How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer

This wikiHow teaches you how to copy the contents of a DVD to Windows or macOS using a free app called HandBrake. If the DVD contains copy-protected data (such as a store-bought movie or television series), you'll need to install a file...
Part 1 of 4:

Installing HandBrake

  1. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 1How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 1
    Go to https://handbrake.fr/ in a web browser. HandBrake is a free app that allows you to copy the content from a DVD to your computer.
  2. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 2How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 2
    Click Download HandBrake 1.2.2. It's the red button on the page. This downloads the HandBrake install file on Windows.
    1. If you're using Mac or Linux, click Other Platforms below the "Download HandBrake" button on the main page, and then click the Download link for your operating system.
  3. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 3How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 3
    Double-click the install file and follow the instructions. You'll usually find it in the "Downloads folder. On Windows, the file is called HandBrake-1.2.2-x86_64-Win_GUI.exe or something similar. On Mac, the file is called HandBrake-1.1.2.dmg"'.
    1. On a Mac, you may need to adjust your Security & Privacy settings to install unverified apps from the internet.
  4. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 4How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 4
    Click Next (Windows only). When you see the Welcome window of the installer, click Next in the lower-right corner of the Window to continue.
    1. On Mac, clicking the install file creates a folder with the HandBrake app. You can open the HandBrake app from that folder, or you can drag and drop the app into your Applications folder in the Finder.
  5. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 5How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 5
    Click Next again (Windows only). This indicates that you agree to the License Agreement.
  6. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 6How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 6
    Click Install (Windows only). This installs HandBrake.
  7. Click Finish. This closes the HandBrake install Wizard
How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 7How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 7
Part 2 of 4:

Installing Libdvdcss on Windows

  1. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 8How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 8
    Go to https://github.com/allienx/libdvdcss-dll/tree/master/1.4.2 on a Windows PC. If you're using macOS, you can skip this part. This is the link to download the latest version of Libdvdcss.dll, which is a file that helps HandBrake decrypt copy-protected content from DVDs. You'll need this file if the DVD you're copying is a movie, TV show, or virtually any other type of DVD you'd find in a store.
  2. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 9How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 9
    Click 32-bit or 64-bit. Depending on which version of Windows you are running, click the version of the file that fits your version of Windows.
  3. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 10How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 10
    Locate the "libdvdcss-2.dll" file. By default, downloaded files can be found in your "Downloads" folder. If you see the file in your web browser, you can also right-click it and click Show in Folder.
  4. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 11How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 11
    Right-click "libdvdcss-2.dll" and click Cut. This removes the file from your "Downloads" folder and copies it to your clipboard so you can paste it in another location.
  5. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 12How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 12
    Open Windows Explorer
    How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 13How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 13
    . You can do this by pressing Win+E or by clicking its icon in the Start menu.
  6. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 14How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 14
    Click your local hard drive. This drive, usually called "C:", should be found in the left panel under "This PC."
    1. The C: drive may have a different name on different computers. Sometimes it's called "Local Disk", or the name of your computer.
  7. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 15How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 15
    Click the Program Files folder. It's in the local "C:" drive.
  8. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 16How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 16
    Click the HandBrake folder. It's in the "Program Files" folder on your local "C:" drive. This is where HandBrake is installed.
  9. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 17How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 17
    Right-click a blank space in the folder. A menu will expand.
  10. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 18How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 18
    Click Paste. This pastes the "libdvdcss-2.dll" file in your HandBrake folder.
Part 3 of 4:

Installing Libdvdcss on macOS

  1. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 19How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 19
    Go to http://download.videolan.org/libdvdcss/1.4.2/macosx/ in a web browser. If you're using Windows, you can skip this part. This is the link to download the latest version of Libdvdcss.dll, which is a file that helps HandBrake decrypt copy-protected content from DVDs. You'll need this file if the DVD you're copying is a movie, TV show, or virtually any other type of DVD you'd find in a store.
  2. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 20How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 20
    Click libdvdcss-1.4.2.pkg. This contains the install file for the latest version of libdvdcss.dll for Mac.
    1. You may need to adjust your Security & Privacy settings to install unverified files and apps from the internet.
  3. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 21How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 21
    Click Continue. It's in the lower-right corner of the install dialogue box.
  4. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 22How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 22
    Click Install. It's in the lower-right corner of the install dialogue box.
    1. If you want to change your install location, click Change Install Location and select a new location.
  5. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 23How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 23
    Enter your password and click Install Software. Use your Mac login password. This copies the file to the correct folder.
    1. Click Close when prompted to close the installer.
Part 4 of 4:

Copying the DVD

  1. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 24How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 24
    Insert a DVD into your DVD drive.
  2. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 25How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 25
    Open HandBrake. It has an icon that resembles a cocktail glass next to a pineapple. You can open HandBrake in the Windows Start menu, or in the Applications folder on a Mac.
  3. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 26How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 26
    Select your DVD drive. It's in the source menu in the sidebar to the left.
    1. If the Source menu doesn't open automatically, click Source in the upper-right corner.
  4. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 27How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 27
    Choose a chapter. Use the drop-down menu next to "Title" to select a chapter to copy. If you are copying a movie, select the longest chapter. If you are copying a TV show, select an individual chapter.[1]
  5. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 28How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 28
    Click Browse. It's next to the bar at the top of the screen. This opens a file browser you can use to select a save location and give the file a name.
  6. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 29How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 29
    Select a save location. Use the file browser to select a folder or location for the DVD file to copy to.
  7. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 30How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 30
    Type a name for the video. File type the name of the movie or TV show in the bar next to "File Name."
  8. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 31How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 31
    Click Save. This saves the file and location.
  9. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 32How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 32
    Select a preset. Choose Normal or High Profile to optimize the video for your computer.
    1. You can also select a specific device, such as an iPhone, from the list of presets.
  10. How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 33How to Copy a DVD Onto a Computer Picture 33
    Click Start. It's in the upper-right corner near the "Source" button. This starts copying the DVD. It may take a while for the video finish encoding.
4 ★ | 1 Vote