some DVDs include copy protection that ripping software cannot bypass, and the legal status of circumventing that protection varies by location.

What you need before you start

A DVD drive is the first requirement. Most laptops made before 2015 have one built in; newer computers rarely do. If your computer doesn't have one, an external USB DVD drive costs $20 to $50 and plugs into any USB port. Brands like ASUS, LG, and Verbatim are reliable; avoid the cheapest options because they fail more often on older or scratched discs.

Ripping software is the tool that reads the DVD and creates the video file. The most common free option is HandBrake, which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's straightforward and handles most DVDs without issues. MakeMKV is free for 30 days and then costs $50 one-time; it's faster and handles more copy-protected discs than HandBrake. WinX DVD Ripper is Windows-only, paid ($30 to $60), and marketed as the easiest for beginners. All three produce good quality files.

You'll also need storage space. A typical two-hour movie becomes a 4 GB to 8 GB file depending on quality settings. If you have 100 DVDs, you're looking at 400 GB to 800 GB of storage. An external hard drive (1 TB to 4 TB) costs $50 to $150 and is the cheapest way to store them. Cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox charges monthly if you need more than a few hundred gigabytes.

How the ripping process actually works

When you insert a DVD and open your ripping software, the program scans the disc and shows you the video tracks it found. Most DVDs have one main movie track and several audio tracks (English, Spanish, commentary, etc.). You select which audio and subtitle tracks you want to keep, choose your output format (MP4 is most compatible; MKV holds more information but plays on fewer devices), and set the video quality.

Quality settings matter for file size. "High quality" might produce an 8 GB file that looks nearly identical to the original disc; "medium quality" produces a 4 GB file that looks very good on a TV or tablet; "low quality" produces a 2 GB file suitable for phones. Most people choose medium quality as a balance between file size and watchability. Once you click start, the software reads the entire disc and encodes it into your chosen format — this is the slow part and can take 30 minutes to two hours depending on your computer's processor.

If the software cannot read the disc, it usually means the DVD has copy protection that the software cannot bypass, or the disc is too old or damaged. HandBrake will simply fail and tell you it cannot read the disc. MakeMKV handles more protected discs but may not work on all of them. If ripping fails, you have no other option with that particular disc unless you use different software or a different computer.

Choosing between free and paid software

HandBrake is free and works well for most DVDs you own. It's maintained by volunteers and has been around for 20 years. The downside is that it cannot bypass copy protection on commercial DVDs — if the disc has it, HandBrake will fail. It's the right choice if you're converting home videos, older DVDs, or DVDs you know don't have copy protection.

MakeMKV is free for the first 30 days, then costs $50 one-time for a permanent license. It can read copy-protected DVDs that HandBrake cannot, making it more reliable for commercial movies. The files it creates (MKV format) are larger than MP4 but preserve more detail. If you have a large collection of commercial DVDs, MakeMKV is worth the cost because it will succeed where HandBrake fails.

WinX DVD Ripper costs $30 to $60 depending on the version and is Windows-only. It's marketed as the easiest option for people who don't want to learn software settings. It handles copy protection and produces MP4 files automatically. The trade-off is that you have less control over quality and audio track selection. It's a reasonable choice if you want simplicity and don't mind paying.

For most people starting out, download HandBrake and try it on one or two DVDs. If it works, you're done — no cost. If it fails on discs you want to convert, then consider MakeMKV or WinX.

What to do with your files after conversion

Once you have video files, you need a way to watch them. The simplest approach is to store them on an external hard drive connected to your TV or media player. Devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Nvidia Shield can all read video files from an external drive if you use the right app (Kaleidescape, Plex, or Infuse are popular). This works well if your TV is in one room and you want to watch from there.

If you want to watch on multiple devices (bedroom TV, tablet, phone), a media server is more convenient. Plex is the most popular option — it's free to use and organizes your video files into a library that you can access from any device on your home network or over the internet. You install Plex on a computer or NAS (network-attached storage) device, point it to your video folder, and it handles the rest. Plex also adds artwork, descriptions, and ratings automatically.

Cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox works but is slow for video files and expensive if you have hundreds of movies. A 1 TB external drive is cheaper and faster than paying for cloud storage every month. Reserve cloud storage for files you need to access away from home, not for your entire DVD collection.

Dealing with copy protection and legal questions

Commercial DVDs often include copy protection (called CSS, or Content Scramble System) that prevents copying. Some ripping software can bypass this; some cannot. The legal status of circumventing copy protection is unclear in most countries. In the United States, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) technically prohibits circumventing copy protection even for media you own, though enforcement against individuals is extremely rare. In other countries, the rules are different — some allow it, some don't.

For practical purposes: if you own a DVD and you're converting it for your own use on your own devices, you're in a gray area legally but not in any real danger. If you're sharing the files with others or selling them, you're clearly breaking copyright law. If you're uncomfortable with this ambiguity, stick to HandBrake and only convert DVDs that it can read without copy protection — usually older DVDs or home videos.

If a DVD won't convert because of copy protection and you want to watch it digitally, your only legal option is to buy a digital copy from the studio (if available) or rent it from a streaming service.

Common problems and how to fix them

The software says it cannot read the disc. This usually means copy protection. Try a different ripping program (if you used HandBrake, try MakeMKV). If that doesn't work, the disc may be too old or damaged. Try cleaning the disc with a soft cloth and inserting it again. If it still fails, that particular disc cannot be converted with consumer software.

The conversion is very slow. This is normal — video encoding is processor-intensive. A two-hour movie can take 1 to 3 hours depending on your computer's speed and quality settings. Older computers are slower. You can speed it up by lowering the quality setting, but the file will look worse. There's no way to make it faster without a faster computer.

The file plays on my computer but not on my TV or streaming device. This usually means the file format or video codec is incompatible. MP4 files are most compatible; MKV files are less compatible. Try converting again and choosing MP4 as the output format. If the device still won't play it, check the device's manual for supported formats.

The audio is out of sync with the video. This is rare but can happen with certain DVDs. Try converting again and selecting a different audio track. If it still happens, that DVD may have a defect that ripping software cannot fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert DVDs I don't own?

Legally, no — you should only convert DVDs you own. In practice, enforcement against individuals is extremely rare. The bigger issue is that copy protection on commercial DVDs may prevent conversion anyway, so you'd need software that can bypass it, which exists in a legal gray area.

What's the difference between MP4 and MKV format?

MP4 is more compatible with TVs, tablets, and phones. MKV preserves more information (multiple audio tracks, subtitles, metadata) in a single file but plays on fewer devices. For most people, MP4 is the better choice. Use MKV only if you want to keep multiple language tracks and subtitles in one file.

Do I need to keep the original DVD after I convert it?

No — once you have a working digital file, you can store or donate the disc. The file is your backup. Keep the disc only if you're concerned about the legal gray area and want proof you own the original.

Can I convert Blu-ray discs the same way?

The process is similar, but Blu-ray copy protection is stronger and harder to bypass. HandBrake cannot read Blu-rays at all. MakeMKV can, but it's more complicated. If you have a large Blu-ray collection, MakeMKV is your best option, though it may fail on some newer discs.

How much storage do I actually need?

A typical two-hour movie at medium quality is 4 GB to 6 GB. If you have 50 DVDs, budget 200 GB to 300 GB. A 1 TB external hard drive costs $50 to $100 and holds roughly 150 to 250 movies depending on quality settings. Most people find that one external drive is enough.