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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....

Part 1 of 3:

Check System Specifications

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

Gather Mac Files

  1. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 3
    Return to your desktop.
  2. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 4
    Right click your mouse on some empty space. You can also press "Control" and "Enter" below your track pad.
  3. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 5
    Select "New Folder" from the list of options. You may also be able to select "New Burn Folder" on some computers.
  4. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 6
    Name the new folder while it is highlighted. Drag movies, files and other data into the new folder.
    • 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

  1. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 7
    Double click on your new folder. You should see your files listed inside the folder.
  2. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 8
    Click on the gear icon at the top of your folder dialog box. It may say "Action" underneath the gear icon.
  3. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 9
    Select "Burn Folder Name to Disc..."
  4. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 10
    Insert a blank writable DVD into your disc drive.
  5. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 11
    Wait for the disc to start burning automatically or click "Burn."
  6. How to Burn a DVD on a Mac Picture 12
    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.

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Kareem Winters

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Kareem Winters
Update 04 March 2020