How to Burn a DVD on a Mac

Apple computers are installed with a utility that helps you to burn CDs and DVDs. DVDs hold larger amounts of data than CDs. You can create a customized DVD within a few minutes. Follow these steps to burn a DVD on a Mac computer....

Table of Contents

Check System Specifications
Gather Mac Files
Burn a DVD

Part 1 of 3:

Check System Specifications

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Determine if your computer can write DVDs before you attempt to burn a DVD on your Mac.
1. MacBook Air computers without disk drives do not have the Mac SuperDrive required to burn DVDs.
2. Some older Mac laptops and computers do not have a SuperDrive; however, they are usually installed in newer Macs.
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Check system specifications to be sure that you can write DVDs.
1. Go to your desktop. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the page.
2. Select "About This Mac." Wait for the dialog box to pop up. Click on "More Info..."
3. Choose "Disc burning" in the list of topics in the left hand column. Look for "DVD-Write:" on the list in the right hand column.
4. If it reads " -R" and "-RW" in the list, you can burn DVDs.

Part 2 of 3:

Gather Mac Files

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Return to your desktop.
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Right click your mouse on some empty space. You can also press "Control" and "Enter" below your track pad.
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Select "New Folder" from the list of options. You may also be able to select "New Burn Folder" on some computers.
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Name the new folder while it is highlighted. Drag movies, files and other data into the new folder.
1. If you want to rip a movie from a DVD and burn it onto a new DVD, you will need a DVD ripping program. Although these are not available in licensed Mac software, you can download free programs like Mac the Ripper, to duplicate content.

Part 3 of 3:

Burn a DVD

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Double click on your new folder. You should see your files listed inside the folder.
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Click on the gear icon at the top of your folder dialog box. It may say "Action" underneath the gear icon.
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Select "Burn Folder Name to Disc..."
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Insert a blank writable DVD into your disc drive.
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Wait for the disc to start burning automatically or click "Burn."
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Allow the Mac to burn and finalize the DVD before trying to access it. Click on it to attempt playing it, or eject it and play in a DVD player.

Kareem Winters

Update 04 March 2020

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