Rip/Copy/Download DVD to PC with DVD Ripper Pro

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[2026] How to Download, Copy, Rip, or Back Up a DVD to Computer

Updated on Aug 28, 2026

When people ask how to download a DVD to a computer, they usually mean saving the disc to a hard drive. Depending on your goal, that may mean copying ordinary data files, making a full ISO/DVD folder backup, or ripping the movie to MP4, MKV, or another playable format. This guide covers all three cases and explains what to do when normal copy and paste does not work. For the main DVD-Video method on Windows, install the recommended DVD-ripping software below:

https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/download/dvd-ripper.exe dvd-ripper.exe

Choose the Right Type of Copy Before You Download a DVD

“Download,” “copy,” “rip,” “strip,” and “back up” are often used for the same DVD task, but the best method depends on what is actually on the disc and what you want to keep.

Data DVD: If the disc simply stores files such as photos, documents, MP4 videos, or installers, Windows File Explorer can usually copy those files directly to your computer.

DVD-Video for a full backup: If you want to preserve the disc structure, menus, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles, save it as an ISO image or a full DVD folder (VIDEO_TS). An ISO is convenient for archiving because the whole disc is stored in one file.

DVD-Video for easy playback: If you mainly want to watch the movie without the disc, rip the main title to a standard video file such as MP4, MKV, MOV, or MPEG-2. MP4 is a practical choice for broad device compatibility, while MKV is useful when you want more flexibility with audio and subtitle tracks.

Commercial movie DVDs may use copy protection, so dragging files from the disc in File Explorer can fail even when the disc plays normally. A dedicated DVD ripper is designed to analyze DVD-Video structure and create a usable digital copy. Always follow the copyright laws that apply in your country and copy only discs you already own.

Why Can’t I Copy a DVD to My Computer?

If a DVD refuses to copy, the problem is not always the computer. Check these common causes first:

1. The DVD is a movie disc, not a normal data disc.

A DVD-Video uses a structured VIDEO_TS folder with VOB, IFO, and BUP files. Copying those files directly does not turn the movie into one convenient video, and some discs are intentionally designed to resist normal file copying.

2. The disc is copy-protected.

Many commercial DVDs use CSS, region restrictions, structural protection, or other schemes. File Explorer and free transcoders such as HandBrake do not remove DVD copy protection.

3. The disc or drive has a read problem.

Fingerprints, dust, scratches, a weak optical drive, or a failing external drive can cause read errors. Clean the disc gently from the center outward and, if possible, test it in another drive before assuming the software is at fault.

4. There is not enough free space.

A full DVD can take several gigabytes. Leave enough room for the output plus temporary processing space, especially when creating an ISO or DVD folder.

5. You chose the wrong output for your goal.

ISO/DVD Folder is best for an archive that keeps the disc structure. MP4/MKV is better for normal playback. Recording the screen is useful for an occasional clip, but it is slower and less complete than ripping the disc.

How to Download a DVD to a Windows 11/10 Computer

For a DVD-Video disc, WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro provides both backup and conversion modes in the same workflow. You can make a full ISO/DVD folder copy or extract the movie to a standard video file for laptops, phones, TVs, media servers, and other devices.

The program is Windows-based. Current versions support Windows 11 and Windows 10. Download Download WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro and install it on your PC. Insert the DVD into an internal or external DVD drive and follow the three steps.

How to Copy or Rip a DVD to PC in 3 Steps

Step 1. Load the DVD Source

Run the program, click “DVD Disc”, select the correct drive letter, and click “OK”. The software will analyze the disc and normally select the main movie title automatically. If a protected disc is difficult to read, Enhanced Decryption can work, although analysis may take a little longer.

It can also open an existing ISO image or DVD folder, which is useful when you have already copied the disc structure to your hard drive.

Choose DVD backup or video output format

Step 2. Choose What You Want to Save

Click “Output Format” and choose an option that matches your purpose.

For easy playback: Open the “Video” section and choose MP4, MKV, MOV, or another format. MP4 is the simplest choice for wide compatibility. You can also use a device preset if you already know where the video will be played.

