How to & Tips
Rip DVD
by Kevincy
Updated on Sep 2, 2026
An IMG file can be a sector-by-sector image of an optical disc. This guide focuses on DVD-Video IMG files, which usually contain a VIDEO_TS folder with VOB, IFO, and BUP files. Instead of keeping the disc image for playback, you can convert the movie inside to MP4 for broad compatibility, or choose AVI, MKV, MOV, MPG, WMV, MP3, and other common video/audio formats when a different device, editor, or workflow requires them. Please download the IMG converter for preparation:
Q: I don't have a DVD disk just the DVD .img file of my friend's wedding. I need a program that accepts and converts .img file to .mp4 or any other format for video editing. I tried some video converting programs but with no luck. Please help.
A: A DVD IMG is useful for backup or disc burning, but most phones, TVs, editors, and media players do not treat it like a normal video file. Converting the movie inside the image to a common digital format makes it easier to play, edit, transfer, and store. MP4 is the most universal choice, while AVI, MKV, MOV, MPG, WMV, or an audio-only format such as MP3 may be more suitable for specific needs. The guide below covers both mounting and extracting the IMG before conversion.
Flexible IMG Video/Audio Converter
WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro can convert the DVD content inside a mounted or extracted IMG file to MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, MPG, WMV, MP3, and many other common video/audio formats and device profiles. It also supports DVD discs, ISO images, and DVD folders, so you can use the same workflow for different DVD sources.
The conversion has two stages: first make the DVD content inside the IMG accessible by mounting or extracting it; then load that DVD source into the converter and choose the output format you actually need. MP4 is used as the main example because it works on most devices, but the same steps also apply to AVI, MKV, MOV, MPG, WMV, MP3, and other supported profiles.
Mount the IMG File👉 Method 1 - Mount the IMG as a virtual DVD drive.
If Windows shows a Mount command for your IMG file, right-click the file and select it. The image will appear as a virtual DVD drive in File Explorer. If the Mount option is unavailable for your IMG type, use a trusted disc-image mounter instead.
Step 1. Open the folder that contains your IMG file.
Step 2. Right-click the IMG file and choose Mount when the option is available. Then open This PC and note the new virtual DVD drive letter.
On older Windows versions, or whenever Windows cannot mount the IMG directly, you can use a third-party image mounting tool such as DAEMON Tools Lite.
Extract the IMG File👉 Method 2 - Extract the DVD files instead.
If the IMG is unencrypted and your archive utility like 7-Zip can open it, extract its contents to a new folder. A DVD-Video IMG normally contains a VIDEO_TS folder.
Keep that VIDEO_TS folder inside a parent folder; later, load the parent folder through DVD Folder in WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro.
Now use WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro to read the DVD structure from the mounted virtual drive or the extracted DVD folder. It can convert DVD content to a broad range of mainstream video and audio formats and device profiles. It also handles DVD discs, ISO images, and DVD folders, and can process many encrypted or copy-protected DVD sources that general video transcoders cannot open directly.
Now, downloaddownload and install the program on PC. Let’s see how the conversion works.
If you mounted the IMG, open the program and click DVD Disc, select the virtual DVD drive, and click OK. If you extracted the IMG instead, click DVD Folder and load the parent folder that contains VIDEO_TS. The program will analyze the DVD structure and select the main title automatically.
Tips: If your disc image is ISO rather than IMG, you can load it directly through ISO Image without mounting first and convert the ISO to MP4, MKV, AVI, or another supported format.
Click Output Format on the right to open the profile list. Choose MP4 from the "Video" category for the widest playback compatibility.
You can also choose an audio profile from the "Audio" category when you only want to save the soundtrack.
💡 Format tip: MP4 is usually the best default for phones, TVs, browsers, and sharing. AVI can still be useful for older software or legacy workflows, while MKV is better when you want a flexible container for multiple tracks. If you specifically need AVI, MKV, MOV, MPG, WMV, or another device-friendly format, select it from the corresponding category. For audio-only needs, choose MP3 or another supported audio profile.
If there are multiple audio and subtitle tracks available, choose the desired language and subtitle, such as forced subtitles via the Speaker and T drop-lists.
Specify the output path by clicking the ... icon at the bottom. Finally, press RUN to start converting the DVD IMG content to the selected video or audio format.
The Best Solution to Convert IMG Files
WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro provides one workflow for converting DVD IMG content to common video/audio formats and device profiles. You can choose MP4 for universal playback, AVI or MOV for specific software, MKV for a flexible container, or an audio format when you only need the soundtrack. It also supports DVD discs, ISO images, DVD folders, and DVD backup modes.
Handbrake IMG MP4 conversion If the DVD IMG is not encrypted, HandBrake is a useful free alternative. Depending on the image type, you can open the extracted VIDEO_TS folder or mount the IMG first and select the virtual DVD source. HandBrake currently outputs MP4, MKV, MOV, or WebM.
1. Run HandBrake and open the DVD source. If direct IMG loading does not work, mount the image or extract the VIDEO_TS folder first, then open that source in HandBrake.
2. Choose the title you want to convert, then select MP4, MKV, MOV, or WebM as the container. You can also adjust video/audio settings and subtitle tracks as needed.
3. Choose the output path by the Browse button at the bottom.
4. Hit Start Encode to create the new video file.
Note: HandBrake does not remove or circumvent DVD copy protection. Protected or unusually authored DVD images may fail to scan or produce errors such as scrambled output or no valid source/titles found.
Q1. Can I convert IMG directly without mounting it?
It depends on the IMG type and the software. For the DVD-Video IMG files discussed here, the reliable options are to mount the image as a virtual DVD or extract the DVD structure and load the resulting folder.
Q2. Can I convert a DVD IMG to audio only?
Yes. After loading the DVD source in WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro, choose an audio output profile such as MP3 to extract the soundtrack instead of creating a video file.
Q3. Is every .img file a DVD image?
No. The .img extension is used by different kinds of disk images. This guide specifically applies to DVD-Video images that contain a recognizable DVD structure such as VIDEO_TS, VOB, IFO, and BUP files.
For an ordinary unprotected DVD backup, HandBrake can be enough when you only need MP4, MKV, or WebM. If the IMG contains a protected DVD or you need a wider range of output formats and device profiles, WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro is the more flexible choice. Mount or extract the IMG as described above, load the DVD source, and then choose the format that best matches your playback, editing, or storage needs.
Download WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro here to convert DVD IMG content to MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, MP3, and other supported formats with the same simple workflow.
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.
