Old home movie DVDs, wedding videos and recordings you burned yourself won’t last forever, and many new PCs don’t even have a disc drive. Ripping those discs to MP4 files on Windows 10 preserves them, makes them easy to watch on any device, and lets you back them up to the cloud. This guide covers converting your own DVDs to video files with free software, copying the raw disc files, and burning a backup disc. If you have moved to a newer PC, here is how to rip music CDs on Windows 11 with either built-in player.
Important: This guide is for discs you made yourself (home videos, camcorder DVDs, your own recordings) or discs without copy protection. Most commercial movie DVDs are copy-protected, and bypassing that protection may be illegal where you live, even for personal backups. The tools below don’t remove copy protection.
Quick Answer
Insert your home video DVD, install a free, open-source converter such as HandBrake, open the DVD as the source, choose a preset like Fast 1080p30 (MP4), pick where to save, and click Start Encode.
What You’ll Need
- A DVD drive (built-in or an inexpensive external USB drive).
- Free disk space: a full DVD can produce a 1–4 GB MP4 file, and copying raw files takes up to about 8.5 GB per disc.
- For video conversion: a free converter such as HandBrake or VLC.
Method 1: Convert Your DVD to MP4 With HandBrake
- Download HandBrake from its official website (handbrake.fr) and install it.
- Insert the DVD and open HandBrake.
- Under Source Selection, click your DVD drive. HandBrake scans the disc.
- In Title, choose the main recording (usually the longest one). Camcorder DVDs may have several titles.
- Choose a Preset, such as Fast 1080p30 or Fast 720p30. DVDs are standard definition, so Fast 480p30 keeps the original quality with a smaller file.
- Check the Audio and Subtitles tabs if the disc has multiple tracks.
- Next to Save As, click Browse, choose a folder and name the file.
- Click Start Encode. Encoding a full disc can take 20 minutes to over an hour.
Add several titles or discs to the Queue to convert them in one go.
Method 2: Convert With VLC
- Open VLC and choose Media > Convert / Save.
- Open the Disc tab, select DVD and your drive, and check No disc menus.
- Click Convert / Save, choose the Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) profile, set a destination file ending in .mp4, and click Start.
VLC is slower and offers fewer options than HandBrake, but it’s handy if you already have it.
Method 3: Copy the Raw Disc Files
For an exact backup of an unprotected video DVD, open the disc in File Explorer and copy the VIDEO_TS (and AUDIO_TS) folders to a folder on your PC. VLC can play the copy by opening the folder. See our guide to copying a DVD in Windows 10 for burning that folder to a new disc.
Organize and Back Up Your Rips
- Name files with dates and events (for example “2009-07 Family Reunion.mp4”).
- Store copies in two places: an external drive and cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive or similar).
- Upload to a family photo service or a private video platform to share with relatives.
To play the disc files, see how to play VOB files on Windows 10.
Troubleshooting
- Converter says the disc is copy-protected or can’t read it: it’s likely a commercial disc; stop there. Home-burned discs normally scan without problems.
- Disc not detected: clean the disc with a soft cloth from the center outward, try another drive, or check Device Manager for the DVD drive.
- Only part of the video converted: choose the right title, or add all titles to the queue.
- Old discs with read errors: copy the VIDEO_TS files first; scratched or aging discs may need a different drive.
- Finalization: camcorder DVDs that were never “finalized” may not play on computers; finalize them in the original camcorder first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Windows 10 have a built-in DVD ripper?
No. Windows Media Player can rip audio CDs but not DVDs. Use HandBrake or VLC for your own discs.
What format should I use?
MP4 with H.264 video plays on almost every device. H.265 (HEVC) files are smaller but less widely supported.
Can I rip audio CDs too?
Yes. See our guide to ripping CDs on Windows 10 with Windows Media Player.
Summary
- Use this for home videos and unprotected discs only.
- Open the DVD in HandBrake, choose the main title and an MP4 preset.
- Pick a save location and click Start Encode.
- Back up the MP4 files in two places.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.