How to Get Digital Copies of Movies You Already Own

Streaming makes it easy to watch movies and TV shows across devices, but many people still have valuable content stored only on DVD. Physical discs can take up space, get scratched, or simply become inconvenient when newer laptops, tablets, TVs, and phones do not have built-in DVD drives.

If you have a personal DVD collection, creating digital access can make playback and backup much easier. This applies not only to feature films, but also to TV-series box sets, concert discs, family recordings, and workout or training programs that you may want to follow without carrying a disc and DVD player around.

There are two different approaches. You can create local digital files from DVDs you own and keep them on your own computer, drive, or device. Or, for eligible movie titles, you can use a commercial Disc to Digital service that adds an electronic copy to a cloud-based library. The two options are not the same, so choose based on where and how you want to watch your collection.

Workout, fitness, and training DVDs: Collections such as P90X/P90X3, Jillian Michaels programs, dance workouts, ballet programs, INSANITY, 21 Day Fix, or FOCUS T25 may contain multiple routines across one or more discs. Treat each disc as a multi-title collection. Select the routines you need, and remember that warm-ups, introductions, cool-downs, or bonus exercises may appear as separate titles. Saving the wanted routines as local files makes them easier to use on a phone, tablet, laptop, or TV and also reduces repeated handling of the original discs.

Whole-disc backups: Choose ISO or VIDEO_TS when you want to preserve the complete disc structure. A normal MP4 or MKV file is easier to play, but it does not reproduce an interactive DVD menu in the same way as a full-disc backup.

Physically damaged discs: Ripping software may help you avoid further wear on a readable disc, but it cannot reliably recover sectors that a DVD drive can no longer read. For important collections, digitize them while the discs are still in good condition.

Vudu is now branded as Fandango at Home, and Disc to Digital is still active. This option is different from ripping a DVD: it does not create a local MP4, MKV, or ISO file on your computer. Instead, an eligible physical DVD or Blu-ray can be converted into an electronic copy stored in your Fandango at Home library for streaming through supported devices.

In general, sign in to your Fandango at Home account, open the current Disc to Digital experience, and follow the prompts to scan the UPC/barcode for the disc edition you own. The service may use your device location and account information as part of the verification process. If that specific edition is eligible, choose an available conversion quality and complete the purchase. The digital title is then added to your library.

Keep in mind that eligibility is edition-specific and can change. A movie may be supported while a particular DVD or Blu-ray barcode is not. Pricing, available quality, annual conversion limits, device/browser requirements, and participating studios can also change over time. Disc to Digital is not a 4K conversion service; available options are generally SD or HDX when offered. Check the current Disc to Digital page before starting.

Which method should you choose? Use Disc to Digital when you have an eligible movie and prefer a cloud library. Use a desktop DVD ripper when you need local files, want to digitize TV episodes or workout routines, or need an ISO/VIDEO_TS backup under the laws that apply to you.

Also see: Vudu/Fandango Disc to Digital Not Working | Rip/Convert/Upload DVD to Cloud | Fix DVD Rip Errors