For a full backup: Open “1:1 Quick Copy” and choose ISO Image or DVD Folder. These choices are intended for archiving the disc structure rather than making a small portable video.

Quality note: Standard DVDs are usually 480p (NTSC) or 576p (PAL). Choosing a 1080p/4K output can upscale the frame size, but it cannot recreate detail that was not present on the DVD. For an honest backup, keep the original resolution unless you have a specific playback reason for DVD upscaling.

Step 3. Save the DVD to Your Computer

Click the “...” icon at the bottom to choose an output folder. Make sure the destination drive has enough free space, then click “Run” to start DVD copying or ripping.

For a converted video, you can select the audio and subtitle tracks before starting. If you only need part of the movie, use the built-in trim tool instead of recording the entire DVD in real time.

When the task finishes, open the destination folder and test the new file before putting the physical disc away or moving the backup to an external drive or NAS.

Copyright note: DVD-copying rules differ by country and by the type of disc. This guide is intended for personal backups and other uses you are legally authorized to make. WonderFox does not encourage unauthorized duplication, distribution, or commercial use of copyrighted DVDs.

Free Ways to Copy an Unprotected DVD

1. Copy Files with Windows File Explorer

This is the quickest option for a data DVD or a homemade disc whose files can be read normally. Insert the disc, press Windows + E, open the DVD drive, select the files or folders you need, and copy them to a folder on your hard drive.

This method does not convert a DVD-Video movie into one MP4 file. If the disc contains a VIDEO_TS folder, you may end up with multiple VOB/IFO/BUP files, and a protected commercial DVD may refuse to copy altogether.

2. Rip an Unprotected DVD with HandBrake

HandBrake is free and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can open unprotected DVD sources, let you select a title, and transcode the video to MP4, MKV, or WebM.

However, HandBrake does not defeat DVD copy protection and does not create an ISO/DVD-disc clone, so it is better suited to homemade or already decrypted DVD sources.

Can You Record a DVD to the Computer Instead?

Yes, but recording should usually be a backup method for an unprotected or homemade DVD, a short scene, or a disc that you only need to capture visually. Play the DVD in a player such as VLC, open a screen recorder, select the playback window or full screen, enable desktop audio, and record the part you need.

The trade-offs are important: recording takes real time, does not preserve DVD menus or disc structure, and may introduce quality loss. Protected playback may also produce a black screen in recording software. For a complete movie or a proper backup, ripping or creating an ISO is more efficient.

FAQs

Q1. Does Windows 11 or Windows 10 have built-in DVD ripping software?

No built-in Windows tool turns a DVD-Video movie into MP4/MKV or makes a protected movie-disc backup. File Explorer can copy ordinary files from readable data discs, but DVD ripping and full-disc backup normally require dedicated software.

Q2. Should I download a DVD as ISO, DVD Folder, MP4, or MKV?

Choose ISO for a compact full-disc archive, DVD Folder if you want direct access to the VIDEO_TS files, MP4 for maximum compatibility, and MKV when you want more flexibility with multiple audio/subtitle tracks. There is no single best format for every purpose.

Q3. Why can I play a DVD but not copy its files?

Playback and file copying are different operations. A player may be able to read the DVD-Video structure while copy protection, damaged sectors, or unusual disc authoring prevents straightforward drag-and-drop copying.

Q4. Can I copy a DVD on a Mac?

WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro is for Windows. On macOS, HandBrake is a free option for unprotected DVD sources. It transcodes selected titles to standard video files but does not remove copy protection or make an ISO clone.

Q5. Can I burn the computer backup to another DVD later?

Yes. If you want a disc-style backup, save the source as an ISO image or DVD folder first, then use suitable DVD-burning software to write it to a compatible blank disc. Simply burning an MP4 as a data file is different from authoring a DVD-Video disc and may not play in older standalone DVD players.

Kevincy Berel

Kevincy joined the WonderFox team in 2014 and has been a senior columnist ever since. With over two decades of experience in the video editing industry, he shares tutorials, tips, and how-to guides on video/audio processing and personal DVD backups. Family-oriented and passionate about helping others, he is dedicated to making video and audio processing easier for readers.